Celebrating 15 Years of Puffer Fellows

For fifteen years, the Puffer/ABFM Fellowship at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has amplified the voice of family medicine in national health policy. Established in 2010 via an endowment from the ABFM Foundation, the Fellowship reflects ABFM’s commitment to ensuring that the perspectives of practicing family physicians and primary care scientists, grounded in community and evidence based, whole-person care, help shape the nation’s most influential health policy conversations.

Through a two-year, part-time appointment, Puffer Fellows contribute directly to NAM and National Academies committees, consensus studies, and policy initiatives while continuing their clinical, research, or educational roles. Over time, Fellows have influenced landmark national work on implementing high-quality primary care, workforce sustainability, health equity, maternal and child health, digital health, public health infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Their contributions bring real-world family medicine insight into federal and multisector decision-making, strengthening the relevance and impact of national policy recommendations.

The Fellowship’s impact is reflected not only in reports and committees, but in careers. Alumni consistently describe the experience as transformative, expanding their leadership skills, policy literacy, and professional networks. Many remain engaged with the National Academies long after their fellowship ends, and four former Puffer Fellows have been elected to the NAM, underscoring the program’s success in developing national leaders from within family medicine. As ABFM celebrates this 15-year milestone on behalf of its Diplomates and the discipline, the Puffer/ABFM Fellowship remains a vital investment in the future of family medicine leadership. The next nomination cycle will launch in March 2026, offering a new cohort of family physicians and primary care scholars the opportunity to help shape health policy at the highest level and extend the specialty’s influence for years to come. Read the full special report to learn more about the Puffer Fellows.

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