Academy Membership and Well-being

Dr. Romero Santiago is a new physician who is also a Class of 2027 Board of Directors member of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) Board of Directors, after having served for a year as the Congress Observer.

When asked to elaborate on strategies to ensure well-being as an early career physician building a career, Dr. Santiago highlighted the importance of engagement with professional medical organizations towards the quest to maintain well-being in his journey in medicine.

Firstly, this involvement has enabled him to maintain an interdisciplinary mindset in his work, having the opportunity to work on critical health policy matters at the system level that touch upon various aspects of our healthcare enterprise ranging from insurance aspects to the pharmaceutical industry for the purpose of optimizing healthcare delivery.

Secondly, he emphasizes that his community of belonging resides in the colleagues he has met through his involvement in organized medicine societies over the years. “Knowing who one's community truly is and being connected delivers that vital sense of belonging throughout one's career,” he stated.

Thirdly, Dr. Santiago notes that many of his mentors and role models have been individuals he has met through organized medicine association involvement. “It is so important to identify role models and mentors in this journey of medicine that you can go to for advice and inspiration,” he says.  The American Academy of Family Physicians has always been a connection point.  Dr. Santiago was involved with the Texas Academy of Family Physicians during medical school, the California Academy of Family Physicians during his Family and Community Medicine residency, as well as the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians during his fellowship in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He continues that connection here in Illinois serving as a board member and participating in several of the IAFP board task forces that match his expertise and interests.

“The people I have connected with through organized medicine activities have become dear colleagues and friends for a lifetime! I highly encourage family physicians to take time to engage in organized medicine efforts through AAFP and IAFP. Your interactions will not only provide much needed diversity in experience and perspective but also will serve as a valuable avenue to prevent burnout, which unfortunately has become all too common among those in the medical profession.”

Romero Santiago, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACOEM

Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
Carle Illinois College of Medicine (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Medicine)

Attending Physician, Occupational & Environmental Medicine | Employee Health
Carle Health | Champaign-Urbana, Illinois