Episodes

  • Conversation with Dr. Laura Murphy
    Nov 11 2025

    In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea goes solo to talk with Dr. Laura Murphy, family physician, educator, her medical school classmate, and the current New Physician Director on the CAFP board. Dr. Murphy has been deeply involved in leadership, advocacy, and education. They talk about her journey, the challenges and opportunities facing early career physicians, and resources that can support you along the way.

    GUESTS

    • Laura Murphy, DO - Dr. Murphy received her B.S. in Biopsychology from University of California, Santa Barbara and then her medical degree from Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine. During medical school, she served as the FMIG president and began her advocacy journey with the CAFP through various leadership positions, including medical student member on the CAFP board. As a family medicine resident at UC San Diego, Dr. Murphy started on the CCPD for which she now co-chairs. After residency, she completed a sports medicine fellowship at UC San Diego to pursue her passion for empowering patients to live a healthy, active lifestyle. She is currently an associate program director at Ventura County Medical Center Family Medicine Residency program where she practices outpatient family medicine and sports medicine, as well as lead the musculoskeletal and advocacy curriculum for the residents. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her 8 month old, Cooper, and share the love of backpacking, brewery hopping, and traveling with her husband, Steve.

    The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP and Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, FAAFP.

    RESOURCES

    • New Physician Toolkit - www.familydocs.org/nptoolkit
    • AAFP's Career Benchmark Dashboard & Survey - "Know Your Worth" - www.aafp.org/worth
    • Direct Primary Care resources - https://www.familydocs.org/dpc
    • Family Medicine's Gender Pay Gap - https://www.jabfm.org/content/35/1/7
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Family Medicine
      - https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/practice-and-career/managing-your-practice/artificial-intelligence.html
    • CAFP Online Education - https://www.familydocs.org/cme & https://education.familydocs.org
    • Family Medicine POP: Prism of Practice conference, August 21-23, 2026 (San Diego) - www.familydocs.org/pop
    • CAFP's All Member Advocacy Meeting (AMAM), March 14-16, 2026 (Sacramento) - www.familydocs.org/amam

    Information:

    The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast.

    Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/california-academy-of-family-physicians

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    37 mins
  • Conversation with Dr. Bright Zhou
    Nov 5 2025

    In this episode, Drs. Rob Assibey and Cynthia Chen-Joea are joined by Dr. Bright Zhou (they/them). They discuss social media health advocacy as a tool to reshape public narratives around family medicine, the evolving role of physician hospitalists and the unique challenges they face, and highlights from the CAFP New Physician Toolkit and how it will be helpful for doctors everywhere.

    GUESTS

    • Bright Zhou (They/Them) is a core faculty member at the University of Southern California Family Medicine Residency, where they practice both inpatient and outpatient medicine. Their clinical interests are in health dissemination through social media, mental health, narrative medicine, LGBTQ+ and immigrant health. Bright is a boba connoisseur, an archaeologist, a singer/violist, and a budding DJ.

    The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP and Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, FAAFP.

    RESOURCES

    • Follow Dr. Zhou on social: @genzattending on instagram and tiktok
    • New Physician Toolkit - familydocs.org/nptoolkit
    • NEJM - AI/Centaur model - https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2503232, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250828/How-can-medical-trainees-use-AI-without-losing-critical-thinking-skills.aspx
    • Family Medicine POP: Prism of Practice conference, August 21-23, 2026 (San Diego) - www.familydocs.org/pop
    • CAFP's All Member Advocacy Meeting (AMAM), March 14-16, 2026 (Sacramento) - www.familydocs.org/amam

    Information:

    The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast.

    Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/california-academy-of-family-physicians

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    49 mins
  • Conversation with Dr. Shannon Connolly
    Oct 23 2025

    In this episode, Drs. Rob Assibey and Cynthia Chen-Joea join with Dr. Shannon Connolly, CAFP's 2025 Family Physician of the Year live at Family Medicine POP to dive into the critical conversation on women's health and reproductive health access.

    GUESTS

    • Shannon Connolly, MD, FAAFP - Dr. Connolly completed medical school at the University of Southern California and residency in family medicine at UCLA. She is currently the Associate Medical Director at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, where she oversees primary care and behavioral health care. She has served as president of the California Academy of Family Physicians and is currently Chair of the Committee on Justice through Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the CAFP. Additionally, she sits on the Commission for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Family Medicine for the American Academy of Family Physicians. Her clinical interests include abortion and family planning, gender affirming care, and health equity.

    The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP and Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, FAAFP.

    RESOURCES

    • CAFP's Sexual & Reproductive Health Care - https://www.familydocs.org/rhi

    • Reproductive Health Hotline: 1-844-ReproHH (1-844-737-7644). More details at reprohh.ucsf.edu.

