Arizona Academic Family Medicine Innovation Conference (AAFMIC)

The Arizona Academic Family Medicine Innovation Conference (AAFMIC) is a premier gathering of medical professionals, educators, researchers, and students dedicated to advancing family medicine through research, collaboration, and innovation. This full-day event provides a unique platform to engage in keynote discussions, oral presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with leaders in the field. 

The Arizona Academic Family Medicine Innovation Conference (AAFMIC) will take place on Friday, April 17, 2026 at the Virginia Piper Auditorium at the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix (600 E. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ).

Why Attend?
  • Gain insights from expert speakers on the latest advancements in family medicine research. 
  • Present and discuss your own projects during oral presentations and panel discussions.
  • Network with peers and professionals to foster collaboration and career growth.
  • Participate in the AzAFP Arizona Family Medicine Residency Fair Reception, open to all attendees.

For any questions, reach out to the AAFMIC email at @email.

Keynote Speakers

Nicholas Pimlott, MD, PhDNicholas Pimlott, MD, PhD , is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM), Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. From 1994 to 2024 he practised and taught comprehensive family medicine at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. From 1996 to 2009 he was a Research Scholar in the DFCM and the focus of his research was understanding the role of family physicians in caring for patients with dementia and their families. For several years he also taught a graduate course “Research Issues in Family Medicine”. In 2009 he became the Editor of Canadian Family Physician, the official publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, where he regularly reviews and evaluates a wide range of research in family medicine.

Sally Radovick, MS, MDSally Radovick, MS, MD, is the Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Institute (CTRI) at the University of Arizona and the PI of the recently approved Southwest Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation (SW CACTI) CTSA award. In this role, Dr. Radovick promotes the translational research mission of the University and supports the careers of junior investigators. She has been involved in conducting NIH-funded biomedical research for over 30 years. Her research primarily addresses the development and function of neuroendocrine control of mammalian growth and development. She has a broad background in physiology and molecular biology, including the generation of genetically engineered mice as models for human disease. Her funding has focused on determining the role of genetic factors in stature and the regulation of puberty and reproduction by sex steroids. Dr. Radovick’s commitment to diabetes began at the University of Chicago when there was a significant unmet need for children with obesity and diabetes in the community, while the University had an extensive, well-funded diabetes program for over 20 years. With the assistance of the University of Chicago DRTC, she developed the ‘Reach-out’ program to promote family-based nutrition and exercise in community centers and churches in the South Chicago neighborhood, which became the basis of a K23 award to Deborah Burnet, M.D. Her interactions with members of the DRTC’s community-based effort led to laboratory studies aimed at understanding the neuroendocrine control of metabolism, resulting in the development of a model of a metabolically healthy phenotype resistant to a high-fat diet. She has had a multi-year collaboration as the pediatric endocrine expert in the Boston Birth Cohort analysis, designed to determine the role of early life determinants of obesity and preterm birth on metabolic outcomes in this unique population of children.

AAFMIC Panelists

What’s Family Medicine Really Like? Q&A for Medical Students
Panelists
  • Dr. Dakota Wise, North Country.
  • Dr. Christian Javier, Creighton.
  • Dr. Parth Patel, Onvida Health.
  • Dr. Grace Garratt, Onvida Health.
Centering the ‘Community’ in Family Medicine Research
Panelists

Yumi Shirai, PhDDr. Yumi Shirai, Director, ArtWorks; Co-Director, Residency Scholarly Project Program, Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine, Affiliated faculty for Sonoran Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Applied Intercultural Arts Research-GIDP, and Innovation in Aging GIDP.

Bio: Yumi Shirai, PhD, is a social and behavioral scientist and associate professor in Family & Community Medicine (FCM) at the University of Arizona, where she also holds affiliate appointments with the Sonoran Center as well as the Applied Intercultural Arts Research and Innovation in Aging Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. As co-director of the FCM Residency Scholarly Project Program, she mentors family medicine residents and leads the Medical Humanities curriculum. Dr. Shirai earned her PhD in Family Studies and Human Development and MA in Theater/Dance from the University of Arizona. Dr. Shirai’s research, education and outreach program focus on promoting the quality of life of individuals with cognitive disabilities, including intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as Alzheimer’s and related dementias. To promote health equity for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and other underserved populations, her interests are integrating creativity and expressive arts in community- and patient-engaged programs and research projects.

