COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK STATE
Established to give a voice to the state’s network of community health centers as leading providers of primary care, the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) is a membership organization of Federally Qualified Health Centers, Look-Alikes and other health centers. Founded in 1971, its purpose is to ensure that the medically underserved living in New York State have access to quality community-based health care services regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Encompassing more than 50 health centers with over 425 sites throughout the state, CHCANYS represents its members’ interests in New York State and on the federal level, convenes and coordinates them for the purpose of information-sharing, education, training and advocacy and offers services that make them more efficient and effective. CHCANYS is part of a national network of Primary Care Associations which are coordinated through the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
www.chcanys.org

PRIMARY CARE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 to ensure that every community has timely and effective access to primary care. PCDC's goal is to increase the capacity and quality of primary care in underserved communities to achieve our vision of "Excellent Healthcare in Every Neighborhood." We achieve our mission by employing three key strategies; investing in primary care facilities, strengthening service delivery, and leading policy initiatives. Since 1993, PCDC has leveraged a public-private investment of $250 million in 77 primary care projects throughout New York State and worked with 400 primary care teams at more than 175 organization throughout the United States to redesign operations, adopt health information technology, prepare for emergencies, and become medical homes.
www.pcdcny.org

NEW YORK STATE AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (AHEC) SYSTEM
The New York State Area Health Education Center (AHEC) System is a community-based health workforce development initiative with a mission “to enhance access to quality health care and improve health care outcomes by addressing health workforce needs of medically disadvantaged communities and populations through partnerships between the institutions that train health professionals and the communities that need them most.”
Through nine centers, located in urban and rural areas throughout the state, the New York State AHEC System develops clinical training opportunities for future health professionals in underserved areas; recruits faculty committed to working with them; encourages young people, especially from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue health careers; and provides continuing education and professional support to practitioners, develops career ladders, and promotes workforce re-entry programs.
New York State AHEC System community-based strategies cultivate a more diverse health workforce, assure each community has enough practitioners in the right categories, particularly primary care, and improve access to quality health care for all New Yorkers.  The New York State AHEC System is “Connecting students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.”
www.ahec.buffalo.edu

THE NEW YORK CHAPTER of the AMERICAN COLLEGE of PHYSICIANS
The New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians (NYACP) is dedicated to advancing the specialty of Internal Medicine in New York State - assisting our members and our patients through advocacy, education, networking and communication. NYACP is the state’s largest medical specialty organization representing 11,000 practicing general and subspecialty internal medicine physicians.
The goals of the Chapter are:

• Establish and promote the highest clinical standards and ethical ideals;
• Be the foremost comprehensive education and information resource for all internists;
• Advocate responsible positions on individual health and on public policy relating to health care for the benefit of the public, our patients, the medical profession and our members;
• Serve the professional needs of the membership, support healthy lives and improve the practice environment for physicians, and advance internal medicine as a career;
• Promote and conduct research to enhance the quality of practice, the education and continuing education of internists, and the attractiveness of internal medicine to physicians and the public;
• Recognize excellence and distinguished contributions to internal medicine; and

THE NEW YORK STATE ACADEMY of FAMILY PHYSICIANS
The New York State Academy of Family Physicians was founded in 1948 and represents more than 4,300 family physicians and medical students.

The Academy provides education, advocacy and information for members. Its public policy agenda has long included support for universal health care and patient choice in accessing health care services and providers. Family Physicians possess unique training, skills, and knowledge which qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventive services to each member of the family regardless of sex, age or type of problem, be it biological, behavioral, or social. These specialists, because of their background and interactions with the family, are best qualified to serve as each patient's advocate in all health-related matters, including the appropriate use of consultants, health services, and community resources.

The Academy produces educational conferences for family physicians each winter and fall to update members on current developments in health care and clinical practice.

The Academy operates the nationally acclaimed Tar Wars program to educate 5th grade students about the dangers of using tobacco.

The Academy is located at 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville 12211 and has a website at www.nysafp.org.