Family physicians are oriented and trained to inquire about the meaning of patients'
symptoms and to recognize when major concerns or worry are present. Yet, in the context of …

Thomas H. Lee, MD During the years when I worked in an academic integrated delivery
system, my colleagues and I would frequently discuss patients' experiences and ways to …

This essay presents a family medicine office visit with a child and both parents; details have
been modified to protect patient and physician confidentiality. A child's headache, which has …

Unfortunately, in our culture, who you are is often defined by what you do. Our traditional
specialist colleagues have an easier time explaining who they are because what they do is …

During medical school and residency, we are taught to always keep boundaries with our
patients. I took this lesson to heart and considered my patients merely as “diseases” during …

House staff dribble in, clack lunch trays down around the center table, and stir up their
collective energy before the start of the Noon Case Conference. 1 take a back seat and fix …

Nathanael Turner MD CCFP It seems an unwritten rule in life that things that bring us the
most fulfillment and joy can also be those that cause us the most stress and pain (having …

Early in my first year of medical school, I was given some valuable-sounding advice:“Treat
the patient, not the disease” and “Medicine is more of an art than a science.” Eager to …

Expectations lie at the heart of America's health care crisis. Although doctors cannot control
for the unrealistic demands of a consumer-centric society, we might ask what we would want …

Reviewing his clinic patient schedule for the day, a physician reflects on the history of a
young woman he has been caring for over the past 9 years. What starts out as a routine visit …