Pub. 2 2018 Issue 1

with a complex patient, the goal of the emergency department physicians and residents was to take care of that patient and get them out of the ER. The family medicine residents took a broader view. They didn’t just want to stabilize the patient. They were thinking about what needed to happen next for that patient. What sort of followup would the patient need after being discharged? They weren’t just looking at the pa- tient’s injury or disease. They were thinking big picture. As had happened with my son, my first family medicine rota- tion had failed to make an impression on me. But I was so impressed by the family medicine residents at the hospital that I did a second rotation. And just as with Kevin, my second preceptor made a difference, and I saw that family medicine offered everything I loved about medicine: ongoing care, man- agement of complex chronic disease, procedures and more. I was hooked. In three decades of practice since, I’ve looked at family medicine through a lot of different lenses. I’ve worked in independent practice and been an employed physician. I’ve been a preceptor, taught in a residency and worked in health care administration. Those varied experiences have helped shape who I am. So, as I take the role of AAFP president today, I can relate to our members’ individual circumstances and concerns, regard- less of their practice setting. There is much work to do in the year ahead on issues such as payment reform, administrative burdens and more, and I’m honored to represent you. I was fortunate to have former AAFP President Jack Stel- mach, M.D., as my residency director. One of the many les- sons he instilled in us was the idea of giving back to our specialty. One of my first advocacy issues involved scope of practice. In my first year after residency, I was on staff at a community hospital that wouldn’t allow me to hospital- ize patients in the ICU without a cardiologist consult. I was outraged and vocal. I wanted everyone to know that family medicine is a specialty with the ability to manage a wide range of patient care in any setting. I learned that lesson more than 30 years ago from those bright family medicine residents. In my year as president, I’ll continue to tell our specialty’s story and do my best to ensure that pay- ers, policymakers and patients know the vast scope and ex- pertise that family physicians offer.  DSME DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION learn how at LivingWell.Utah.gov Diabetes Self-Management Education Benefits Patients and Providers In my year as president, I’ll continue to tell our specialty’s story and do my best to ensure that payers, policymakers and patients know the vast scope and expertise that family physicians offer. 9 |