Pub. 3 2019 Issue 2

Resident Spotlight | Continued from page 13 want to find a genuine person with an interesting story who is passionate about something — not just medicine.” Addressing the Family Physician Shortage Lyman and Karli agree that there needs to be a cultural shift in many medical schools to encourage and celebrate those who are interested in primary care, rather than dis- couraging them. “Sadly, in some schools that can happen,” Karli revealed. “At UNC, it was a celebration for anyone who chooses family medicine.” But she knows people who sadly did not get supported in that way for their decision to go into primary care. “You need to go into it loud and proud and passionate,” Karli emphasized. Lyman went on to say that from the top down, there needs to be overwhelming support for primary care. This support is particularly need- ed in states that are primarily rural, such as Utah. Lyman believes that showcasing those rural experiences or even making them a required rotation is critical. “Seeing what family medicine does for a community in the rural sector is an easy way to open up people’s eyes to realize they live in a state that isn’t just Salt Lake Valley.” Karli did a rural track at UNC that took 20 students to Asheville, North Carolina. The program not only served a more rural community but had a longitudinal curriculum for clinical rotation. Karli shares, “I would likely never have done family medicine if I hadn’t had this longitudinal expe- rience.” She worked with a preceptor every Monday for a year, so she was able to build a panel of patients and follow them through their progress. She had patients who called her their doctor, and she was able to see improvement and learn more of their history over time. That experience changed everything for Karli as she learned what it means to be someone’s primary doctor and to build relationships with them in the long term. “If I had only done a month of family medicine, it would have been exhausting, and there would have been no chance to get to know the patients.” Lyman also feels strongly that debt reduction and repay- ment needs to be addressed. He says there needs to be more funding for national and state programs that provide partial debt repayment for physicians who commit to work in a rural or underserved community. A Return to Utah Someday? Due to their commitment to the Navy, the couple will not be able to stay in Utah following their residency, but they both say it is hard to imagine not coming back to Utah. They love the environment at St. Marks and say that it feels like a family. There is a possibility they would return here at some point as they have built such strong ties to the medi- cal community and made so many wonderful friends. When you are treated fairly you are confident in your coverage • 800.282.6242 • ProAssurance.com Healthcare Professional Liability Insurance & Risk Resource Services healthy vitals ProAssurance has been monitoring risk and protecting healthcare industry professionals for more than 40 years, with key specialists on duty to diagnose complex risk exposures. Work with a team that understands the importance of delivering flexible healthcare professional liability solutions . | 14