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Introduction: The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (USDSSOM) had success in preparing students to enter family medicine. A sharp decline in students choosing the specialty became noticeable in 2004. In 2005, only 10.2% of the graduating class entered family medicine residency programs. To reverse this trend, the Department of Family Medicine partnered with the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians (SDAFP) chapter that year to send students to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students. This report examines the in^uence of national conference attendance on career choice. While many factors in^uence student choice, conference attendance served as an additive method for recruitment.