Chairs for the 2025-2026 academic year
Ed Paul, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Family & Community Medicine at The University of Arizona College of Medicine and at Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix. Dr. Paul has worked full-time in academic family medicine in both rural and urban areas throughout his career and is currently in his PGY4 year, a graduate of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Phoenix. He has been closely aligned with Area Health Education Center (AHEC) programs in Pennsylvania and in Arizona and has been committed to developing rural clinical rotations and teaching skills of rural preceptors as well as studying and promoting primary care workforce development. Dr. Paul has championed the start-up and rebuilding of multiple family medicine residency programs in PA and AZ since accepting his first residency faculty position at The Phoenix Baptist Family Medicine Residency Program in Phoenix in 1986.
Dr. Paul has been a leader and advocate for our specialty via various paths in addition to academic family medicine. He is Past-President, board member, and legislative task force member of The Arizona Academy of Family Physicians and has been honored as Family Physician of The Year in Arizona. He has represented Arizona as a Delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians for the past five years. He also served as the primary care physician member of The Arizona Medical Board for seven years. Dr. Paul is currently serving in the role of Director of GME Implementation, Arizona AHEC Program, supporting and advising FQHCs, CAH’s, RHC’s, and tribal sites that are interested in starting new residency training programs.
Merima Bucaj, MD is the Chair of Family and Community Medicine at District Medical Group/Valleywise Health and Academic Chair of Family Medicine, Creighton School of Medicine Phoenix. After growing up in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Bucaj was brought to Phoenix by the U.S. Air Force as a refugee at the age of 11. She adapted quickly to her new environment, making Phoenix her home and remaining deeply dedicated to service in the communities that she belonged to and influenced her the most. After completing her undergraduate degree at University of Arizona in Tucson and medical school in Phoenix, Dr. Bucaj joined to U.S. Air Force and completed her family medicine residency. While stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, she was on faculty for the family medicine program. A combat veteran, Dr. Bucaj was deployed to Afghanistan where she provided medical care to military personnel, local families and children, and allied forces.
Before joining District Medical Group, Dr. Bucaj served as program director for the family medicine residency program and was chair of the department of family medicine at Abrazo Health. While serving in these leadership roles, she also completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) through an executive MBA program. Dr. Bucaj is committed to actively supporting the health of the community and promoting preventive care. She believes primary care plays an integral role in helping overcome healthcare disparities and ensuring quality, comprehensive care for all. Dr. Bucaj supports the underserved in the Phoenix community through volunteer services and outreach at local high schools and middle schools. She has developed programs- from adolescent projects in family medicine residency clinics to screening colonoscopies- to deliver much needed medical care and education to underserved populations. When not working, Dr. Bucaj loves hiking, traveling and spending time with her family, close friends, and her two dogs.