Dr. Jeffrey Ripperda - Class of 2029 Board Member

Dear Members of the Leadership Development Committee:

Please accept this letter as my self-nomination for a position on IAFP’s Board of Directors.  I’ve been in practice as a full scope family practitioner at a Federally Qualified Health Center since completing my residency in 2007.  My practice is unique in that I speak Spanish; about 25% of my patient encounters occur in Spanish.  I see a large number of immigrants.  I also helped found Shawnee Health’s Substance Use Disorder Program in 2011.  I’ve treated about 500 people for substance use disorder over the past 15 years.

I’ve had the chance to review IAFP’s Strategic Themes and know that my experience can help contribute to this plan in several specific ways:

1. I can help Grow the Family Medicine Workforce.  I mentor and precept medical students, nurse practitioner students, and physician assistant students only an almost constant basis.  I’ve been Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Mentor of the Year twice.  I’ve steered several students into family medicine.  Putting students in preceptorships and mentorships early in their training is the best way to steer these students towards family medicine and to grow the workforce.  I’d support all efforts towards this end.

2. I think already have been Leading Boldly on Behalf of Family Physicians and Their Patients.  I’ve been fairly outspoken on social media about issues pertinent to public health and to political issues surrounding healthcare.  These efforts garnered me the IAFP President’s Award in 2021.  I feel particularly strongly about cuts to healthcare funding enacted by the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” and about pseudoscience.  My social media posts on these topics have led to my having a TV special on WSIL TV 3 during the COVID pandemic, to regular interviews with WGN radio during COVID, to several meetings with Senator Tammy Duckworth to discuss the OBBBA, to attention from Congressman Mike Bost.  Leading Boldly requires speaking out boldly.  I will continue to do this.

3. Finally, I’m interested in helping to Strengthen the Practice Environment and Reduce Barriers to Care.  I’d happily and enthusiastically support any efforts to remove administrative barriers to the efficient practice of medicine.  Like many physicians, I believe that patient care has become too much of an exercise in checking boxes for various regulatory and insurance institutions.  I’d love to play any part IAFP can in reducing time spent in those activities.

I’m happy to answer any questions or clarify any of the above.

Sincerely

Jeffrey W. Ripperda, MD

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