    • AAFP's Reproductive Health: Clinical Guidance and Practice Resources - https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/care-resources/reproductive-health.html

    • Family Medicine POP: Prism of Practice conference, August 21-23, 2026 (San Diego) - www.familydocs.org/pop

    • CAFP's All Member Advocacy Meeting (AMAM), March 14-16, 2026 (Sacramento) - www.familydocs.org/amam

    Information:

    The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast.

    Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/california-academy-of-family-physicians

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    22 mins
  • ACEs with Dr. Mikah Owen
    Oct 16 2025

    In this episode, Drs. Rob Assibey and Cynthia Chen-Joea meet live at Family Medicine POP in San Diego with Dr. Mikah Owen, Senior Director of Clinical and Academic Programs and Health Equity at UCAAN to talk about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Trauma Informed Resilience Oriented Healthcare (TIROH).

    GUESTS

    • Mikah Owen, MD, MPH, MBA - Senior Director of Clinical and Academic Programs and Health Equity, UCAAN
      Based in the Sacramento area, Dr. Owen is a social pediatrician who has dedicated his career to improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents from marginalized and vulnerable backgrounds, especially those with involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
      Dr. Owen has been a long-time adviser to the ACEs Aware initiative and has joined the UCLA-UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network (UCAAN) as Co-Principal Investigator. Prior to joining UCAAN, Dr. Owen was an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UC Davis Health.
      Dr. Owen earned an MD at UCSF, completed his Pediatric Residency at UC Davis, and completed his fellowship in Community and Societal Pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. He recently completed the Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership at Yale University.

    The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP & Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, FAAFP.

    RESOURCES

    • CAFP ACEs & TIROH site - https://www.familydocs.org/aces

    • Live Beyond Campaign materials - https://livebeyondca.org

    • Becoming ACEs Aware in California training - https://training.acesaware.org/aa

    • Family Medicine POP: Prism of Practice conference, August 21-23, 2026 (San Diego) - www.familydocs.org/pop
    • CAFP's All Member Advocacy Meeting (AMAM), March 14-16, 2026 (Sacramento) - www.familydocs.org/amam

    Information:

    The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP and Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, FAAFP.

    The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast.

    Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/california-academy-of-family-physicians

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    37 mins
  • Recapturing the Joy in Medicine
    Aug 19 2025
    On this episode of the Family Docs Podcast, Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea discusses physician wellness and the pursuit to recapture the joy in medicine with Drs. Lauren Brown-Berchtold and Kim Yu. Guests: Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, MPH, CPH, FAAFP - Dr. Cynthia Chen-Joea is a physician career and life coach, double board-certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, and the founder of Thrivation, dedicated to coaching early-career physicians break free from burnout and build sustainable, fulfilling careers. She is also the co-founder of Physician Contract Negotiation, empowering physicians to advocate for their worth and navigate their careers with confidence. She serves as the Director of Inpatient Medicine at Charles Drew Family Medicine Residency Program and Medical Director of Copa de Oro Medical Group. Her previous leadership positions include, Physician Advisor, Secretary-Treasurer of the Medical Staff and Department Chair of Family Medicine at Emanate Health. A passionate advocate for physician well-being and healthcare transformation, Dr. Chen-Joea has held multiple leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels working in advocacy within her specialty organization. She currently serves as the New Physician member on the AAFP Board of Directors, working to create a more sustainable future in medicine. Kim Yu, MD, FAAFP, DABFM - Dr. Kim Yu is a national and international speaker, executive family physician leader, past president of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, and current Speaker of the California Academy of Family Physicians. Based out of California, Dr. Yu lives to #inspirecreatelead and currently works at the American Board of Family Medicine as the PRIME National Strategy Consultant and as Director of Health Care Strategy at KCS Inc., a multisite FQHC in Orange County, CA, serving the Asian community and the underserved in Southern California. Dr. Yu has served as the chair for the AAFP's Global Health Member Interest Group and as convener for WONCA's Special Interest Group in Health Equity. She currently serves on the AAFP delegation to the AMA, Wonca Working Party of Women in Family Medicine - USA country lead, and has interests in physician wellbeing, population health, practice management, health IT, value based care, global health, health equity, advocacy, disaster relief, and a wide range of primary care topics. Lauren Brown-Berchtold, MD, FAAFP - Dr. Lauren Brown-Berchtold is the program director for the Valley Consortium for Medical Education (VCME) Family Medicine Residency program in Modesto, California. She previously was a core faculty member and later program director of San Joaquin General Hospital for 8 years in total. She graduated from Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, then joined John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, to complete her family medicine residency and Maternal-Child Health fellowship equivalent training. Dr. Brown-Berchtold is a fervent advocate for physician mental health protections and burnout prevention, and spends a lot of extracurricular time working on this topic nationally. When away from the hospital, she loves to read as well as explore life with her husband and very active daughter! Resources: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2018/0700/p38.html Dr. Kim Yu Finds 'Reason for Being' in Family Medicine Advocacy - https://www.theabfm.org/dr-kim-yu-finds-reason-for-being-in-family-medicine-advocacy/ Ikigai - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai / https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/ 26 hours of work per day: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-022-07707-x Weidner AKH, Phillips RL Jr, Fang B, Peterson LE. Burnout and Scope of Practice in New Family Physicians [published correction appears in Ann Fam Med. 2018 Jul;16(4):289. doi: 10.1370/afm.2281]. Ann Fam Med. 2018;16(3):200-205. doi:10.1370/afm.2221 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5951247/ Pixar Films mentioned - Inside Out and Inside Out 2 Learned helplessness - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920136/ Job crafting - Amy Wrzesniewski - https://hbr.org/2010/06/managing-yourself-turn-the-job-you-have-into-the-job-you-want Baader-Meinhof phenomenon / frequency illusion - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/frequency-illusion Nine recs for physician wellbeing for c-suite article: Shanafelt TD, Noseworthy JH. Executive Leadership and Physician Well-being: Nine Organizational Strategies to Promote Engagement and Reduce Burnout. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(1):129-146. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.10.004. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(16)30625-5/pdf AMA Cost Of Burnout: https://edhub.ama-assn.org/steps-forward/interactive/16830405 Physician coaching: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2740206 Family Medicine POP: Prism of Practice conference, September 5-7, 2025 (San Diego) - www.familydocs.org/pop CAFP's All ...
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    53 mins
  • Vaccines with Dr. Alex McDonald
    Aug 12 2025

