UAB Associate Dean for Primary Care and Rural Health and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine Irfan Asif, MD, was honored with the 2024 North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) President’s Award for his work leading efforts to develop the national research strategy for family medicine.
Each year, NAPCRG's president selects a member, or members, to receive the President's Award. The award is given to a recipient who encompasses NAPCRG's values and has dedicated their time in service to NAPCRG.
As chair of the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) Research Development Committee, Asif worked with Amanda Weidner, MPH (pictured above), and others to spearhead years of planning and partnership development which culminated in the 2023 National Family Medicine Research Summit. At the summit, over 140 visionaries, innovators, and leaders in the field of family medicine gathered to create a National Research Strategic Plan for Family Medicine until 2030. The group crafted a transformational vision for research that is “whole-person, family, and community centered and improves health by enhancing health promotion, improving care for chronic diseases and advancing healthcare delivery, while including cross-cutting themes of health equity, technology, and team science.”
“This award is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the research development committee and the broader family medicine community,” said Asif. “Together, we are shaping the future of primary care research to better serve our patients and communities. It has been exciting to work with the brainpower of Amanda Weidner and family medicine researchers from across the country to drive the strategic plan. With the support of the American Board of Family Medicine—led by Warren Newton, MD—we have been fortunate to secure additional funding to support the implementation of this effort with our newly hired research staff, Shannon Robinson, who has been an outstanding addition to our team.”
Supporting this new strategic vision are three key strategic priorities, which include creating a robust system to mentor and guide emerging family medicine researchers, ensuring sufficient resources and support for groundbreaking research in the field, and building the necessary infrastructure to facilitate cutting-edge research initiatives.
Also receiving the 2024 President’s Award was Weidner, an associate professor in the University of Washington Department of Family Medicine and associate director of Strategic Planning for the Washington Wyoming Alaska Montana Idaho (WWAMI) Family Medicine Residency Network. In addition, she serves as the executive director of ADFM.
Founded in 1972, NAPCRG is an interdisciplinary volunteer association committed to nurturing primary care researchers working in partnership with individuals, families, and communities. NAPCRG is the recognized leader of primary care research that improves health and health care for patients, families, and communities. NAPCRG supports and nurtures clinicians, scientists, students, and patients around the world as they pursue primary care research.