Doctors who pass this exam become board-certified family physicians. They must continuously update their skills and be re-certified more than any other medical specialty, every seven years. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1996. The specialized training of family physicians provides substantial practical and clinical experience in obstetrics and gynecology. Yet the care of women by family physicians encompasses the whole patient, not just a single disease or a specific part of the body.
Family physicians provide a vital link to obstetrical care in rural areas.
The project will provide funds for individuals and research centers, and will encourage the development of practice-based research networks. Top family practice researchers from across the country make up the AAFP's new Task Force to Enhance Family Practice Research, with the goal of improving a research base to address issues relating to the role of the family physician in today's health care environment. The AAFP is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and employs a professional staff of 315.