My name is Gail Del Carmen Guerrero-Tucker. I am writing to ask for your support of my candidacy for president-elect of the AAFP.
I have spent almost 20 years in rural private practice in southeastern Arizona. Our practice transitioned to a rural health center a few years ago so we could continue to serve our community. I enjoy the privilege of practicing full-spectrum family medicine with operative obstetrics. This is becoming a lost art in family medicine … becoming a rare way to practice, which I regret for us.
I have heard many times that we (family docs) are told who we can and cannot take care of in many different practice settings … whether in the clinic or the hospital. This is one of the many battles we face. We need to fight back!!!!!
Our training is comprehensive, which should continue to make us proud. We are the answer to so many problems in primary care and access to services. We should continue to train in what our communities need, which is constantly changing. We can’t afford to limit ourselves or let others limit us.
Let’s continue fighting the battle to maintain our identity as the specialty of family medicine.