Family Medicine, Community, and Race: A Minneapolis Practice Reflects

Area of Science:

• Social Determinants of Health
• Medical Ethics
• Community Health

Background:

• The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked widespread racial justice uprisings.
• These events caused physical damage to a family medicine residency building.
• This context necessitates a re-evaluation of family medicine's role in addressing societal issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the emotional impact of the racial justice events on healthcare professionals.
• To reflect on how family medicine can actively combat racism and discrimination.
• To advocate for deeper community involvement and advocacy within family medicine.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative reflection on personal and professional experiences.
• Analysis of the intersection of social unrest and primary care settings.
• Literature review on advocacy and community-based participatory research in family medicine.

Main Results:

• The events evoked significant emotional responses within the family medicine community.
• There is a recognized need for systemic changes to address racism.
• Family medicine is uniquely positioned to engage in community-level advocacy.

Conclusions:

• Family medicine must confront and dismantle racism and discrimination.
• Increased community engagement and advocacy are crucial for the future of family medicine.
• Integrating advocacy into the core identity of family medicine is essential for health equity.