Vaccines are among the greatest breakthroughs in the history of medicine. Over the past 50 years, they are estimated to have saved more than 150 million lives worldwide, and they continue to prevent 2–4 million deaths every year. The COVID-19 vaccines alone are credited with preventing over 14 million deaths since their introduction.

My own path into medicine was sparked by an early fascination with public health history. I was struck by how population-level intervention, like vaccination, can transform the health of entire communities. That realization guided me toward a career in family medicine, followed by a fellowship in primary care research and a Master’s degree in Public Health.

As family physicians, we know vaccines are safe, effective, and essential. Yet, in today’s environment, misinformation, and even policy decisions, can distort the facts and create confusion. That makes our role all the more critical.

Our charge is not only to deliver care, but to have honest, one-on-one conversations with our patients about what is best for them and their families. We should feel confident engaging in these discussions, without hesitation or fear, because they represent the very heart of what we do as trusted physicians.

At the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians, our mission is to support you in this work. We are committed to providing the best evidence-based resources to help you educate and empower your patients. We also remain steadfast in defending the sanctity of the patient–physician relationship, ensuring that outside policies never limit the open dialogue our patients deserve.

If you are passionate about public health or advocacy, I encourage you to get involved with our Public Health Committee or Governmental Advocacy Committee. Your voice and expertise are invaluable as we work together to advance the health of our patients and communities.

Sincerely,

Amar Duggirala, DO, MPH, FAAFP

Your MDAFP President