The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) honored MUSC and 45 other medical schools for their efforts in making family practice a top career choice for graduating medical students. The seventh annual “Family Practice Percentage Awards” were presented during the recent conference of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) in Chicago. Founded in 1967, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine is the academic organization committed to improving and enhancing the quality of family medicine education.

This year's awards recognize medical schools with the highest three-year average of graduates entering family practice residency training programs during the period from 1995-1997. The AAFP initiated the Family Practice Percentage Awards in 1992 to honor medical schools for their efforts in educating and motivating students to choose a career as a family physician. Family physicians are medical specialists trained in the diagnosis and treatment of the majority of medical problems for people of all ages and both sexes, and continue to be in high demand throughout the country.

MUSC was recognized with a bronze award in recognition of 21.3 percent of graduating medical students entering family practice residencies.