"Why is family medicine the most important?"

Arriving at the Kansas City Airport, I saw only cornfields. But my expectations were quickly fulfilled when I checked in at the hotel and was offered free champagne (or sparkling cider).

Each talk I have attended so far has made me question my motivations, ask the deeper questions and look at the bigger picture. The first talk last night examined the importance of primary care, in particular family medicine. Family doctors, Dr. Roberts, argued contribute the most the people’s health. And he showed that through epidemiological studies: increasing family doctors in a population lowers morbidity and mortality while increasing specialists increases both! I learned that we need to focus on the serving each individual person holistically. To see what each person really wants from you as their provider. Heroic medicine is what is popularly publicized in the media: we hear about the woman saved by an innovative heart surgery or the military helicopter rescues of people in flooding situations. We don’t hear about 50,000 children immunized against rubella or the long-term support physicians that go into flooding situations and help people re-establish the management of their chronic illnesses and provide emotional support. We need to focus on these long-term management treatments. That is what our patients need and we need to learn to serve the people we work with.