As recruitment season approaches and the academic year gets underway, this month's updates are designed to help you support your residents and strengthen your program. Inside you'll find recruitment resources, educational opportunities, resident communications you can easily share and reminders for the months ahead.
Register Now: Free Fall RPS Mini Group Consults
The first Fall RPS Mini-Group Consult is just around the corner. On Aug. 20, join Dr. Debbie Lupeika and fellow residency leaders for a discussion on recruitment strategies, holistic application review and making the most of residency signaling before ERAS applications are released. Can't make this session? Registration is also open for additional consults throughout the fall.
August is a great time to strengthen vaccine conversations before respiratory virus season begins. Use AAFP resources to help residents build confidence in vaccine counseling, address vaccine hesitancy and prep for back-to-school and fall immunization discussions.
Watch for the 2026 Fall Respiratory Immunization Recommendations, available Sept. 2.
New Savings on AAFP Education for Residency Programs
It's now easier to stretch your education budget. Residency programs receive 10% off when purchasing three or more eligible AAFP on-demand courses in a single order, with the flexibility to mix and match courses based on your program's needs. Explore eligible courses and start planning your residents' learning for the year.
Mark your calendar for the 2027 Residency Leadership Summit, March 3–5 in Dallas, Texas. Connect with residency leaders, share ideas and gain practical strategies to strengthen your program.
August recess offers a unique opportunity for residents to engage with policymakers while they're back in their home districts. Through the AAFP August Recess Advocacy Challenge, residents can complete advocacy activities, build leadership skills and help amplify the voice of family medicine. The challenge is open through Aug. 31.
Please note in this section we’ve provided prewritten copy that you can cut and paste into communications to quickly get the word out to your residents about resources available to them.
Help Shape Your Residency Experience
If you haven't taken the 2026 Resident Needs Survey yet, there's still time to share your feedback. Your input helps identify the resources, support and opportunities that matter most to residents and identifies what the AAFP needs to create. The survey closes on Sept. 4.
As an AAFP resident member, you're eligible for no-cost life and disability insurance with guaranteed acceptance. It takes just a few minutes to enroll.
Whether you're building confidence in PGY-2 or getting ready for life after residency in PGY-3, the AAFP has resources tailored to where you are now.
PGY-2: Grow your leadership skills, explore career options, strengthen your clinical knowledge and connect with opportunities beyond your residency program.
PGY-3: Prepare for boards, explore practice and fellowship options and get practical guidance for your transition into independent practice.
Find guidance and resources designed for your stage of training.
Share Your Perspective on Family Medicine—and Earn Up to $2,000
The AAFP Foundation's Richard D. Feldman, M.D. Student and Resident Essay Contestinvites resident members to explore the history of family medicine through original scholarship. Winning essays receive national recognition, with cash awards of $2,000 for first place and $1,000 for second place.
Still thinking about applying for the AAFP Foundation's Family Medicine Cares Resident Service Award? If you're a PGY-1 or PGY-2 resident with an idea to improve health in your community, there's still time to apply. Up to two residents will receive $16,500 to support projects that address health disparities and improve care for underserved communities.
Curious what another resident’s first few months are really like? Follow family medicine resident Claire Jean's first 90 days as she shares the highs, challenges and everyday moments of intern year. You can also explore AAFP's PGY-1 resources to help you navigate residency with confidence.
