President's Message

However, as we all know, healthcare does not exist in a vacuum. It is deeply intertwined with the current and fast changing environment that we are living in today. This brings both challenges and opportunities for us in family medicine.

At our most recent WAFP board meeting earlier this month, we had a robust and thoughtful conversation about how to navigate these trying times and how the WAFP and its leadership can best support all of our current and future members in these areas going forward. Are there additional resources or education that we should be offering at this time? What kinds of advocacy efforts can we engage in to help our members and their patients and communities? How can we ensure that we all continue to have access to evidence-based medicine and scientific resources?

We also discussed an issue that is critical to the health and well-being of our society—vaccine hesitancy. Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccines, we are witnessing a troubling rise in patients refusing to vaccinate themselves and/or their children, and as a result, in recent years, we have seen the return of diseases once thought to be under control (most recently and most pressing at this time being measles) because of hesitation, misinformation, and lack of trust in vaccines and the healthcare system in general. As healthcare professionals, community leaders, and responsible citizens, it is important that we address the challenges of vaccine hesitancy head-on and work together to ensure that immunization continues to be one of the most powerful tools in our fight against preventable diseases.

With the advent of social media and online platforms, misinformation spreads faster than ever. False claims about vaccines causing autism, infertility, or other unproven side effects have created widespread fear. These myths have been debunked repeatedly by reputable scientific studies, yet they continue to circulate and gain traction. The echo chambers of social media often amplify these voices, making it harder for individuals to find reliable, science-based information.

In addition to misinformation, mistrust in the healthcare system, especially among certain communities, has also fueled vaccine hesitancy. Historical abuses, such as the Tuskegee experiment and other instances of medical malpractice, have led to deep distrust in healthcare institutions, particularly in marginalized communities. This mistrust has created barriers to vaccine acceptance, despite the availability of life-saving vaccines.  This is where we can use our superpower of relationship building to help to build trust with our patients which may then positively influence their decision to vaccinate.

Furthermore, the political landscape has made vaccines a topic of division. In some parts of the world, including here in the United States, vaccine debates have become highly politicized. What should be a scientific, health-based decision has been co-opted by political agendas. This polarization has contributed to confusion, with people sometimes making health decisions based on political affiliation rather than medical advice.

So, what can we do about it?

1. Education and Transparency: One of the most effective tools we have in combating vaccine hesitancy and other forms of medical misinformation is education. We need to provide clear, accurate, and science-based information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and of any of the other aspects of care that we are providing. Healthcare professionals, who are trusted by their patients, can play a central role in addressing concerns and answering questions. Transparency is key—patients should feel comfortable asking questions about vaccines and receiving honest, evidence-based answers.
2. Engaging Communities: We must engage with communities, especially those that are hesitant, to understand their concerns and provide support. Listening to people’s fears without judgment and providing tailored, culturally sensitive information can go a long way toward building trust.
3. Combating Misinformation: We need to work together to fight the spread of misinformation. Fact-checking organizations, social media platforms, and public health officials all have roles to play in ensuring that accurate information about vaccines is readily available. We must also encourage the sharing of positive vaccine stories—real-life examples of individuals who have been vaccinated and are thriving, as these can help dispel myths.
4. Policy and Public Health Initiatives: Governments and organizations need to continue pushing for policies that encourage vaccination while respecting individual autonomy. Public health campaigns that highlight the importance of vaccines, along with making vaccines more accessible to all populations, can help increase vaccination rates.
5. Building Trust: Trust is essential in the doctor-patient relationship. By showing empathy and understanding, healthcare professionals can help patients feel heard and respected, which can open the door for meaningful conversations about vaccines. There is no field in medicine that is better equipped than family medicine to create lifelong and trusting relationships with our patients that can only enhance our impact on the healthcare system and on our communities which will in turn improve the quality of our nation’s healthcare as a whole.

We want to hear from you! Your involvement and engagement is important now more than ever. The good news is that both the WAFP and AAFP are here to assist you, your patients and your communities through all of this. The AAFP website has excellent CME on vaccine hesitancy as well as resources for the current measles outbreak in regard to clinical recognition of the disease, treatment and vaccination recommendations for disease prevention. If there is particular CME or educational materials that you would be interested in our state chapter creating or broadcasting more thoroughly to our current membership, please reach out as we are always eager for ideas on how we can best help to enrich our members’ experience and benefits in ways that matter most to you.

Also, advocacy is huge. In this turbulent political landscape, one thing is clear: family medicine must be a strong advocate for itself and its patients. As family physicians, we must continue to push for policies that support patient-centered care, improve access to healthcare, and invest in primary care. The WAFP is here to help you to better advocate for your patients and for our profession, and there is certainly more power in numbers. Please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or our executive director, Brandon Wimmer if you have a particular interest or issue in the realm of advocacy that you would like to pursue and support further. We can help steer you in the right direction, or if you are interested in being more active in the WAFP in the area of advocacy, we are always excited to welcome more of you to have a seat at the table.

One great way to advocate for family medicine is to attend the annual Doctor Day at our state capitol in Madison, WI. This year it is taking place on Tuesday June 3rd, 2025, and you can register today.

If there is any way that the WAFP can support our membership better, do not hesitate to reach out. We’re all in this together!