STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
June 15, 2026
Contact: Vito Grasso, Executive Vice President at 518-469-5237/ vito@nysafp.org
The New York State Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAFP) has elected Wayne S. Strouse, MD, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) of Penn Yan, New York president and was installed to a one-year term at the NYSAFP Congress of Delegates (COD) recently in Albany. Dr. Strouse graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and served in the U.S. Navy as both a Supply Officer and physician, after attending medical school in Virginia and completing his Family Medicine residency in Tennessee. Following moving to upstate New York, he then served as Medical Director of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), taught in a rural residency program, and ultimately opened his own independent rural practice.
“As I take the reins as the 80th President of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians, I feel a combination of excitement, trepidation, but mostly, humility. This is a truly great organization, in part because of what it does—representing and advocating for NYS family physicians and their patients—but also because of the incredible members! I continue to be impressed with the broad spectrum of expertise and experience of our members. I am even more impressed with your spirit, your energy, and your heart.”
“It is fitting that my Presidency starts at the Congress of Delegates. It was at a COD many years ago that I began my journey at NYSAFP. After returning from New Zealand, and attending Winter Weekend with my family, I ate lunch with one of our members, who encouraged me to look into NYSAFP. I went to the website, and read about this wonderful organization. I remember thinking, ‘This is a group of fellow travelers.’ I emailed Vito and asked to represent my home county, Yates, at COD. At the COD, I felt energized and excited to be a part of it all. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
“I also acknowledge that the reason I am here is a testament to the organization, created and continuously nurtured, by my predecessors…and by our hard working and talented staff—most of whom have been part of this organization longer than I have. In the coming year, I plan to work on outreach—traveling to the various residencies and medical schools to allow me to meet you up close and personal. I want to learn what NYSAFP can do for you, and try to get you more involved with our organization.
“I also want to be available to all of you. Please write to me about your ideas and concerns. After all, I serve you. I look forward to an exciting year, a chance to see you where you work, and to have a year in which we make family medicine and the NYSAFP ever stronger and more vital.”
NYSAFP represents nearly 6,000 family physicians, residents and students across the State. NYSAFP Family Physicians are board-certified and specialize in family medicine. Family physicians focus on the whole patient providing care throughout their lifetime. They provide comprehensive healthcare services to treat diseases and injuries in all age groups from newborns to the geriatric population and across all medical fields. Family Physicians focus on prevention, wellness and overall care coordination for patients and family medicine is the only specialty to focus on the care of the entire family unit. Family Physicians are also a main source of primary health care in New York and across the country.