Drs. Jason and Kate Hesser Receive Honorary Degrees From the American Academy of Family Physicians

Chicago, IL – Jason Hesser, MD, FAAFP and Kate Hesser MD, FAAFP, family physicians at Crete Area Medical Center, have achieved the Degree of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the national medical association representing nearly 127,600 family physicians, residents and medical students. The degree was conferred on more than 250 family physicians during a convocation on Saturday, October 28th, in conjunction with the AAFP's annual meeting in Chicago, IL. 

Established in 1971, the AAFP Degree of Fellow recognizes family physicians who have distinguished themselves through service to family medicine and ongoing professional development. This year's fellowship class brings the total number of AAFP Fellows to more than 18,270 nationwide. AAFP Fellowship entitles the physician to use the honorary designation, "Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians," or "F.A.A.F.P."

Criteria for receiving the AAFP Degree of Fellow consist of a minimum of six years of membership in the organization, extensive continuing medical education, participation in public service programs outside medical practice, conducting original research and serving as a teacher in family medicine.

The AAFP was the first national medical specialty organization to require its members to complete a minimum of 150 hours of accredited continuing medical education every three years. It is the only medical specialty society devoted solely to primary care.

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About the American Academy of Family Physicians

Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents nearly 127,600 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 208 million office visits each year – nearly 83 million more than to the next medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide the majority of care for America's underserved and rural populations.

In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.