Member Newsletter

NAPCRG News is an electronic member newsletter published several times throughout year. 

September Newsletter

President's Message 

I am sure you have all been in meetings or seen headlines that we must address the serious issues of racism, injustices, and marginalization in just about any setting that we are living and working. I am pleased to report that NAPCRG has linked with other family medicine organizations to explore what we can do as a “family” to advance antiracism in the U.S, and we are hopeful this work will inform and influence other entities in NAPCRG’s global network.

The Family Medicine Leadership Consortium (FMLC) is a group of U.S. family medicine organizations that represent clinical practice (allopathic and osteopathic), residency education (residents and program directors), faculty/teachers in family medicine, the leaders of academic departments, and researchers in family medicine/primary care. This group gathers twice each year to consider big picture issues that impact the family medicine specialty and opportunities for collaboration.

Antiracism, and attendant issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, have been prominent in FMLC discussions since January 2021. FMLC representatives recognized its obligation to be a voice in health equity and to advance collective efforts aimed at diversity/equity/inclusion given the upheaval ignited by the pandemic and racial injustices in 2020. Leveraging the strength of community connection, family medicine is uniquely positioned to influence and address barriers that limit access to care. 

1. Coordinating Committee

A coordinating committee consisting of two representatives from each organization will oversee the initiative. It will develop recommendations and a suggested roadmap to focus on collective actions to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond what each organization can do independently.

2. Urgency

Earlier this year, the National Academies of Science released Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care (April 29, 2021). It is available here.

This report examines the current state of primary care in the U.S. and sets forth an implementation plan to strengthen primary care services in the U.S., especially for underserved populations. The report compels collective action. Among the five objectives identified as necessary for high-quality primary care, one aimed at access is particularly relevant for this FMLC initiative: “Ensure that high-quality care is available to every individual and family in every community.”

3. Specific Actions -- Scope of Work

 The coordinating committee and FMLC will consider ways to prioritize efforts aimed at eliminating health disparities and driving an antiracism agenda across the spectrum of family medicine/primary care by: 

  • Conducting a gap analysis of the specialty using the proposed “Anti-Racism in Family Medicine Framework”.
  • Developing recommendations that address identified gaps, strengthen the impact of current efforts, and monitor progress towards outcomes. 
  • Communicating a roadmap of collective actions and measurement of those actions over time.

4. For Further Information

If you are interested in participating in the coordinating committee, please contact NAPCRG Executive Director Julie Sutter. 

I realize most of us expected to be in a very different position than where we find ourselves today. The Delta variant is rampaging through our populations with vaccine-hesitation causing us to doubt when and how we will successfully emerge from our current pandemic-induced crisis. Racism and a lack of equity and diversity are adding to our current challenges, and it can certainly be quite discouraging. My purpose in describing this reality is not to add to our burdens but to issue a ‘call to arms’ to you, our primary care researchers, trainees, clinicians, and community partners – there is no one better suited to making this world a better place for everyone.

Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant, PhD

President

NAPCRG 49th Annual Meeting

Our Next Virtual Experience

Reenergize yourself. Connect with peers. Learn in engaging and interactive ways.  

Get ready for all this and more at NAPCRG’s 49th Annual Meeting scheduled as a virtual event November 19-23, 2021. The Program Committee has designed this virtual gathering to maximize your opportunities to learn and network with the best and brightest in global primary care research.

Annual Meeting Schedule

The initial schedule for the NAPCRG 49th Annual Meeting is now posted on our website. Look at what is happening so you can mark your calendar and protect your time for your preferred sessions. You’ll notice we’ve shortened our conference days over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday). This is designed to help you nourish yourself professionally, while still having personal time with family and friends.

Check back often as we are adding more schedule details every week.

Dynamic and Interactive Programming

Our 2021 programming is a diverse offering of distinguished speakers, relevant topics, in a variety of session formats: plenary speeches, key presentations, scholarly conversations around designated topics, forums, workshops, oral presentations, a virtual poster hall, and virtual poster walks. In comparison to last year, the 2021 Annual Meeting offers more opportunities for live presentations that allow for interaction and discussion with presenters and among attendees.

We know you won’t be able to join us for everything. Competing priorities, multiple time zones and life in general makes that too hard. So, we’re still offering key conference content on-demand so you can watch (or rewatch) when it’s most convenient for you. Plenary speeches and key presentations will be available on-demand within 24-48 hours after the live broadcasts. You can browse the virtual poster hall throughout the conference. 

Take your time. All on-demand content is accessible through December 31, 2021.

Early Bird Registration, Special Pricing, and Other Accommodations

2021 Annual Meeting registration fees are all-inclusive and remain the same as 2020. We are offering multiple options that allow us to welcome more primary care researchers at different levels from around the world.

  • Early Bird Discount: Save $100 if you register by October 18.
  • Pricing for Developing Countries: Attendees from developing countries (as defined by World Organization of Family doctors) may be able to receive a discount of at least 50% off registration fees. 
  • Membership Pricing Discounts: We’re also offering the possibility of additional assistance with NAPCRG membership fees to those who may have financial hardship.

See our website for full details about registration and special considerations.

We look forward to seeing you in November!

NAPCRG Membership Renewal

Renew your 2022 NAPCRG membership today to continue to be a part of a supportive community, committed to bringing out the very best in every one of our members. You can renew your membership online. Be sure to update your profile with your most current contact information so we can keep in touch.

 

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health

As part of the budget reconciliation process now underway in the House of Representatives, the House Energy and Commerce committee held a markup of provisions under its jurisdiction. The Build Back Better Act (the name of the Budget Reconciliation bill) provides $3 billion in funding to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). 

According to the committee’s press release, ARPA-H will use this funding to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies that have the potential to transform important areas of medicine and health for the benefit of all individuals and that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional biomedical research or commercial activity. Interestingly, the authorization language (bill text) did not mention the earlier referenced diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, or ALS. However, those were included in the House appropriations language earlier this year. The Senate committees aren’t expected to act on Budget Reconciliation until later this fall.

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