Embracing the Heart of Healthcare: A Message to the Next Generation of Family Physicians

Being a family physician has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life—full of challenges, growth, and the privilege of caring for individuals and families. But if you’d asked me a few years ago, I might have responded differently.

When I first started, I had no idea how deeply family medicine would touch my life or the lives of my patients. I also didn’t realize how much it would take from me. At one point, I even called it a “soul-sucking” experience. Yet, despite the tough times, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Family medicine is the foundation of healthcare and the heartbeat of healthy, connected communities.

To anyone stepping into this world, I urge you to see the beauty in it, even when it feels heavy. Family medicine isn’t just a job or a specialty—it’s a calling. Yes, it’s challenging. Yes, it can be exhausting. But it’s also one of the most meaningful ways to impact lives. It allows you to see healthcare through a holistic lens that connects generations, blending the physical, emotional, and mental pieces of people’s lives into one bigger picture.

Seeing Health as a Whole, Not Just Symptoms

One of the best parts of being a family doctor is learning to see health as more than a collection of symptoms. Our training goes deep into how the body works as a whole system, teaching us to connect the dots in ways other specialties might get to explore.

This way of thinking has shaped everything I do in my practice. Health is rarely just about one thing—it’s influenced by many factors, like genetics, lifestyle, family dynamics, and even the environment. Family doctors are uniquely equipped to look at all those pieces and understand how they fit together. It’s not just about treating an illness; it’s about understanding the person.

Building Lasting Relationships Across Generations

Starting my practice early in my career was scary, and it’s not something most new doctors do (and for good reason!). A recent survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Hospital Association (AHA) found that 90% of medical students reported feeling unprepared or somewhat unprepared to handle the business side of their medical career. But it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It allowed me to form deep, lasting relationships with my patients and their families.

I’ve cared for people from when they were tiny newborns to when they became parents themselves. I’ve supported families through joyful milestones and heartbreaking losses. I’ve seen four generations of one family walk through my doors, each carrying stories that shape who they are.

These relationships are the soul of family medicine. They’ve shown me how powerful it is to be part of someone’s life in such a meaningful way. As family doctors, we’re not just their healthcare providers—their allies, sounding boards, and sometimes, their friends.

Honouring and Questioning Traditional Approaches

Over the years, I’ve learned that part of being a family doctor is questioning what’s always been done and finding new ways to meet the needs of our patients. Early in my career, I leaned on traditional mental health approaches, only to realize they didn’t always work as well as I hoped.

This realization has pushed me to challenge traditional ideas and try new ways of thinking. I’ve learned that real wellness often requires us to go beyond standard diagnoses and treatments, to ask questions that might not be part of traditional practice, and to explore holistic approaches that treat the person, not just the symptoms. Learning and adapting has been one of the most empowering parts of my career. I hope that, in time, this approach will help shape family medicine in a way that better serves patients for generations to come.

An Encouragement to New Family Physicians

If you’re just starting in family medicine, let me be honest: it won’t be easy. You’ll juggle the needs of many patients, tackle complex cases with limited resources, and deal with a healthcare system that doesn’t always make things easy. Compared to other specialties, research has shown that family physicians are more likely to report burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.

But don’t forget why you’re doing this. You have the opportunity to be the foundation of healthcare in your community. The relationships you build and the care you give will have a far- reaching impact, even if you don’t see it immediately. With each patient you help, each family you guide, and each life you touch, you’re building something bigger than yourself.

Family Medicine: A Lifelong Source of Gratitude

Family medicine has given me more than I could ever give in return. It’s allowed me to make a difference—not just in my patients’ lives but also in my own. The challenges have been hard but have also taught me much. If sharing my story can make the path a little smoother for the next generation of family doctors, then those challenges have had an even greater purpose.

To the next generation of family doctors: embrace this work wholeheartedly. Be proud of the relationships you’ll build and the lives you’ll touch. This isn’t just a career—it’s a way of making the world a better place, one patient at a time.

In every story you hear, you’ll find meaning. In every family you care for, you’ll witness strength. And with every step of this journey, you’ll create the foundation for a healthier, more compassionate world.

Welcome to Family Medicine. Welcome to the heart of healthcare.