In honor of the 50th anniversary of the American Academy of Family Physicians, as well as to acknowledge October as Family Health Month, Dr. Lisa Belisle has written the following piece. The names are changed.

Lisa Belisle, M.D., is a family practice resident at the Maine Medical Center in Portland. She is spending the month of October at Lincoln Family Medicine with Drs. Gold, Friedland, Soucy and Teel.

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD
Originally published October 30, 1997, Lincoln County Weekly

Cameron Thompson is a blue-eyed 2-year-old who cut his knee on a rock this morning at day care; Joe Evans is a retired plumber with long-standing diabetes and hypertension. Megan Wing is a newly pregnant 20-year-old who needs prenatal care. They all live in a coastal Maine town. Megan and Cameron are Joe’s grandchildren.

As members of the same family and community, their individual health care needs impact upon one another. Cameron, Joe and Megan each visit a specialist uniquely qualified to help them collectively and as individuals. Their specialist is a Dr. Linda Silver, family physician.

Family physicians have existed for more than a century. Once called “generalists,” these physicians would complete two years in one of this country’s few medical schools and hit the ground running. Most of their training was “on the job.” From general surgery to delivering babies, they dealt with widely varied medical issues and were an integral part of most rural communities.

Communities still have generalists, but they now receive specific training — in family practice. Family practice has been a recognized specialty in this country, with its own society, for 50 years. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the mission of family physicians is to “Improve the health of patients, their families and the American people.” Family physicians like Dr. Silver treat patients as individuals, and as part of larger family and community units. This requires extensive background and education.

Dr. Silver, like most family physicians, has had more than a decade of training. After obtaining a college degree, Dr. Silver attended four years of medical school. There she took classes on the human body and its illnesses in addition to spending time in hospitals and physicians’ offices. When Linda Silver graduated, she was awarded a medical degree. She was then eligible for specialty training, called residency.

Dr. Silver’s residency took three years. During this time, she spent time delivering babies, caring for children and adults and learning how illness effects families and communities. Upon completion of her residency, she took an examination given by the American Board of Family Physicians. She is now a “Board-certified” specialist in family practice. 

As a board-certified family physician, Dr. Silver is qualified to manage most aspects of patient care. Her patients this morning are Cameron Thompson, Joe Evans and Megan Wing. Today Cameron will have his knee stitched, while Joe will have blood pressure taken, and Megan will start prenatal care. When Megan has her baby, Dr. Silver will be there to do the delivery.

Although Dr. Silver is knowledgeable about normal deliveries, high blood pressure and stitches, she sometimes needs a little help. If Joe’s hypertension begins to cause serious problems with his heart or Megan’s pregnancy becomes complicated by premature labor, Dr. Silver may call a cardiologist or obstetrician for assistance. Most importantly, Dr. Silver will stay involved in caring for her patients, and remain an advocate for their families.

Caring for patients and their families is important to Dr. Silver, but she also contributes to the community in other ways. She is active in the nearby high school and frequently gives athletic physicals. She is the occupational health physician for the local hospital. She also works hard to be a loving mother, wife and daughter. Her focus is families — her patients’ and her own.

Why do family physicians focus on the family? The family is the most basic, most fundamental element of a community — communities to which family physicians themselves belong. Contributing to the health of families such as Cameron, Joe and Megan’s contributes to the health of their community. Family physicians know that a healthy community is the best place to live.