American Academy of Family Physicians

P.O. Box 11210
Shawnee Mission, KS

9139066000

About American Academy of Family Physicians

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is the national association of family doctors. It is one of the largest national medical organizations, with more than 85,000 members in 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. Until 1971, it was known as the American Academy of General Practice. The name was changed in order to reflect more accurately the changing nature of primary health care. The Academy was founded in 1947 to promote and maintain high quality standards for family doctors who are providing continuing comprehensive health care to the public. Other major purposes of the Academy include providing responsible advocacy for and education of patients and the public in all health-related matters; preserving and promoting quality cost-effective health care; promoting the science and art of family medicine and ensuring an optimal supply of well-trained family physicians; promoting and maintaining high standards among physicians who practice family medicine; preserving the right of family physicians to engage in medical and surgical procedures for which they are qualified by training and experience; providing advocacy, representation and leadership for the specialty of family practice; and maintaining and providing an organization with high standards to fulfill the above purposes and to represent the needs of its members.