Harmonizing the Tripartite Mission in Academic Family Medicine: A Longitudinal Case Example

Harmony – multiple pitches or notes sounding simultaneously. Peek et al’s. description of their departmental aspiration for working in harmony, different people doing different jobs together, simultaneously, is a model for academic work worthy of broad implementation and dissemination. For many years there was an effort to create the academic “triple threat”, a clinician, educator, researcher. Like a one-person band it created quite a lot of sound, but not necessarily a lot of melody(1). This idea of harmonization may be a solution. Some folks might opt for the double, or triple-threat approach, but it may also be there are those that choose to excel at just one instrument, clinical, teaching, research, administrative leadership. And as the authors mention, there are new roles in a robust academic department related to patient and community engagement, health policy, patient advocacy. Bringing these new instruments into the band will make the music all the better. We have built an academic infrastructure to develop and grow triple threats. And that leaves some talented faculty out of the mainstream efforts.  Harmonizing may offer an opportunity to build a team (or band) that uses the best talents and passions of each member, honors each, and let’s each take the solo bit throughout the course of the work(2). Really appreciate this piece by Peek et al.

1. Bert’s One-Man Band: https://youtu.be/iXeXHJdP8Kk
2. Cohen L. Come Healing: https://youtu.be/MUB1O2cT2gM?feature=shared