2014: Year of the Family Physician (Part VII)
So far, we have conducted two town hall hot spots discussing the Affordable Care Act [ACA]. Akin to Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, it was the worst of meetings and it was the best of meetings. The first one was held in an independent coffee shop on the outskirts of downtown Sacramento. The owner was kind enough to set aside a table for us. However, I had failed to engage him on the purpose and scope of the meeting. I distributed...
2014: Year of the Family Physician (Part VI)
by Ronald L. Fong, MD, MPH I have attached a photo of the bumper sticker we printed for #2014yearfp. Contact me and I will send you one. The sticker is designed for us to engage with others. Movement organizers speak of recruitment to advance the cause. I would rather focus on identification instead. When we identify with people, we seek to understand their background and aspirations. Recruitment marginalizes individuals to the...
2014: Year of the Family Physician (Part V)
by Ronald L. Fong, MD, MPH In colonial times, the local tavern served as a gathering place for the community to discuss politics. Some taverns functioned as makeshift post offices or local government offices. The modern day descendent of the tavern is the coffee shop. Coffee shops have captured the third space appeal, where people bond outside of work and home. To ingratiate themselves with their service community, coffee shops...
2014: Year of the Family Physician (Part IV)
by Ronald L. Fong, MD, MPH In a previous blog, I discussed the “what,” “how,” and “why” of a movement. I neglected to include the “who” in a movement. Although I envision every profession and discipline contributing to #2014yearfp, family physicians will have to plant the seeds. I hope you will incorporate enterprise farmer into your vast and varied identities. Indeed, take inventory of your functions and roles. As a physician,...
2014: Year of the Family Physician (Part III)
Color matters. Think back to autumn, where a sea of burnt orange or a tide of crimson identifies college campuses on Saturdays. Green became a banner of change and solidarity during the Arab Spring. Movements need a flag, a rallying image to draw the eyes of the next recruit. Once the image catches the eye, it needs to capture the heart. To advance 2014 as the Year of the Family Physician, I suggest that family physicians modify...