Why I Chose Family Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Meera Anand
Have you ever wondered what inspires someone to choose a career in medicine? Is it the adrenaline of the emergency room or saving a life? The precision of surgery? For some, it's something deeper - a desire for lasting, meaningful connections. It's the drive to be a constant presence in a patient鈥檚 life story.
That鈥檚 exactly what we鈥檙e exploring in our new series. We鈥檙e sitting down for honest conversations with doctors from the 大象传媒 School of Medicine to hear their personal journeys: what drew them to this vital field and what it鈥檚 really like to be a family physician.
Dr. Meera Anand, the School鈥檚 Assistant Dean of Faculty and Physician Engagement and Support (and a family doctor with many years of experience) kicks off the series with a candid look at her own path.
From Specialization to Relationships
For Dr. Anand, the call to medicine came from a deeply rooted desire to help others. As a medical student, she was drawn to specialties like pediatrics and emergency medicine. But something kept pulling her in another direction.
鈥淚 found myself unable to let go of a patient once they left my care,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 needed to know what happened to them, if they were okay. This desire for continuity of care, to follow someone鈥檚 health journey and build lasting relationships, is what led me to family medicine. I realized I didn鈥檛 just want to treat an illness - I wanted to care for the whole person, their family, and their life context.鈥�
The Art of Generalism
Family medicine has allowed Dr. Anand to become what she calls an 鈥渆xpert in generalism.鈥� Her day-to-day is incredibly diverse - one moment she鈥檚 treating a chronic condition, the next she鈥檚 supporting a new parent or helping someone through a mental health crisis.
The clinical knowledge is essential, but for her, the real art of medicine lies in being there for people through all of life鈥檚 ups and downs.
鈥淭he COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified this complexity,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚t鈥檚 added new layers of mental and emotional challenges to every patient visit.鈥�
Finding a Seat at the Table
Of course, the work isn鈥檛 without challenges. A major one, Dr. Anand notes, is the need for a stronger, team-based approach to care, where family doctors are supported by a network of other health professionals.
Too often, she says, these supports just aren鈥檛 there, leaving family doctors to bridge the gaps for patients who are waiting for access elsewhere in the system.
鈥淔or real, lasting change, family doctors need a seat at the table,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur firsthand understanding of patient needs and clinic workflows is essential to designing solutions that actually work.鈥�
A Call for a New Culture
Despite the challenges, Dr. Anand remains hopeful. She sees progress in small but meaningful shifts - and in the dedication of those pushing for a better system.
She also sees promise in the next generation of physicians and in initiatives like the 大象传媒 School of Medicine, which has a strong primary care focus built into its foundation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique and powerful opportunity to shift the culture around primary care,鈥� she says.
And for students considering family medicine?
鈥淚f you value building lasting relationships and want to see the whole picture of someone鈥檚 health, this is an incredibly rewarding path,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l face challenges but the privilege of being a trusted constant in people鈥檚 lives makes it all worthwhile.鈥�
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Dr. Anand brings a wealth of experience across all parts of the education continuum, including in her roles as Provincial Undergraduate Director for Family Medicine, Provincial Curriculum Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program and various Faculty Development roles, where she created innovative and responsive curriculum for family medicine teachers. At the School, she supports the faculty in their roles as educators and teachers who form the backbone of the SoM.