Trusted Care in an Uncertain Time: The Role of Family Medicine
My name is Lynsey Drew, and I am a family medicine physician. Across Utah, family physicians are delivering babies, managing chronic conditions, and supporting patients through life’s most difficult moments. My own practice is focused on caring for older adults in a skilled nursing facility, but I am proud to represent a specialty that provides cradle-to-grave care for families and communities.
Family medicine is a medical specialty, just like pediatrics, surgery, or dermatology. Medical students who choose this path go on to complete family medicine residencies, where they learn to care for patients of every age and stage of life.
We choose this specialty because of the relationships it allows us to build. While family medicine may not be the highest-paying or flashiest field, it is one of the most rewarding. Family physicians often care for multiple generations of the same family, creating bonds of trust that last across decades.
At a time when quick-fix health advice on social media and conflicting headlines create uncertainty, family physicians remain a trusted source of clear, evidence-based guidance. You can count on us to listen to your concerns, answer your questions honestly, and partner with you on everything from immunizations to chronic disease management to mental health.
Everyone deserves access to a physician who knows their story and provides continuity of care. If you don’t already have that relationship, ask friends or family for recommendations and take the step to establish care. It is one of the best investments you can make in your health and peace of mind.
I am proud to be a family physician and proud of our specialty. During Family Medicine Week, I invite you to celebrate the doctors who care for families across Utah, and to take one small step today toward making your own health a priority.
Lynsey Drew, DO, MBA, FAAFP
Chair, Utah Academy of Family Physicians