Dr. Kimberly Becher Named Inaugural Chair of AAFP Rural Health Advisory Committee
Hurricane, WV – The West Virginia Academy of Family Physicians (WVAFP) is pleased to announce that Kimberly R. Becher, MD, President-Elect of the WVAFP and Chief Medical Officer of Community Care of West Virginia, has been appointed as the inaugural Chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians' (AAFP) Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC). Established by the AAFP Board of Directors, the new committee was created to elevate the voice of rural family physicians and strengthen the Academy's work on behalf of rural communities across the nation.
Dr. Becher will lead a distinguished committee of family physicians representing diverse geographic regions, practice settings, and professional experiences from across the United States. The committee will provide strategic guidance on the realities of rural practice, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, and help shape AAFP policies, programs, and initiatives that strengthen rural family medicine and improve access to care nationwide.
“West Virginia's physicians understand rural medicine because we practice it every day,” said Dr. Matthew A. Davis, Board Chair & CEO of the WVAFP. “Dr. Becher has spent her entire career serving patients where family physicians often make the greatest difference. Her selection to chair this inaugural committee reflects the confidence her colleagues across the country have in her leadership and ensures that the perspective of rural communities, including those right here in Appalachia, will help shape the future of Family Medicine.”
From the mountains of Appalachia to communities across rural America, family physicians build lasting relationships with the patients and communities they serve. West Virginia's experience delivering comprehensive care in geographically challenging and medically underserved areas brings an important voice to the AAFP's rural health initiatives. Throughout the Mountain State, family physicians are often the first, and sometimes only, point of access for continuous, comprehensive medical care.
“Dr. Becher embodies what it means to be a rural family physician. Whether she’s making house calls, volunteering to help unload food deliveries at the local food bank, or providing exceptional care to her patients, she leads with compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people and communities she serves,” said Trish Collett, CEO of Community Care of West Virginia. “We are incredibly proud of Dr. Becher and this well-deserved appointment. She truly reflects our mission of helping our communities live the healthiest lives possible by meeting their immediate and long-term healthcare needs.”
Dr. Becher's appointment marks another milestone for West Virginia Family Medicine, reinforcing the state's longstanding tradition of physician leadership at the state and national levels. The WVAFP looks forward to the committee's work and the lasting impact it will have on strengthening rural healthcare across America.