Maissa Khatib, PhDDr. Maissa Khatib, Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, Adjunct Research Associate at Valleywise Health.

Bio: Dr. Maissa Khatib is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University and an Adjunct Research Associate at Valleywise Health. She is an interdisciplinary health scientist advancing community-engaged and translational research at the intersection of climate change, migration, and health, with a focus on improving outcomes for refugee and underserved populations.

Her work is grounded in a primary care and population health lens, examining how social and environmental stressors—such as displacement, extreme heat, and structural inequities—shape physical and mental health across the life course. Dr. Khatib partners closely with communities, clinicians, and health systems to co-design contextually responsive interventions that strengthen trust, enhance patient-centered care, and address upstream drivers of health.

Using qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, she applies the Design Studios for Health framework to support equitable community–academic–clinical partnerships and to translate community insights into scalable, practice-relevant solutions. Her work increasingly integrates digital health tools to support real-time, context-aware interventions in clinical and community settings.

Pilar SanJuan, PhDDr. Pilar SanJuan, Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Bio: Dr. Pilar Sanjuan is an Associate Professor and clinical psychologist in the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology at Rutgers University and completed her internship in Albuquerque, NM at the Southwest Consortium Predoctoral Psychology Internship (SCPPI). She completed a NIH National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism T32 postdoctoral fellowship at the UNM Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions (CASAA). Her research program focuses on improving treatment for perinatal substance use disorder and other perinatal mental health conditions and on illuminating the intersections between stress/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol and other substance use disorders, stigma, social determinants of health, and emotion regulation.  Dr. Sanjuan’s research has examined doulas as an intervention for perinatal substance use disorder and the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use in several populations, including during pregnancy. She is the Co-lead for the SW CACTI Community Engaged Research Module at the University of New Mexico.  She has worked closely with community birth-workers and perinatal health advocacy groups including the New Mexico Doula Association, NM Breastfeeding Taskforce, and Postpartum Support International as well as the NM Department of Health and the NM Healthcare Authority on research proposals and policy change to improve access and treatment for perinatal mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use.

Freya Spielberg MD MPHDr. Freya Spielberg, Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at the University of Arizona – Phoenix. Clinical Research Director of the Southwest Safety Net Embedded Scientist Training and Research (SSNE-STaR) program with Arizona State University.

Bio: Freya Spielberg MD MPH is the Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona Medical School, Phoenix. Dr. Spielberg received her MD from the Weill Cornell Medical College, and her residency in Family Medicine from the University of Washington/Swedish Downtown Family Medicine. She completed a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellowship and her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Washington. Since her training she has conducted research to decrease health disparities in the US, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Botswana, and the Congo.  Before joining the University of Arizona, she held leadership positions as faculty at the University of Washington, George Washington University, Stanford, and University of Texas in Austin. Her focus over the past 20+ years has been to develop and evaluate new technologies and community-based models of care to improve health outcomes, improve patient experience, improve provider experience, lower health care costs, and diminish health disparities.  In her position at the University of Arizona, Dr. Spielberg is focusing on developing an AZ Practice Based Research Network, providing research mentorship, developing multidisciplinary collaborations to reduce heat related deaths, and implementing new models of care to improve urban and rural community health.

