After a year of unprecedented political divide and health challenges, it is important to remember that Utah’s family physicians are the backbone of the state’s health care system; we strongly stand together taking care of our fellow Utahns.

As your new UAFP president, I wanted to introduce myself. I grew up and attended medical school in Vermont, and moved to Utah in 2012 to complete a residency. I currently work full time as a hospitalist and in post-acute care in Salt Lake City. And, as a proud family trained doctor, I am optimistic for the year to come.

I have been on the UAFP board of directors in some capacity for almost a decade. Over those 10 years, I have seen our organization’s growth and the strengthening of our specialty around the state. We are collectively well-positioned to help our patients and communities navigate what will most likely be a tough winter season. I wanted to take a moment to share my goals for the coming year and encourage you to reflect and think about your own.

• To be representative: we seek to be a strong, diverse, statewide voice, advocating on behalf of you. Many of our members are off the Wasatch front. With so much focus on statewide issues being broadcast from the capital, we want to make sure that all our doctors feel supported and heard on the hill and in their local and rural communities.
• To be receptive: we hear our members’ needs and are proactive in seeking a diversity of input and opinion. There are many ways to get in touch with the UAFP, and we encourage all members to share experiences and ask questions at any time. We always want to hear about local successes, struggles, and needs to help us to most accurately represent, celebrate, and advocate for Utah’s family physicians.
• To be responsive: we want to quickly provide direction, knowledge, and opportunity to our members at large. As the upcoming year’s challenges evolve, we strive to be at the forefront of issues and help shape change to better our members’ position.
• To be a resource: we know our working environments will change. We have assembled a strong team in our board and staff, and we are eager to help your practices navigate updates in the pandemic, highlights of the legislative sessions, as well as efforts and actives of the AAFP.

I wanted to thank everyone for the effort they put in day-to-day in a very challenging workscape at the moment. Each of us faces our own personal and professional hurdles. We are physicians with sick and vulnerable patients. Many of us are parents trying to balance work with helping our families through the pandemic. We are community leaders, often balancing political, scientific and religious beliefs. Please do not hesitate to contact me or anyone at the UAFP if you feel like we can help in any way.

Be safe, be well.