This article originally appeared in the winter 2023 edition of the Minnesota Family Physician magazine.
A CONVERSATION WITH CYBILL ORAGWU, MD, ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CONSTITUENCY LEADERS
Interview by Emie Buege, MAFP Communications & Marketing
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) is an annual gathering of underrepresented member constituencies—recognized as women,minorities, new physicians, international medical graduates and LGBTQ+ physicians—to provide an opportunity to advocate, share and develop as leaders.
In addition to leadership and advocacy training, education sessions and networking, the constituencies put forth and debate resolutions that may affect AAFP policy and advocacy efforts at the state and/or national level and elect representatives to the AAFP Congress of Delegates (where policies are voted on).
Each year, the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) sends members to NCCL to represent both Minnesota and underrepresented member constituencies. In 2021, one of those representatives was MAFP Special Constituency Director Cybill Oragwu, MD, who served as the New Physician Delegate from Minnesota. She returned to NCCL in 2022 as an AAFP new physician co-convener.
We talked with Oragwu to learn more about NCCL and her involvement in advocacy and leadership.
HOW HAS PARTICIPATING IN NCCL IMPACTED YOU AS A LEADER?
Oragwu: Participating in NCCL continues to renew my joy in medicine. It reminds me that my voice matters and empowers me to advocate and speak out on issues that affect my patients, my community and my wellbeing as a practicing physician. It also reminds me that my responsibilities as a leader go beyond the exam room. While there are external elements that impact and seek to define what goes on in the clinic, our role as family physicians includes addressing them to continue providing the care that our communities need.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND NCCL TO OTHER PHYSICIANS?
Oragwu: Absolutely! While there are many reasons to be involved in NCCL, it’s reinvigorating to be surrounded by other people with a shared goal. We go from being learners, trainees and parts of cohorts to becoming independent practicing family physicians, which can sometimes be isolating. NCCL is a great way to change that dynamic, make connections and take back ideas that enrich your practice and community.
It’s vital for all voices to be heard. Our health care system is at a point where we cannot afford to be passive. Engagement in NCCL [and the AAFP Congress of Delegates and MAFP House of Delegates] are opportunities to represent our patients, communities and practice.
WHICH ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO NEW-TO-PRACTICE FAMILY PHYSICIANS?
Oragwu:
- Shifting dynamics in family medicine, with less and less autonomy in practice
- Narrowing scope of practice
- Increasing shift towards the employed physician model and growth of corporate medicine
- Shortage of family physicians (with a high number of retiring physicians)
- Administrative burden
- Low investment in primary care (especially since family medicine is the only specialty producing primary care physicians that provide comprehensive care for all ages)
All of these [listed] contribute to increasing burnout and departure from the practice of medicine.
TIPS FOR GETTING PLUGGED INTO LEADERSHIP AND/OR ADVOCACY?
Oragwu: If you have a cause that matters to you or a process that you feel can be improved upon, do some research into it. If there are people or organizations already doing work around that cause or issue, reach out to them and join them; and, if no one else is doing the work, feel empowered to start your own thing and/or find like-minded individuals to join you.
PARTING THOUGHTS?
Oragwu: I want to commend the MAFP for promoting family medicine in Minnesota and being a voice for family physicians across our state.
Cybill Oragwu, MD, is a new-to-practice family physician (defined as those within seven years of residency completion). She serves on the MAFP Board of Directors as our Special Constituency Director and is active in the AAFP. She was recently appointed to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and is the Physician Site Lead and Chief of Staff at her current practice at CentraCare – Long Prairie.
