The Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)  has received the Program of Excellence Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The award is given annually to 10 medical colleges throughout the United States and recognizes family medicine interest groups that have excelled with programs in community service, exposure to family medicine and physicians, professional development and promoting the value of primary care.

“At a time when our health care system is struggling with a shortage of primary care physicians, it’s imperative that medical students discover the joys — and challenges — of family medicine,” said Perry Pugno, M.D., director of the AAFP Division of Education.

Family Medicine Interest Groups are medical school-sponsored organizations that give students a chance to learn more about family medicine through regular meetings, workshops, leadership development opportunities and community and clinical experiences. OHSU’s FMIG has won the award 11 of the 12 years it has been awarded and repeatedly has been recognized nationally for student retention and for meeting missions and goals.

Other institutions whose medical schools also have been recognized by the AAFP are UCLA, East Tennessee State University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Ohio State University, Virginia Commonwealth University , University of Kansas, University of Southern California, University of Texas and Brown University.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is a medical society that represents more than 93,700 family physicians and medical students in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html