MAFP Spring Refresher 2016 Recap

On April 14-15, the University of Minnesota Department of Family Medicine and Community Health attended the 2016 Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) Spring Refresher at The Depot Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.



The MAFP Spring Refresher is an annual family medicine conference for family physicians, family medicine residents, medical students, and allied health professionals. The conference covers updates in medical knowledge, skills workshops, clinical practice improvements and innovations, and more. It's also a great opportunity for Minnesota-based family physicians to connect with colleagues from across the state.



A number of our residents and faculty were in attendance at this year's conference. Several gave presentations, including Reneé Crichlow, MD, on burnout prevention and mindful meditation; Barbara Elliot, PhD, MDiv, on end-of-life decision making; Nancy Baker, MD, on the use of mobile devices in medicine; Mary Wagner, MD, on clinician resilience.

Also among presenters was Kim Nagel, an undergraduate research assistant working with research faculty Alicia Allen, PhD. She presented on recruiting and retaining smokers in research studies.

View their presentations here.

What drives you to practice or teach family medicine?

Department faculty Reneé Crichlow, MD

We had a great time in the Exhibit Hall visiting with current and former faculty and residents, community physicians, and University of Minnesota medical students. 

We asked attendees to answer the following question--“What drives you to practice or teach family medicine?” This question corresponds to this year’s University of Minnesota marketing campaign, “We are the Driven.”

We took photos of our visitors with their answers on a chalkboard and posted the photos to our social media channels. See photos here.

MAFP Honors and Awards

Several department faculty and residents were also honored at the conference for contributions to family medicine education and research.


2016 MAFP Teacher of the Year 
Carrie Link, MD, University of Minnesota Medical Center faculty

Carrie Link, MD

2016 Resident of the Year
Elizabeth Lownik, MD, MPH, U of M North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program

Elizabeth Lownik, MD, MPH




Also among awardees was fourth-year University of Minnesota medical student Mark Nelson, who won the Medical Student Award for Contributions to Family Medicine.

Fourth-year U of M medical student Mark Nelson

In addition to being a medical student, Mark is a Julliard alumnus who has been performing with Hippocrates Cafe, since its first show. Mark will continue his career in medicine with the University of Minnesota North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program.

Last, but not least, department head Macaran Baird, MD, MS, won the “Most School Spirit” award and faculty David Power, MD, MPH, won the "Most Shocking" award for participating in MAFP’s Sunglasses Selfies Contest.

Department head Macaran, Baird, MD, MS

Department faculty David Power, MD, MPH

Congratulations to all who received an award!

Looking Ahead

The MAFP Spring Refresher is an annual event that happens in the spring for Minnesota family physicians. For more information and next year's schedule, visit the MAFP website.