North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians

Throughout his career, Greg worked with various organizations. When he joined NCAFP, he felt he had found his calling, a way to support those caring for North Carolina's people. At its heart, NCAFP aims to improve the lives and work environments of both current and future family physicians. By doing so, they help ensure that these vital healthcare professionals can continue providing top-notch, comprehensive care to patients of all ages. Ultimately, they envision a future where family physicians are universally recognized and valued for their role in keeping North Carolinians healthy and happy.

Greg says that the NCAFP focuses on several key activities:

• Extensive continuing medical education -- recognizing that being a doctor involves lifelong learning due to the ever-changing nature of medicine and the complexity of family medicine.
• Engaging in advocacy work on behalf of their members.
• Offering networking opportunities, allowing members to connect with their peers to alleviate the sense of isolation that can occur in practice and prevent burnout.
• Improving the practice environment by reducing administrative burdens, enabling doctors to focus more on patient care.

Greg Griggs

“When I joined the Academy, I felt a strong calling to support and advocate for those making a positive impact on so many lives,” Greg says. “Whether it's advocating at the legislature or raising money for our foundation’s campaigns, believing in the people I stand up for makes it much easier. Although I don't have the scientific or clinical background to care for people directly, helping in other ways is incredibly fulfilling. Interestingly, the family physician who cared for my loved ones later became the president of the Academy, bringing my journey full circle.”

NCAFP offers networking opportunities for medical students and an endowment fund that provides scholarships for students considering careers as family physicians.

Greg shares how they started their relationship with TowneBank. “We have banked with Towne for nearly 20 years, starting from the early days of Paragon. We have the pleasure of working with Carol Holland, senior vice president and private banker, and have developed a strong relationship with the banking team. Additionally, I have known Triangle president Brian Reid for many years. Our longstanding association with Towne has been incredibly positive, and we look forward to continuing this relationship. The TowneBank Foundation stepped up with a generous pledge to support our fundraising campaign to boost our student endowment at the NCAFP Foundation. We have a goal to raise $6 million and we are halfway through our five-year campaign. We deeply appreciate TowneBank’s belief in us and their generous support.”

“Every dollar we raise goes toward helping medical students in our state ultimately pursue a career in family medicine, from scholarships to travel awards to attend state and national meetings, to summer experiences designed to pique interest in serving the underserved,” Greg continues. “We simply must make it easier for our state’s medical students to practice family medicine in counties of need and the programs funded by this endowment do just that.”

As NCAFP celebrates 78 years of service, they continue to adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. With the new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine set to open in Fayetteville in 2026, becoming the sixth medical school in the state, along with Campbell, Duke, ECU, UNC, and Wake Forest, the Academy is ready to further bolster the supply of family physicians in North Carolina. NCAFP continues its goal to ensure that family medicine flourishes for generations to come.

For more information, visit NCAFP.com.

The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians is committed to improving the life and work environment of current and future family physicians through lifelong learning opportunities and advocacy work.