Oral Presentations

Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis and Outcomes After Shoulder, Hip, and Knee
Arthroplasty: Family Medicine Implications
  • Author: Dr. Jeff Blotter, PGY1, U of A, College of Medicine-Phoenix
  • Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is uncommon but serious after arthroplasty. While surgeons manage early post-operative care, primary care physicians (PCPs) oversee chronic comorbidities, anticoagulation, and long-term follow-up. Real-world prophylaxis patterns and outcomes inform safe transitions of care and risk counseling in family medicine.
  • Methods: We analyzed a national database (2010–2022) of total shoulder (TSA, n=253,857), hip (THA, n=921,678), and knee (TKA, n=1,756,873) arthroplasties. Anticoagulant prophylaxis included aspirin, warfarin, enoxaparin, and factor Xa inhibitors (Xaban). Outcomes were 30- and 90-day DVT, PE, and other related complications. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for complications despite prophylaxis were calculated, adjusting for age and comorbidity index.
  • Results: Prophylaxis use varied: aspirin 6–11%, Xaban 2–8%, warfarin 1–7%, enoxaparin 1–5%. Ninety-day VTE rates were low: TSA 0.51%, THA 1.07%, TKA 1.97%. Aspirin was associated with lower 90-day DVT odds in TKA (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.45–0.57, p<2e-16) and THA (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.49–0.69, p=1.39E-09). Other anticoagulants showed variable associations with DVT/PE, though absolute event rates remained low. Older age and higher comorbidity index increased VTE risk. Non-VTE complications were cumulatively rare (<4%).
  • Conclusion: VTE after arthroplasty is uncommon. Aspirin demonstrates a protective effect in hip and knee arthroplasty, supporting its use in routine prophylaxis. Other anticoagulants may increase VTE risk in certain contexts. These findings underscore the PCP’s role in longitudinal follow-up, medication counseling, and vigilance for VTE in higher-risk patients, reinforcing family medicine’s integral role in perioperative and post-discharge care.
  • Relevance to Family Medicine: Although orthopedic surgeons manage early post-operative care after arthroplasty, primary care physicians play a critical role in long-term follow-up. PCPs monitor chronic comorbidities, counsel on anticoagulation adherence, and remain vigilant for VTE in higher-risk patients. Understanding real-world prophylaxis patterns and outcomes allows family physicians to guide safe transitions from surgical to community care, optimize patient education, and support evidence-based management of post-arthroplasty complications.
Trauma-Informed Follow-Up Care for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration
  • Authors: An-Thu Nguyen, DO, Scott Mitchell, DO, Alethea Turner, DO, Alison Foster-Goldman, MD
  • Introduction: Survivors of domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) often face fragmented care and barriers to follow-up. Literature highlights the need for trauma-informed, coordinated approaches to improve outcomes. Our family medicine residency program partnered with the emergency department (ED) and community advocacy centers to address this gap through a multidisciplinary model that supports survivors post-ED visit. The objective was to implement a trauma-informed, multidisciplinary follow-up care model for DV/SA survivors referred from the ED, with the goal of improving access to medical, behavioral, and social support services.
  • Methods: A collaborative care pathway was developed involving ED staff, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), family medicine residents and attendings, MAs, scheduling staff, a clinical pharmacist, and a behavioral health counselor. Survivors referred from the ED were offered follow-up in the family medicine clinic, including nPEP, lab work, behavioral health, pharmacy consultation, and SDOH support (e.g., food boxes, Uber vouchers). For patients without insurance, all forensic visits were at zero cost to the survivor through HonorHealth Foundation funding.
  • Outcomes: In the first 6 months of this pilot, 147 patients were referred (2.7% male, 16% aged 12–17). Of these, 26 (18%) completed follow-up visits, with 8 returning more than once. All individuals were managed using a biopsychosocial approach. Several patients chose to participate in behavioral health counseling, and every patient was screened for social determinants of health. For those experiencing food insecurity, food boxes were provided through our on-site pantry. Overall, the pilot demonstrated the feasibility of delivering coordinated, trauma-informed care and underscored the need for enhanced engagement strategies to improve follow-up participation.
  • Lessons Learned: This model demonstrates how residency programs can lead trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care for DV/SA survivors. It offers a replicable framework for integrating ED, primary care, and community resources to address medical and social needs, with potential to improve survivor outcomes and reduce care fragmentation.
  • Relevance to Family Medicine: This model highlights the role family medicine residency programs can fill in providing trauma-informed, longitudinal, and comprehensive care for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in their community. Through a multidisciplinary partnership with the emergency department and community advocacy centers, family medicine served as a bridge from acute ED care to ongoing medical, behavioral, and social support. Being accessible to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and honing skills to support this patient population reflects core family medicine principles of continuity, community engagement, and whole-person care.
