FFFM | Lawmaker Spotlight: Physician Voices Shaping Health Policy
Release Date: 04/17/2026
CME | Menopause, Minus the Mystery: What Every Clinician Should Know
Inside Family Medicine
In this re-released episode of CME on the Go, originally published on 9/2/2025, our hosts delve into menopause, providing family physicians with essential insights, treatment options, and the latest research findings. While discussing hormone replacement therapy, non-hormonal treatments, and the interpretation of the Women's Health Initiative, the hosts emphasize patient-centered care and the natural progression of menopause. This episode aims to equip physicians with practical tools and knowledge, enhancing their ability to support patients through this critical stage of life. ...
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FFFM | FamMedPAC: How Family Physicians Engage in Policy and Politics
Inside Family Medicine
In this episode of Fighting for Family Medicine, David Tully, AAFP vice president of government relations, previews recent AAFP advocacy updates and interviews Domenic Casablanca, MD, FAAFP at FMX about the Family Medicine Political Action Committee (FamMedPAC). Highlights include urging HHS to preserve family medicine representation on the United States Preventive Services Task Force, AAFP advocacy efforts around Medicare payment reform and student loan repayment updates. Casablanca explains how a political action...
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IFM | Whole Health: Medicine’s Course Correction
Inside Family Medicine
In this episode of Inside Family Medicine Andrew Bazemore, MD, MPH, and Beth Polk, MD, FAAFP join us to discuss whole health in primary care. Dr. Bazemore distinguishes whole health (physical, behavioral, spiritual and socioeconomic well-being across individuals, families and communities) from whole health care (how care is organized), emphasizing a shift from “What’s the matter with you?” to “What matters to you?” Dr. Polk connects whole health to lifestyle medicine’s pillars and stresses addressing drivers of...
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CME | From Awkward to Affirming: Mastering the Sexual History
Inside Family Medicine
In this episode of CME On the Go, our hosts discuss how family physicians can take a comprehensive, sensitive sexual history. They highlight common discomfort and bias in asking “Are you sexually active?” and emphasize using respectful, gender-inclusive language, humility, trauma-informed care and clear medical purpose to avoid voyeurism, with supportive EHR documentation when possible. They review terminology around sex, gender and sexuality and outline the CDC “Five Ps” framework—partners, practices, protection from STIs, past history of STIs...
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IFM | Mental Health Month: Behavioral Health Integration
Inside Family Medicine
In this episode of Inside Family Medicine, Shannon Connolly, MD, FAAFP, associate medical director at the Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, discusses family physicians’ crucial role as the first and sometimes only point of contact for mental health care, especially in underserved settings. She explains how psychosocial and behavioral factors underlie many primary care challenges such as complex pain, substance use disorders and uncontrolled chronic...
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IFM | Innovative Diagnostic Tools and Workflows for Suspected Alzheimer’s in Primary Care
Inside Family Medicine
In this special edition of Inside Family Medicine, sponsored by Roche Diagnostics, host Darren Sextro talks with brain health experts Deanna Willis, MD, MBA, a board-certified family physician, and Jared Brosch, MD, board-certified neurologist, on the use of blood-based biomarkers (BBBMs) in primary care settings for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Their discussion explores how BBBMs can make referrals more efficient and enhance the evaluation of patients with cognitive decline. The conversation highlights the value of early diagnosis...
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CME | Private Practice, Public Impact: Finding Your Fit in Modern Medicine
Inside Family Medicine
In this episode of CME On the Go, Jason Marker, MD, MPA, FAAFP and Lauren Brown-Berchtold, MD, FAAFP, discuss how private practice in family medicine is evolving and how physicians can evaluate different models in 2026. They review trends showing a shift from 50/50 self-owned vs. other-owned practices in 2016 to about 75% other-owned and 25% private practice today, note rural workforce losses, and highlight rapid growth in direct primary care (DPC) and concierge models, alongside increasing corporate ownership. They compare employed practice vs....
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FFFM | April 2026 Advocacy Rounds
Inside Family Medicine
David Tully, AAFP vice president of government relations, recaps the AAFP’s April 2026 advocacy efforts. AAFP led a coalition letter urging the Departments of Homeland Security and State to speed visa and immigration processing for international medical graduates, citing delays with J-1 waivers, H-1B extensions, and green cards that disrupt care in rural and underserved areas. AAFP warned the Department of Education that a proposed Workforce Pell rule could exclude physicians with graduate degrees from short-term training support, worsening...
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CME | A Crash Course in Thyroid Confusion
Inside Family Medicine
In this episode of CME On the GO, the hosts discuss a practical approach to hypothyroidism, using a case of a 50-year-old woman with nonspecific symptoms (weight gain, fatigue, edema, constipation). They emphasize thorough history and physical exam, then outline key thyroid testing: TSH as the initial screening test (often with reflex free T4), free T4 for confirmation and special situations (including pregnancy), and limited uses for T3 tests. They review antibody testing (TPO for Hashimoto’s, thyroglobulin antibodies in select cases) and note tests...
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FFFM | Lawmaker Spotlight: Physician Voices Shaping Health Policy
Inside Family Medicine
David Tully, AAFP vice president of government relations, speaks with U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy, MD, a family physician and former Utah state legislator, about why he chose family medicine, how having more clinicians in public office can lead to bipartisan physician collaboration on health care policy and the need for greater professional autonomy. We also hear from U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, MD, a pulmonary/critical care physician and former Oregon state legislator who...
info_outlineDavid Tully, AAFP vice president of government relations, speaks with U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy, MD, a family physician and former Utah state legislator, about why he chose family medicine, how having more clinicians in public office can lead to bipartisan physician collaboration on health care policy and the need for greater professional autonomy. We also hear from U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, MD, a pulmonary/critical care physician and former Oregon state legislator who helped pass a state law expanding naloxone access, about how policy affects public health. She also discusses harms from cutting Medicaid and Medicare and allowing ACA premium tax credits to expire, the need for long-term Medicare payment reform and less administrative burden, and pushing back against misinformation and threats to evidence-based medicine.
Topics by Timestamp
00:00 Show intro and guest
00:50 Why family medicine
02:55 From clinic to Congress
04:51 Surprises in Washington
08:08 Doctors shaping policy
13:46 Advice on running for office
18:00 Dr. Kennedy wrap-up
18:25 Meet Dr. Maxine Dexter
19:03 Policy meets medicine
21:02 HR1 and Medicaid fallout
24:31 Fixing physician payment
28:43 Defending science and trust
33:50 Dr. Dexter’s advice to physicians
Additional Resources
AAFP member resource page: H.R. 1
Fighting for Family Medicine podcast: How H.R. 1 Will Affect Family Medicine
AAFP Chapter Advocacy
The Academy’s Family Medicine Advocacy Summit
Disclaimer: Copyright 2026, AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent those of AAFP. The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice. The AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.