New program for medical students: Adopt a family to treat

Author: Jenny Mesrie

Since 2009, five new medical schools have opened around the country. New medical schools provide opportunity for redefining and updating medical education. A great example is Florida International University's College of Medicine in Miami. The new medical school is incorporating a community-based medical curriculum as part of the regular training.

At FIU, each medical student is assigned a neighborhood in the Miami area and a family who lives there. Through this initiative, students help improve the quality of life of these families while at the same time learning to appreciate the value of primary care.

The school's aim is to produce more primary care physicians, which has been a dwindling field in the last decade. The health care system has become highly specialized and medical students are not incentivised to practice preventative care.

Mindfulness to minimize physician burnout

Author: Jenny Mesrie

Research has shown that practicing mindfulness may actually improve physician well-being and attitudes associated with patient-centered care. In an article published in JAMA, Krasner et al studied the effects of an intensive educational program in mindfulness, communication, and self-awareness.

Primary care physicians are working hard these days. Up to 60% of primary care physicians report symptoms of burnout. Many physicians report personal consequences such as substance abuse, stress-related health problems, and marital discord.

Physician burnout = poorer quality care for patients

How can we begin to solve this problem? While primary care physicians are caring for the general public, who is looking out for them?