I recently attended a Residency Leadership Summit for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The meeting was full of workshops and discussions focused on improving family medicine training so that physicians are EVEN BETTER prepared to care for patients.

Across the United States there are 1,234 family medicine residency programs. I teach at University of Nevada Reno Family Medicine Residency Program. I am passionate about my job educating the next generation of family physicians. This is my 28th year of being both a physician and a teacher of physicians. This, truly, is my life’s work… in addition to raising my 3 “children.” As of February 2024, the AAFP reports about 15,300 family medicine resident members currently in training. About 1 in 7 physicians in the United States are trainees.

This matters because many experienced physicians are aging out of practice or leaving medicine. The doctors currently in residency will play an important role in the future of health care.

Family medicine residency programs work hard to train these physicians as lifelong learners while they care for patients in supervised clinics. When patients are seen at a residency clinic, they are usually seen by a resident physician who has completed medical school and is now receiving 3 years of advanced training. The resident works under the supervision of an experienced attending faculty physician (like me!).

This means two physicians are reviewing the patient’s care. The resident evaluates the patient and develops a plan, and the supervising physician oversees to helps guide the final decisions. In many ways, this provides an extra layer of thought and oversight. Two brains are better than one, right?!

Residency programs also emphasize continuity of care. When possible, patients are scheduled with the same resident physician over time so the doctor can get to know the patient’s health history, concerns, and goals. We call this continuity. In primary care, continuity matters. Details do not get lost. Whole-person care is given. Because these are teaching environments, visits are often more detailed and less rushed than another office. Residents often spend extra time asking questions and reviewing cases with supervising physicians.

Family physicians are trained to provide comprehensive care across the lifespan. Residency clinics often provide preventive care, chronic disease management, women’s health, pediatric care, geriatric care, and minor procedures.

Residency programs also have strong oversight. In the past year alone, about 250 site visits were conducted to review family medicine residency programs and ensure high standards of training and patient care.

For patients, residency clinics offer a unique benefit. You are usually cared for by an energetic new physician while also having your care reviewed by a seasoned faculty physician.

For many patients, this combination of supervision, teamwork, and continuity makes a family medicine residency clinic an excellent place to receive care while also supporting the training of the next generation of physicians.