• Must be a member of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians.
• Must be in second, third or fourth year of medical school when program begins at the start of the academic year. Ideal candidates are second- or third-year students.
• Must receive documented pre-approval from medical school dean or department chair for participation in this program
• Selected recipients must attend the AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Students in Kansas City in July and one of the following MAFP Meetings. If unable to attend NCFMRS and one of these MAFP events, scholarship will be forfeited and student will not receive recognition for completing the program.
  1. MAFP Advocacy Day (January or February in Jefferson City)
  2. Transition to Practice Conference for Residents and Students (Usually in June, location TBD)
  3. MAFP Annual Fall Conference (11/10-11/11, 2023 at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale; 11/8-11/9, 2024 at InterContinental on the Plaza in Kansas City)
• Applicant must apply for a Family Medicine Leads Scholarship for National Conference through the AAFP Foundation (currently $600). If applicant applies and is not chosen, MAFP will reimburse travel expenses per policy.
• MAFP and the Family Health Foundation of Missouri will provide reimbursement for registration expenses, travel expenses, and lodging up to budget maximum and in accordance with MAFP travel expense reimbursement policy for MAFP LEADS Scholars Events.
  1. All travel expenses may not be covered. Additional expenses will be the responsibility of the student although additional funds may be available by contacting your school, Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG), or local chapter for supplemental scholarship(s).
• Clinical experience is encouraged, but not required
  1. Recipients should explore preceptors through their medical school and/or Missouri AHEC.
  2. Recipients are strongly encouraged to apply for MAFP Summer Externships.
• LEADS Scholars are required to submit a brief summary of their experience in the program. The summary should include program highlights and how the program increased their understanding of family medicine.
• Unsuccessful candidates may apply again in subsequent years, provided they still meet all eligibility criteria.

Complete the application online at: https://moafp.formstack.com/forms/mo_leads_application.

• Upload a copy of curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé in PDF format.
• Upload at least one and up to three Letters of Recommendation (LOR) in PDF. This should be written on the applicant’s behalf by someone who knows them well and can provide a clear reason why they would be an excellent candidate for the program. Consider the following:
  1. Faculty, advisor, or other member of current medical school’s Department of Family Medicine
  2. A member of the leadership of Missouri Academy of Family Physicians
  3. A family physician in good standing with the AAFP

Letters of recommendation must:

1. Be on letterhead and have a valid signature
2. Include a date
3. Describe the letter writer’s relationship to the applicant
4. Address the letter writer’s belief that the applicant is an “emerging” leader and the evidence to support the belief, including the applicant’s work ethic and interpersonal skills.
   1. Based on letter writer’s knowledge of the applicant, indicate the ability of the applicant to successfully carry out a leadership project in the allotted time.
   2. Comment on any other factors that the letter writer believes may be of value to the review committee.
   3. Note: If the letter doesn’t contain all the information requested, your overall score could be lowered.

NOTIFICATION

1. 1. Selected recipients will be notified via email.
   2. Selected recipients will have seven calendar days to accept or reject the application before alternate selections of the next highest-scoring applicants may be made.
      1. Priority will be given to ensuring two representatives from each school are selected, and then prioritized based on overall score.
      2. Upon acceptance, recipients will provide a professional headshot to be used for publication.For a successful submission, the online application with all supporting documents (in PDF format) must be completed by the stated application deadline. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the application packet deadline is on the following workday.

REVIEW PROCESS

1. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of five MAFP members. Active members of the Education Commission, Member Services Commission, Executive Commission and Student and Resident Board Members will be asked to serve.
2. A maximum of ten (10) students will be selected in the following hierarchy:
   1. One applicant from each Missouri Medical school receiving the highest average numeric scores will be selected to participate in the MO LEADS program.
   2. Secondary spots will be awarded based on overall average score.