Black History Month
The Art of Family Medicine
Each February, the AAFP celebrates Black History Month, and this year's theme is "African Americans and the Arts". While the relationship between practicing family medicine and being an artist may not seem direct, there are more than a few connections. No other specialty treats a broader range of patients with a variety of conditions than family physicians. So, the care they provide comes from a deep well of innovation, curiosity, empathy and creativity.
"Make no mistake: medicine, though a science, is also an art," said AAFP Board Chair Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAFP. "The art of family medicine requires fine-tuning our communication skills with patients, educating students and residents, and taking on complex topics and making them easily understandable.”
Throughout this month, we'll celebrate the accomplishments of Black AAFP members working to improve health outcomes for all communities. We'll also highlight AAFP.org and external resources for family physicians and patients regarding minority health, health equity and social determinants of health to equip members with practical tools and information.
“As we pay tribute to our ancestors in medicine who paved the way, we also celebrate the transformative impact of art that has contributed to making the world a better place,” said AAFP Center for Diversity & Health Equity Specialist Juaquan Herron. “From Maya Angelou to Daniel Hale Williams, their contributions resonate not just within Black history, but echo through the corridors of world history.”
"The art of family medicine requires fine-tuning our communication skills with patients, educating students and residents, and taking on complex topics and making them easily understandable."
– Tochi Iroku-Malize, AAFP Board Chair, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAFP
Member Voices
Podcast: Well-being and Inclusivity in Family Medicine
The Inside Family Medicine podcast welcomes Joedrecka Brown Speights, M.D., FAAFP, for a conversation about the power of mentorship; the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in medical education; and how DEI can help physicians improve their well-being.
25 Years of Progress and Momentum Continues
Board Chair Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., FAAFP, reflects on change and the art of family medicine at the start of Black History Month, which this year highlights African Americans and the arts.
GME Award Winner Has Passion for Research, Obesity Medicine
Peris Kibera, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.W., had already trained and worked as a social work practitioner, researcher and educator when she decided to pursue a second career in medicine. Kibera already knew which specialty was right for her.
The Intersection of Creativity, the Arts & Family Medicine: An Interview With Angela Rodgers, MD, FAAFP
In this excerpt of an interview with AAFP, Angela Rodgers, MD, FAAFP, discusses connections between creativity, the arts, and medicine, including the way there are several roles family physicians take on and how there are various settings in which scenes take place -- likening practicing family medicine to performing in a play.
Discover the EveryONE Project
The EveryONE Project, part of the AAFP's Center for Diversity and Health Equity, offers education and resources to help you advocate for health equity, promote workforce diversity, and collaborate with other disciplines and organizations to reduce harmful health disparities.