AAFP recognizes TAFP staff for excellence in communication

TAFP staff Kate McCann and Jonathan Nelson accept the Leadership in State Government Advocacy award from AAFP staff.

In recognition of the communications effort during the 80th Legislative Session and the news package that brought family medicine’s advocacy message to a diverse audience, AAFP awarded Director of Communications Jonathan Nelson and Associate Editor Kate McCann the Leadership in State Government Advocacy award. They accepted the award at AAFP’s State Legislative Conference in Memphis, Tenn.

During the first five months of 2007 when Texas legislators convened for the 80th Legislative Session, the TAFP Communications staff kicked into high gear to give you the most comprehensive, family medicine-centered news in the state.

The effort really began in December 2006 with the publication of the policy document, “Fractured: The State of Health Care in Texas,” which spurred a series of issue briefs on graduate medical education, CHIP and Medicaid reimbursement, and fair contracting with managed care companies. The communications team also embarked on a brand-new initiative, the Capitol Update electronic newsletter and Capitol Report video news Webcast, which were delivered directly to TAFP members’ e-mail inboxes each week through QuickInfo.

The gains made by the TAFP staff will continue to be a foundation on which we build our future efforts. Watch for even more tools and resources as we enter a new year and build up our arsenal for the primary and general elections and the 81st Legislative Session in 2009.