Pub. 3 2019 Issue 1

I n 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed, “In American life the family doctor performs a service which we rely upon and which we trust as a nation.” Although many aspects of family medicine have changed since 1940, this quote remains true today. In my personal and professional opinion, I believe the future of family medicine is extremely bright with endless opportunities. My co-residents and I are consistently learning about what it means tobe a family physician andhow to fulfill this incredible role and responsibility. The role of a family physician involves adapting to frequent shifts in responsibilities such as continually acquiring knowledge, mastering practice management, participating in community involvement, making and sustaining multiple relationships and teaching duties; all while balancing a healthy personal life. Overall, these collective experiences are the origin of a family medicine resident’s professional identity. For me, residency has provided many enjoyments, successes, and challenges. It has been interesting, and sometimes frustrating, to navigate the challenges of patient care. There have been growing pains as I have internally wrestled about how I can best improve compliance issues, poor social situations, addictions, poor prognosis, financial struggles, or mental disabilities. As a young physician, I have benefited from the advice and experiences of my senior attending physicians and mentors. One specific challenge during residency has been the continual pursuit of becoming more efficient and effective for my patients. Even through a constant effort to practice high quality medicine, the task remains complex and multifactorial. Like other residents from around the country, we work on longitudinal quality improvement projects that provide an opportunity to conduct in-depth academic research while testing practical application and creating potential solutions to clinical needs. These experiences have been vital to learn and solidify the mindset of quality medicine. After completing two quality improvement projects this year in patient satisfaction and technology, I feel more confident as a physician with new ideas, possible solutions, and evidence-based medicine. An additional academic experience this year has involved forming and researching a clinical question following the PICO format (patient/problem, intervention, compare/control, outcome). I have been able to pursue a musculoskeletal topic that I am interested in learning more about and becoming a potential expert on. During this experience, residents work closely with one of our faculty members who is an expert in teaching and training residents to utilize databases to research evidence-based answers to clinical questions and scholarship. The primary objective of this experience is to think critically, communicate expertly and create professional development. The ultimate goal for the resident is to generate and publish the final report with the Family Physician Inquiries Network. Residencyhasprovidedsomeofthemostpricelessexperiences of my life. I have always appreciated speaking with seasoned attending physicians about their life and the significant role residency played in personal development. As a residency family, my co-residents and I have experienced some of the highs and lows life has to offer. In many instances we have enjoyed the magnificent experience of bringing new life into the world. Most recently I had the wonderful opportunity to personally deliver my third child. It was a special experience to use my new skills as a physician to bring my daughter into the world. This experience was amazing to share with the nursing staff and family medicine residency faculty and other staff who have supported me in all aspects of my life. I’m a firm believer in the idea of working hard and playing hard. It has been easier to maintain a solid work-life balance with my co-residents, with activities such as movie nights, dinner dates, pickle ball, sporting events, and everything outdoors — to name a few. In my opinion, this is the best time in history to be practicing medicine. There has never been a time with more challenges and potential. The future of health care will go one of two directions. One direction is to continue to muddle through the existing system. The second option is to improve the system by focusing on value-based care, consumerism, clinical outcomes and both patient and physician satisfaction. I am grateful for the opportunity to help contribute to future solutions. I’m grateful for my experiences in residency as unique opportunities to refine and build my professional identity as a family health physician. Dr. Tyson Schwab is a resident physician at Intermountain Healthcare. He is beginning his second year as a resident at the Utah Valley Fam- ily Medicine Residency program. His medical interests include primary care, innovation, technology, health policy and improving medical quality. Dr. Schwab grew up in Bountiful, Utah. He and his wife have three children. He enjoys international traveling, college football, the Utah Jazz, Disney, making sushi, and spending time with his family. Melissa V. See, MD, MPA Resident Spotligh t Tyson Schwab, MD www.UtahAFP.org | 20