Dr. Samuel Mathis, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, was recently named to the American Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors
Mathis will serve a one-year term as the new physician board member, representing new physicians to the AAFP and advocating on behalf of family medicine physicians and patients across the country.
“My goals for this year are to absorb as much as possible regarding how the AAFP works to protect and advocate for patients and its family physician members on the local, state and national stage,” said Mathis, who also serves as Medical Director
for UTMB Employee Health. “From this experience, I want to learn how to best advocate for patients in Galveston and Texas as a whole.”
The position is held by a doctor who is in their first seven years of practice following residency. Mathis was elected by the new physician constituency during the AAFP National Conference of Constituency Leaders in April and was confirmed by the AAFP’s
governing body in September.
“AAFP has been a vital part of my development as a physician and leader,” Mathis said. “It is humbling to me to see how much the leaders in the AAFP have poured into me over the years, and I hope to continue that tradition by mentoring,
encouraging and training those who are following in my footsteps.”
Mathis is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has the AAFP Degree of Fellow, which is awarded to family medicine physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education.
Mathis has been a member of the AAFP, which represents 133,500 physicians and medical students, since 2012 and has also served on several Texas Academy of Family Physicians committees and boards. He is also the president-elect of the Galveston County
Medical Society.
“Anyone can be an advocate for their patients and for medicine,” Mathis said. “Start small, get involved with the local Galveston County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association or your local or state specialty society. We need more
physicians to speak up for their patients. We are one of the most powerful advocates for our patients in the political arena.”