NC'08...We're all in this together

As the last couple of sessions draw to a close, the crowds are getting scarcer and scarcer. MS-4s have walked the exhibit hall floor in their sleep, chanting "Hi, I'm a 4th year student at____, and I'm interested in ______. Tell me about your program." Residents know the lines and have perfected their responses and the way they will integrate the variety of brochures, freebies, and posters into their sales pitch. The military recruiters are still in full dress. Conference organizers are taking down the now-outdated session posters. The last of the Monopoly-like food tickets are being used at the food stands. Yes, the the 2008 AAFP National Conference for Residents and Students is almost over.

People attended sessions ranged from "Reading a 12-Lead ECG" to "Financial Planning for Residents and Students." In doing so, as with most conferences, a sort of group culture was developed. With the conference theme being "Global Health," one of the major group perspectives was that the field of Family Medicine has the unique position to be a potential coordinator & bridge-maker for groups from different backgrounds that need to work together in the field...whether that is internationally or domestically, in rural or urban environments, or with people of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds.

Given this movement of students/residents/faculty/practitioners, Boston University School of Medicine has a great potential to become a bastion for Family Medicine, and thus, the future of medical practice. We have strong international collaborations, a history of working with community clinics in Boston, an excellent School of Public Health only steps away, and integration into a hospital with progressive programs in health care that have national renown. Perhaps Boston University faculty, residents and students can be a major force at the 2009 AAFP National Conference.

Yes, the sessions were interesting, the variety of residency programs was impressive, and the featured speakers were inspiring. However, the most important and immediate result from this conference was the personal bonding that occurred between people interested in providing primary health care for other people. MS-4s discovered people and programs that they only dreamed existed. MS-2s connected with students, residents, and faculty members from their own schools and in sharing trials and experiences, emerged more unified and optimistic. This showed that there's a great potential for changing the world, and changing ourselves, if we choose to work together.