Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians proudly announces the candidacy of Alan Schwartzstein, MD, FAAFP, a board-certified family physician with over 30 years of clinical experience and an extensive background in leadership, community service, public health, advocacy and education; for Speaker of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Hello, I am Alan Schwartzstein from Wisconsin, Speaker of your AAFP Congress of Delegates and candidate for re-election. Thanks for visiting this website and taking the opportunity to get to know me better as a person and physician leader.
Parliamentary procedure is all about process and a framework to insure all voices are heard. When I initially ran for the vice speaker position, I pledged to be fair, open and honest. I continue to pledge that in my capacity as your speaker.
Parliamentary procedure should be collaborative, functional and welcoming. It should not be intimidating, inaccessible or a used to interfere with the majority’s right to take action, or the minority’s right to be heard. All decisions made by a body should be in the best interest of the entire group on whose behalf that body acts; in our case the 134,100 members of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Over time I have learned the critical importance of teamwork in the context of leadership. As your speaker, I consider it important to work as a team with the vice speaker, Diane McDaniel, Stacy Wymer, support staff and those of you who volunteer. Decisions are rarely made without consulting others who can “see the elephant from where they are standing”.
This past year we took action to insure all at Congress felt comfortable in expressing their opinion on the issues in front of us. This is most important on those issues that are controversial, and those that inspire strong emotions in our advocacy. I was pleased with the civil discourse that ensued. You made wise decisions on difficult issues that could potentially divide us. I am confident that this will continue to be the manner of deliberation, debate and decision at the 2020 Congress.
In the current health care atmosphere of our specialty and country, controversial issues will continue to face us as an academy. We must be inspired and thoughtful in the decisions we make in the AAFP Congress so as to best position ourselves to help shape a future where all of our patients have access to health care services, and our country uses a system base.
I look forward to continuing in my role as your speaker.
Alan Schwartzstein, MD, FAAFP, is a board-certified family physician with over 30 years of clinical experience and an extensive background in leadership, community service, public health, advocacy and education. Alan is regarded as fair and open-minded, as well as thoughtful, approachable and empathetic. For over 30 years, Alan has practiced with SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Oregon, a small town in South Central Wisconsin. He also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, teaching students and residents.
Alan currently serves as AAFP speaker after completing two terms as vice speaker. Alan also served on the Wisconsin Medical Society’s Board of Directors, including four years as vice speaker. A member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians, Alan is well versed in parliamentary procedure and its application. Alan is past president of the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. He served seven years on the AAFP Commission on Health of the Public and Science, including one year as commission chair. He also served on the Commission on Governmental affairs as well as the Task Force that created the Member Interest Groups. For five years these MIGs have provided more opportunities for members with similar interests to interact with each other and develop advocacy ideas that strengthen our Academy.
Among his many volunteer community activities, Alan served ten years on the local board of health, including four years as chair during the merger of the public health agencies for the City of Madison and Dane County. In 2010, Dean Clinic presented Dr. Schwartzstein with its Community Service Award, a distinction awarded only three times in 110 years, acknowledging Alan’s extensive career of service and leadership for many communities. Dr. Schwartzstein was nominated to the Wisconsin Public Health Council by the governor due to his long-time commitment to public health as well as medical care in the state. In this capacity, Alan works toward success in the State Health Plan, including addressing social determinants of health.
In 2018 the Wisconsin Medical Society bestowed the Presidential Citation on Dr. Schwartzstein in recognition of his many years of service to medical and public health care in the state and country.
His professional interests include healthcare reform, prevention of childhood obesity, and legislative advocacy.
the knowledge or skill acquired over a period of time, esp. that gained in a particular profession by someone at work:
he is the candidate with relevant experience.
Kevin Flaherty, MD, Eye Clinic of Wisconsin and Speaker for the Wisconsin Medical Society
the action of helping or doing work for someone:
he volunteered his services to the childhood education task force
Kathleen Falk, Former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wisconsin
the quality of being honest, trustworthy, and having strong moral principles:
he is known to be a man of integrity
David Deci, MD, FAAFP and Director of Medical Student Education at the University of Wisconsin
a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal:
the organization experienced great success under his leadership
Frank Byrne, MD, Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Medical Society and President of St. Mary's Hospital - Madison, WI
