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UT Health Science Center Alumnus and Selmer Physician Chosen President-Elect of American Academy of Family Physicians

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Memphis, Tenn. (October 10, 2006) -- James King, MD, currently a volunteer faculty member and a 1982 graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has been chosen president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  Previously, he served three years as a member of the AAFP board of directors.  The AAFP represents more than 94,000 physicians and medical students nationwide.  Dr. King was elected to the position on September 28 by the Congress of Delegates, the AAFP’s governing body, during the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

In Memphis tomorrow to speak to the Family Medicine Student Association, Dr. King will address the topic, “Would You Rather Be ‘The’ Doctor or ‘My’ Doctor?”  Medical students, residents and faculty will gather to hear him at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, October 11 at the General Education Building on the UTHSC campus.

“The AAFP Congress of Delegates has given me a great honor and opportunity to serve our specialty over the next three years,” said Dr. King.  “I believe great things can occur during this short time.  I look forward working to make sure people understand that Family Medicine is the answer to the healthcare system’s problems.”

Dr. King is in private practice in the rural community of Selmer where he is also on the medical staff of the McNairy Regional Hospital.  He also serves as medical director of Chester County Healthcare Services.

Active with the AAFP, Dr. King has advocated for patients outside the exam room through his service on the board of directors.  He worked to promote the legislative goals of family medicine to members of Congress through his service on the board of directors of FamMedPAC.  Additionally, he was liaison to various commissions and committees whose work has focused on quality improvement, clinical policies and research, and chapter affairs AAFP’s political action committee.

Prior to his service with the AAFP, he was an active member of the Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP).  Dr. King has served on the committees on public relations, finance, and legislation and governmental affairs. He also has served on the Long-Range Planning Committee, Nominating Committee and Membership Committee.  As a member of the TAFP board of directors, Dr. King was vice president, president-elect, president and board chair.

Dr. King received the Outstanding Model Office Teaching Award from the University of Tennessee Family Medicine Residency, Jackson, in 1990 and the TAFP’s Family Physician of the Year Award in 1997.  Dr. King is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is an AAFP fellow, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education.

Active in his community, Dr. King has presented the AAFP’s Tar Wars tobacco-free education program to area fourth- and fifth-graders on behalf of the TAFP since 2000.  He has also had many state and regional appointments, including serving as the chair of the McNairy County Board of Health, a member of the TennCare Steering Committee of the Tennessee Department of Health, plus as a member and then chair of the Primary Health Care Liaison Committee, State of Tennessee.

    As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, patient care and community service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus, which includes six colleges, is located in Memphis.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine campus locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.