    On this episode of the Family Docs Podcast, we talk with Dr. Alex McDonald about vaccines – what family docs need to know now about vaccines, trends in vaccination rates, breaking and addressing vaccine myths, having vaccine conversations with patients, and how you can start getting involved in advocacy.

    Guests:

    • Alex McDonald MD, FAAFP, CAQSM is a former professional triathlete, Family and Sports Medicine physician and Associate Program Director of the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. McDonald is an AAFP and CAFP media spokesperson and social media ambassador with a passion for family physicians to raise their voice for their patients. Dr. McDonald regularly writes for the Physician's Weekly and contributes to the Physician's Weekly podcast. Dr. McDonald is a recipient of the 2025 AAFP Vaccine Science Fellowship and recently was awarded the California Immunization Coalition's 2025 Ronald P. Bangasser, Immunization Leadership Award.

    Resources:

    • "Vaccine Misinformation, Pseudoscience, & the Frailty of Community Health" by Alex McDonald, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP - Dr. McDonald explores how vaccine misinformation and pseudoscience undermine public health and calls for a return to trust, truth, and evidence-based care. (https://www.physiciansweekly.com/post/vaccine-misinformation-pseudoscience-the-frailty-of-community-health)

    • Family Medicine POP: Prism of Practice conference, September 5-7, 2025 (San Diego) - www.familydocs.org/pop

    • CAFP's All Member Advocacy Meeting (AMAM), March 14-16, 2026 (Sacramento) - www.familydocs.org/amam

    Information:

    The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP and Cynthia Chen-Joea, DO, FAAFP.

    The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast.

    Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org.

    Follow us on social media:

    • Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs

    • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs

    • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs

    • LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/california-academy-of-family-physicians

