Accelerating into Family Medicine
In the summer of 2013 I was sitting in a small humid room in a coastal agricultural town in Ecuador, a young community health Peace Corps volunteer working on his personal statement to get into medical school. A few months later I received good news, acceptance to UC Davis, specifically the new accelerated medical school experience into primary care. I had worked a year in Ecuador, and as I reflected back on the parts of the work that...
Retiring Physician Reflects on Career in Family Medicine
Many years ago, I brought my new stethoscope up to Community Hospital and the Family Practice Center across the street on Chanate, and spent three wonderful, intense years starting to learn to be a family doctor. And began building relationships with people who came to call me their physician, and with people who came to call me their colleague or co-worker. Or friend. I then took my stethoscope down to Rohnert Park and continued...
FMRevolution: The Evolution Volume 1, Issue 2
When I was a medical student, I was uncertain how to become a leader. What I was certain of, however, was my love of free pizza. So there I was, a first-year medical student chewing on a lot of free pizza to hear what this club or that club might offer me in terms of a leadership opportunity. Well, after eating an ample share of free pizza, I started to get a feel for what interested me and got involved. I went on to become finance...
Passing the Family Medicine Torch
An ancient Chinese philosopher said ‘journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. But what Lao-Tze failed to mention was that the traveler is often nudged into taking that first step. In my case, it was a fellow resident more than 18 years ago who said to me, “Jack, I’m going to San Francisco with the residents group for the CAFP annual meeting. Do you want to tag along?” And as they say...
Family Medicine and Patient Centered Care Are the Best, Most Cost Effective Care for our Patients
I want to share a recent anecdote from my clinic which highlights how patient centered family medicine is cost effective and simply good care for patients. I saw Mr. F, a 75-year-old gentleman. Like many of my patients, he has a history of high blood pressure and obesity. He also had a heart attack in the past as well as two additional stents placed in his coronary arteries. I was seeing him in follow up to his hospitalization. ...