TNAFP Connect
Supporting Tennessee’s Independent Family Doctors
Rebuilding Tennessee’s Rural Physician Workforce
The TNAFP Connect program is designed to support physicians who at various stages of their careers are looking for opportunities in a more “traditional” private practice model, especially in rural and underserved areas of the state where family doctors are needed most.
While TNAFP serves and represents all family doctors, regardless of geography, practice environment, or any other distinguishing factor, the Academy is uniquely positioned to connect members with the people and resources they need to plant roots in small communities, build a successful practice, and pursue the type of professional satisfaction they envisioned when choosing family medicine as a career.
The program consists of three major components: loan repayment, mentorship and placement opportunities, and practice resources.
How can we help YOU?
TNAFP staff and physician leaders travel the state regularly to talk to Tennessee’s family medicine physicians, residency programs, and medical students. It is part of the long- range effort to support family doctors who want to enter private practice, at any stage of their careers.
Contact TNAFP if you would like to schedule a presentation in your program, practice location or geographic area.
Dave Chaney, Executive Director
615.370.5144 | dchaney@tnafp.org
Loan Repayment
The Tennessee General Assembly has allocated state funding to incentivize family doctors to locate in rural and underserved areas. TNAFP advocated for the legislation in hopes that by reducing or eliminating medical school debt, more new physicians will choose to begin their post-residency practice in rural and underserved areas and stay long term. The TNAFP Foundation launched the loan repayment incentive program in 2025 and is accepting applications year-round.
TNAFP is currently working with the Tennessee Department of Health to get the program up and running. The goal is to have the pieces in place to begin accepting applications from Tennessee residents in late 2024.
Mentorship and Placement Opportunities
Another major barrier to rural practice in the modern era of medicine, young physicians say, is the fear of setting up shop without knowing what owning a clinic entails or how to manage a business. Within the aging physician demographic in Tennessee, meanwhile, are small-town doctors who want to retire but do not want to sell to a corporation or just close the doors. In other cases, employed doctors may be looking to transition out of their current environment and enter private practice. Whatever the case, TNAFP wants to help make introductions that ideally lead to mentorships, partnerships, and business relationships that allow members successfully transition into their choice of practice.
Take the First Step. Join the list of members who are looking for connections.
Practice Resources
The final piece of the TNAFP Connect program is providing access to resources that independent family doctors need and want in order to operate a successful practice. The Academy has assembled a suite of services through third-party partner companies to give all members, regardless of practice environment, a one-stop shop for the business side of medicine.
We’ve got you covered. See how TNAFP’s Preferred Partners can support you and your practice.
