The promise of family medicine: history, leadership, and the Age of Aquarius.

Family medicine began as a revolutionary movement with courageous leaders who had a compelling vision for the new specialty. Next came a growth era with the expansion of residency programs, medical school departments and community practices; organizationally adept, businesslike people managed family medicine’s prosperity. Today medicine and America are troubled, reminiscent of conditions in the 1960s. As family medicine enters a new era, we once again need bold, innovative leaders, like our specialty’s founders. By recognizing the nature of the times and seeking the leadership we need, we can fulfill the promises we have made to our patients, our colleagues and to America.