Teaching for the future of family medicine.

(Fam Med 2006;38(7):466-8.) The first emotion that I try to conjure up and feel deeply every morning is gratitude. I may wake thinking I need to do this or that, I may let a little panic or annoyance creep in once in awhile, but I consciously push it out of my mind to make room for gratitude. Crisis or no crisis, I still believe that it is a deep honor and privilege to do the work of family medicine. Having said that, I must confess that I believe these are extraordinary and difficult times for medicine, all of medicine. These are times that require vision, rigor, courage, and action. I assure you that the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine is strong and thriving, and it will stay true to its traditional values, mission, and vision. We are a teaching organization that “will be a community of educators, researchers, and clinicians leading change that measurably improves the health of all people.” Indeed, we are a “community of practice” with similar experience, hopes, and needs, with a desire to share what we know. We come together in our meetings to be renewed and recharged. And it works very well. But I and many others in this organization believe that the Society must lead in the transformative change of family medicine. Transformative change is new to us. It is risky, especially in a time of uncertainty, and there is much uncertainty in the US health care system. Transformative change is hard work; we have little experience with it. It requires bold steps, new vision, and, for teachers of family medicine, it requires something else. It absolutely requires that we change and teach at the same time.