Adity Bhattacharyya, MD, FAAFP, of Trenton, Elected President of the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians

Adity Bhattacharyya, MD, FAAFP

Trenton, N.J. – The New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians (NJAFP) recently announced the election of Adity Bhattacharyya, MD, FAAFP, as president at the NJAFP’s Annual Scientific Assembly in Atlantic City.

The NJAFP, the largest primary care medical specialty society in the state, is a leader in health care practice transformation and advocacy, advancing the specialty of family medicine and improving access to high quality health care for patients. As president, Dr. Bhattacharyya serves as the chief elected officer, representing the membership and the best interests of the Academy. In addition to serving as a motivating force for other officers, board members, committee members, staff and membership, Dr. Bhattacharyya will influence the establishment of goals and objectives for the organization during her term of office.

During her acceptance speech, Dr. Bhattacharyya spoke about the difficulties she has faced during her journey as an Indian woman in the male dominated field of medical leadership and the difficulties faced by family physicians across New Jersey, including the struggle for prestige and reimbursement.  She promised to spend time working to address a number of these issues.

“As your president, I pledge to continue working on the Academy’s mission for the benefit of the people of New Jersey and our members. I want to spend this year working with the Academy on issues like new payment models and MACRA and how they would affect our members, as well as ongoing issues such as physician burnout,” she said. “I joined the NJAFP board to have a voice. I wanted family medicine to have a voice. My voice alone may not be enough, but if I can inspire others to join in Academy activities, our united voice will be heard.”

Dr. Bhattacharyya currently holds the position of residency program director at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Family Practice Residency at Capital Health. She also serves as medical director for Capital Health Family Medicine and assistant professor of family and community medicine at University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Bhattacharyya’s interests are in women’s Health, office surgical procedures, Residency teaching and improving health literacy in underserved populations.

Dr. Bhattacharyya earned her medical degree from Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi, India. After coming to the United States in 1994, she completed her residency in family practice at St Mary Hospital in Hoboken and her program director fellowship with the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors’ National Institute for Program Director Development in 2011.

During the annual celebration, NJAFP also announced the elected officers of the Board of Trustees, including:

•    President-Elect - Peter Louis Carrazzone, MD of Newton
•    Vice President - Lauren Carruth, MD of Linwood
•    Treasurer - Maria F. Ciminelli, MD of Somerset
•    Secretary - Michael A. Cascarina, MD of Manasquan