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    38 mins
  • Hear Me: Stories to Challenge OUD Stigma - Kshe's Story (S03E04)
    Jun 4 2025
    Hear Me: Stories to Challenge OUD Stigma - Series Summary: In this series, we amplify the voices of individuals who have navigated the healthcare system while facing stigma related to opioid use, race, identity, pregnancy, and trauma. Through raw, personal narratives like Joey's and Kshe's (KAY-she), you are invited to listen deeply — not only to the stories , but also to the systemic challenges and human truths they reveal. These short, powerful episodes are a call to action: to reflect, to empathize, and to change. Because compassionate care begins when we choose to hear. Episode: Kshe's Story: Pregnancy, Substance Use and the Power of Compassionate Care Featuring: Kshe BernardValery Shuman, ATR-BC, LCPC, Co-Founder, Sana Healing Collective Summary: Faced with judgment and fear during her pregnancy, Kshe (KAY-she) found hope in one provider's compassion—her story is a powerful reminder that empathy in medicine can change lives. As You Listen to Kshe's Story, Consider: How does stigma impact the willingness of pregnant individuals with SUD to seek medical care? What assumptions might you hold—consciously or unconsciously—about people who use drugs while pregnant? How can you integrate trauma-informed, compassionate care into your practice? Kshe's story highlights the life-changing impact of compassionate care. As a healthcare clinician, your approach matters. How you speak to, treat, and engage with patients can either serve as a barrier or as a bridge to care. Consider what changes you can make in your practice—whether through language, policy advocacy, or patient interactions—to help dismantle stigma and foster trust. Compassion isn't just an ideal—it's an intervention. How will you use it? Resources: Pregnancy and Substance Use: A Harm Reduction Toolkit: https://harmreduction.org/issues/pregnancy-and-substance-use-a-harm-reduction-toolkit/Drawing on Black and Queer Communities' Harm Reduction Histories to Improve Overdose Prevention Strategies: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/drawing-black-and-queer-communities-harm-reduction-histories-improve-overdose-prevention-strategies/2024-07"I'm a Health Nut!" Street Drug Users' Accounts of Self-Care Strategies: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002204260503500311CO*RE Pain Management Education Consortium: https://core-rems.org/CAFP's Substance Use Disorder Resources: familydocs.org/sud Details: This podcast series was developed by Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association (IPMA) and the California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) through the Collaborative for REMS Education (CO*RE) partnership. This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesics REMS Program Companies (RPC). For more information about the Opioid Analgesics REMS, visit https://opioidanalgesicrems.com/RpcUI/products.u. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent, IPMA, or the California Academy of Family Physicians. Copyright CAFP 2025 The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP. The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast. Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org. Follow us on social media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs
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    29 mins
  • Hear Me: Stories to Challenge OUD Stigma - Joey's Story (S03E03)
    May 30 2025
    Hear Me: Stories to Challenge OUD Stigma - Series Summary: In this series, we amplify the voices of individuals who have navigated the healthcare system while facing stigma related to opioid use, race, identity, pregnancy, and trauma. Through raw, personal narratives like Joey's and Kshe's (KAY-she), you are invited to listen deeply — not only to the stories , but also to the systemic challenges and human truths they reveal. These short, powerful episodes are a call to action: to reflect, to empathize, and to change. Because compassionate care begins when we choose to hear. Episode: Joey's Story: Running from Stigma Featuring: Joey McCleodValery Shuman, ATR-BC, LCPC, Co-Founder, Sana Healing Collective, and Senior Lecturer, Art Therapy and Counseling program, School of the Art Institute of Chicago Summary: What happens when fear of judgment keeps someone from seeking lifesaving care? Joey's story reveals how stigma at the intersection of race, sexuality, and substance use can create invisible barriers that healthcare clinicians have the power to break. As you listen to Joey's story, we encourage you to: Reflect on Bias: Consider how stigma—both personal and systemic—may shape Joey's experiences in healthcare and affect his willingness to seek care. Recognize the Power of Small Interactions: The way you communicate—your tone, body language, and choice of words—can either build trust or reinforce fear and avoidance. Commit to Change: Identify one action you can take to create a more welcoming, nonjudgmental environment for patients facing similar barriers. Joey's story is just one example of how stigma can create barriers to care. As a healthcare clinician, you have the power to change that. Take a moment to reflect—what's one small shift you can make in your language, your approach, or your clinical environment to ensure patients like Joey feel safe, heard, and respected? Reducing stigma starts with awareness, but real change happens through action. We encourage you to commit to one tangible change today that will help foster trust and compassion in your practice. Resources: Drawing on Black and Queer Communities' Harm Reduction Histories to Improve Overdose Prevention Strategies: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/drawing-black-and-queer-communities-harm-reduction-histories-improve-overdose-prevention-strategies/2024-07"I'm a Health Nut!" Street Drug Users' Accounts of Self-Care Strategies: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002204260503500311CO*RE Pain Management Education Consortium: https://core-rems.org/CAFP's Substance Use Disorder Resources: familydocs.org/sud Details: This podcast series was developed by Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association (IPMA) and the California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) through the Collaborative for REMS Education (CO*RE) partnership. This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesics REMS Program Companies (RPC). For more information about the Opioid Analgesics REMS, visit https://opioidanalgesicrems.com/RpcUI/products.u. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent, IPMA, or the California Academy of Family Physicians. Copyright CAFP 2025 The Family Docs Podcast is hosted by Rob Assibey, MD, FAAFP. The Family Docs podcast is developed, produced, and recorded by the California Academy of Family Physicians. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent or the California Academy of Family Physicians. More information at www.familydocs.org/podcast. Visit the California Academy of Family Physicians online at www.familydocs.org. Follow us on social media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/cafp_familydocs Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cafp_familydocs Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/familydocs
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    24 mins