Recognizing and Managing Artery of Percheron Stroke
  • Authors: Patel, P., Mikhael, M., Jagani, P.P, Jagani, R.P., Sullivan, S., Kumar, P.K.
  • Introduction: The Artery of Percheron (AOP) is an uncommon variant in the posterior circulation of the brain, where a single unilateral branch of the first segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) supplies both sides of the paramedian thalamus and rostral midbrain. AOP stroke, resulting from acute infarction due to occlusion or embolism, represents a highly uncommon and distinctive subtype of ischemic stroke. Due to its unique vascular supply, patients present with characteristic clinical features that can often create significant diagnostic challenges.
  • Case Description: We present the case of a 67-year-old male with a medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and complete heart block managed with a pacemaker, who was brought to the emergency department after being found unresponsive. Upon presentation, the patient exhibited pinpoint pupils and was responsive only to painful stimuli, prompting activation of the stroke protocol. Initial CT scans of the brain suggested AOP stroke, which was later confirmed by MRI. Due to delayed presentation, IV thrombolysis was not administered. Patient was started on aspirin, high-dose statin, and lifestyle modifications. Neurology recommended rehabilitation-focused care. The patient showed gradual neurological improvement and was discharged to a short-term rehab facility. Patient was noted to have significant functional recovery with continued therapy.
  • Discussion: This case highlights the importance of recognizing the clinical signs and symptoms associated with AOP stroke and highlights the critical role of advanced imaging modalities in accurately diagnosing this distinctive condition to ensure prompt and effective management. AOP infarction presents with a variable triad: altered mental status, oculomotor abnormalities, and cognitive/behavioral changes. Early recognition is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. CT may show subtle bilateral thalamic changes; MRI (DWI/FLAIR) is most sensitive. CTA often misses AOP due to its small size, making clinical suspicion and MRI critical. Thrombolysis or thrombectomy is ideal but often not feasible due to delayed presentation. Focus shifts to secondary prevention and rehabilitation to support recovery.
  • Conclusion: Artery of Percheron stroke is a rare ischemic stroke variant that causes bilateral thalamic and midbrain infarction, often presenting with altered consciousness, abnormal eye movements, memory changes, or pinpoint pupils. Early CT scans may be normal, so MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging is usually required for confirmation. Standard acute stroke protocols still apply, including rapid recognition, urgent imaging, and timely reperfusion therapy when eligible. Clinicians should maintain suspicion in unexplained decreased responsiveness and aggressively manage vascular risk factors and potential cardiac embolic sources. Raising awareness of atypical stroke signs and strengthening rapid response systems are vital. Long-term support through rehab, education, and prevention fosters better outcomes and healthier communities.
  • Relevance to Family Medicine: Family physicians play a major role in both prevention and long-term management. Control of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, along with smoking cessation and antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy, reduces overall stroke risk. In outpatient settings, recognizing sudden confusion, excessive sleepiness, or visual changes and immediately referring to emergency services can be lifesaving. After hospital discharge, family physicians are essential in providing continuity through post-stroke care, medication management, and ongoing cardiovascular risk reduction, ensuring a comprehensive holistic care.
Theatre of Oppressed as a tool to discuss empathy, cultural competence and diversity in the medical practice
  • Authors: Giovana Soares, Yumi Shirai, Aurelia Mouzet, Leora Sapon-Stevin, Amber Frame
  • Introduction: The FM Residency at University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, has implemented a medical humanities track, providing opportunities for a variety of creative and multidisciplinary activities. As part of these activities, we used the Theatre of the Oppressed as a tool to discuss topics such as empathy, pedagogical approaches, and communication skills. Created by the Brazilian theatre practitioner Augusto Boal, the Theatre of the Oppressed is a form of a popular, community-based education that uses theatre as a tool for social transformation.
  • Description of Curriculum: During a 90-minute session, we worked with a multidisciplinary group that included experts in the Theatre of the Oppressed and improvisation. Improvisation techniques were used to open the session, after which four groups were formed and invited to present a skit. The skit was based on examples from FM residents who shared their experiences with current challenges through a pre-session survey. The scene resembled a clinical rounds presentation led by a new resident. The attending physician character demonstrated poor pedagogical skills, causing the resident to feel pressured, humiliated, and not a part of the team. Audience members were then invited to changing roles within the skit, offering new perspectives that transformed the outcome into a more collaborative, pedagogically appropriate, and respectful learning environment.
