As I become our chapter's next President, I first would like to thank Sue Cheff for all of her leadership these past two years as President.  We are especially grateful to her for guiding us through the retirement of our former Executive Director, Deborah, and transitioning us to our new Executive Director, Sandi. MAFP doesn’t function without our Executive Director and all the volunteer hours the President and board give. Thank you Sue for all that you did.

As family doctors, having strong, long-term intergenerational relationships with our patients is something we all value. It’s also something that makes us different from any other specialty. But our relationships with our colleagues is something we often don’t think enough about. I get reminded of this during our annual conference when I get to see people I have not seen for a while or I meet new family doctors from across the state. It always lifts my spirit and impassions me more about family medicine. In between these meetings, the busy-ness of life seems to get in the way of these relationships. I feel so busy in the clinic that I often don’t take the time to check in with colleagues working near me in the office. On my days off, I’m hesitant to reach out to past colleagues fearing I will bother them in their busy lives. When talking with other family physicians, many feel the same way. Most agree, though, that these relationships are so important to our well-being, our identity, and our ability to stay in this profession.

There are so many family physicians that shaped who I am today but I want to specially mention one in particular - Ron Blum. If you don’t know Ron, he is a long-time member of MAFP, a past MAFP president, and a passionate advocate for family medicine and rural health. Around 2015, he joined the office at Health Access Network in Medway where I was working. He introduced me to MAFP and encouraged me to join MAFP in 2018. If we had not met or not had many after-clinic conversations about AAFP and MAFP, I wouldn’t be this chapter's current President. Thank you Ron for your service to family medicine and for your mentoring of me. 

I’m sure you also have a list of family physicians who shaped who you are today as well. Take a minute to think about who they may be. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to reach out to them thanking them for their mentoring. If it has been a while since you have spoken to them, then reach out to them again and see how they are. Although they may be just as busy as you, I’m sure they will be grateful to hear from you and you will probably lighten up their day. The next time you go to your clinic make sure you take a few minutes to talk to the other physicians in your office - asking them how they are, what’s new, or how’s their family? 

When you come to our annual meetings, don’t feel timid to go up to someone you have never met before and introduce yourself. We are all in this together and we know each other’s struggles more than anyone else. Just like any family who relies on each other’s support, we should rely on our family of family doctors in Maine to help us through our professional lives and our demanding profession. 

Thank you for all you do, for joining MAFP, and for being part of this family.

Marco Cornelio MD, FAAFP
MAFP President, 2025-2027