Lifelong learning has always been central to family medicine and to CAFP's mission of supporting physicians throughout their careers. That mission depends on the dedication of members who volunteer their time, expertise, and passion for education to help colleagues learn, grow, and improve patient care.
As Carol Havens, MD, FAAFP completes more than 30 years of service to CAFP's educational mission, we are taking a moment to celebrate both her contributions and the important role educational volunteers play in advancing family medicine. Over the decades, Carol has served as a planner, faculty member, committee leader, mentor, and educational innovator, helping shape learning experiences for thousands upon thousands of family physicians across California and nationwide. Her contributions have been recognized through state and national honors too numerous to name but a few are the CAFP Family Physician of the Year, the Barbara Harris Award for Educational Excellence, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions (ACEhp).
Carol's influence can be seen throughout CAFP's educational programs. She helped guide the evolution of CAFP's annual educational meetings, including the integration of the Academy's traditional Annual Scientific Assembly and Summit conference into what is now Family Medicine POP! Her vision helped create a single learning community where medical students, residents, practicing physicians, educators, and leaders could learn alongside one another. By bringing together members across all stages of a family medicine career, POP expanded opportunities for mentorship, networking, and the exchange of ideas, strengthening not only individual learning, but also the connections that sustain our specialty. The result is an educational experience that emphasizes not only clinical excellence, but also communication, wellness, leadership, and the human skills that help physicians thrive throughout their careers.
Perhaps Carol's greatest contribution has been her belief in the power of people to learn, grow, and lead. Through mentorship, encouragement, and a willingness to create opportunities for others, she helped cultivate new educators, committee leaders, and faculty members who will continue advancing CAFP's educational mission for years to come. She has often encouraged others with her favorite saying: "If you can believe it, you can achieve it." More importantly, she lived those words by helping others recognize potential in themselves that they may not yet have seen.
Current CCPD Chair Laura Murphy, DO reflected on Carol's impact:
"Carol's impact on family medicine education extends far beyond the programs she helped create. She has spent decades identifying potential in others, encouraging new leaders, and helping educators find their voice. Long before I became CCPD Chair, my own mother considered Carol a trusted mentor. Today, I have the privilege of building on the foundation she helped create. While her committee term may have ended, her influence on family medicine education, and on the people who lead it, will continue for many years to come."
Reflecting on her years of service, Carol recently shared that CAFP "was the first to believe in me, even when I didn't." Over the past three decades, she returned that gift many times over by believing in others. While her committee term has come to an end, the culture of learning, curiosity, service, and friendship she helped foster remains an important part of CAFP's educational community. We are deeply grateful for her leadership, her mentorship, and her enduring commitment to lifelong learning.