  • Outcomes: The results were based on participants’ responses to evaluation questions administered at the end of the session. Participants reported learning alternative ways to communicate in a positive, supportive, and empathic manner.
  • Conclusion: As described in the literature, the Theatre of the Oppressed can be a great tool for addressing difficult topics. The next step will be to expand the focus to include cultural competence and diversity.
  • Relevance to Family Medicine: This experience demonstrates how the Theatre of the Oppressed can be used in the training of new healthcare providers and create opportunities for changes in practice through a participative and affective approach.
Using Smart Phrases in Epic to Improve Resident Note-Writing Efficiency
  • Authors: Dr Sagar Sudan, Dr. Connor Fordham
  • Introduction: To evaluate the effect of implementing standardized SmartPhrases on resident documentation time in an outpatient family medicine residency clinic.
  • Methods: We conducted a quality improvement initiative at a family medicine residency clinic from July 2025 to February 2026. Residents were provided with standardized SmartPhrases for common clinical scenarios (Diabetes, Hypertension, Depression/Anxiety and Low Back pain) on October 1, 2025. Documentation time was measured using Epic's Slicer Dicer, calculated as minutes from note initiation to final edit. We collected bi-weekly time measurements and analyzed pre- and post-intervention medians using run chart methodology.
  • Results: Baseline median documentation time was 129 minutes per note (July-September 2025). Following SmartPhrase implementation on October 1, 2025, median documentation time decreased to 113 minutes per note (October 2025-February 2026), representing a 12.4% reduction in time spent per note and exceeding the goal of 116 minutes per note.
  • Conclusion: Implementation of standardized SmartPhrases in Epic significantly reduced resident documentation time, surpassing the target efficiency goal. This intervention demonstrates a practical, scalable approach to reducing EHR documentation burden in residency training programs. By demonstrating a 12.4% reduction in documentation time through standardized SmartPhrases, this project offers a scalable solution for family medicine residency programs. Reducing EHR burden during training not only improves efficiency but also establishes sustainable practice patterns that residents will carry throughout their careers, potentially mitigating burnout and improving retention in primary care. The focus on common outpatient conditions in a residency clinic setting makes this intervention immediately applicable to family medicine workforce development.
  • Relevance to Family Medicine: This quality improvement project directly addresses documentation burden, a critical contributor to burnout in family medicine. The intervention targets four conditions central to primary care practice—diabetes, hypertension, depression/anxiety, and low back pain—which family physicians manage longitudinally in outpatient settings. By demonstrating a 12.4% reduction in documentation time through standardized SmartPhrases, this project offers a scalable solution for family medicine residency programs. Reducing EHR burden during training not only improves efficiency but also establishes sustainable practice patterns that residents will carry throughout their careers, potentially mitigating burnout and improving retention in primary care. The focus on common outpatient conditions in a residency clinic setting makes this intervention immediately applicable to family medicine workforce development.

Presenters and Poster Abstracts

On behalf of the Arizona Academic Family Medicine Innovation Conference, we sincerely thank you for your time, expertise, and invaluable contributions as a reviewer for our research poster presentations. Your thoughtful feedback and active engagement were instrumental in fostering meaningful discussions and elevating the quality of the research presented.

We deeply appreciate your dedication to mentoring and supporting researchers and health professionals.

Once again, thank you for your generosity and commitment to advancing scholarship and innovation. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you again in the future. You can download the Digital Abstract of the Poster Presenters here.
You can download the Digital Abstract of the Poster Presentations (PDF).

Residency Fair Attendees

Programs participating in the Residency Fair hosted by Arizona Academy of Family Physicians (AzAFP) include:

  • Banne – University Medical Center  Phoenix, Payson, Desert Family Residencies.
  • Banner – University of Arizona Tucson Family Medicine Residency.
  • Abrazo Central Family Medicine Residency.
  • Northwest Healthcare Family Medicine Residency.
  • North Country Healthcare.
  • HonorHealth Family Medicine Residency.
  • Creighton University East Valley.
  • El Rio Family Medicine Residency.
  • Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH). 
  • Creighton University Main Campus.
  • Onvida Health.