Looking Back on the Past Year

David E.J. Bazzo, MD, FAAFP

Looking Back on the Past Year

My dear colleagues, COVID-19 has been a defining moment for my presidency, for us as family physicians and for the entire human race. It is hard to believe that it has been over one year since COVID hit the United States and the roller coaster ride began. The early days of the pandemic were stressful and scary times. Unfortunately, many of our fears were founded and we have seen great death and devastation from this terrible pandemic. A year later, we have vaccines and a reinforced commitment toward tackling the COVID pandemic. We can finally see a little light at the end of the tunnel.

The theme for this month’s issue is “The Voice of Family Medicine.” I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of the voices we have heard from our family physician colleagues throughout the state this last year. We were at the forefront, caring for patients, comforting them, and providing important information. Your CAFP immediately got to work getting our members evidence-based information we could share with patients, as well as breaking policy and political news. CAFP worked to ensure the voice of family medicine rang out. When it looked like a vaccine was going to be available, we made sure family physicians were at the table working on delivery mechanisms and getting vaccines into the arms of our patients and colleagues.

The past year has taken a toll on our psyche. As family doctors, we do have a built-in resiliency that is amazing; however, that is not enough. CAFP has been there to help in alleviating our stress by providing continued connection, communications, and conduits for building community.

The COVID pandemic has highlighted health disparities. At CAFP we have been talking about this issue for many years. Unfortunately, COVID-19 disparities as well as stark examples of systemic racism heightened the nation’s awareness that inequities are still pervasive. I have been proud of CAFP for working on making CAFP equitable, diverse, and inclusive. For those of you that attended the CAFP virtual Clinical Forum this year, you were treated to excellent discourse, dialogue and education on recognizing and addressing disparities. In this edition, you will hear from some of the “Voices of Family Medicine.” People that have advocated for us, taught us, and pushed for the benefit of our patients, colleagues and staff alike. I am sure that you, too, will read with pride and recognize that we are all heroes. Family physicians have stepped up like no other specialty during this time and I am so proud to call each one of you “my dear colleagues”. All your voices, both individually and collectively, are the voices of Family Medicine. You speak loudly and clearly and speak truth in putting your patients first. Know that CAFP will carry your voices forward and continue to advocate for policy that will bring benefit to Californians.

I will no doubt reflect on these last 12 months for many years to come. I began thinking of my CAFP “president year” from my first days on the board. Having always been a relationship-based person, I had thoughts that I would get out to visit many chapters throughout the state and looked forward to meeting many new colleagues. I regret that I was not able to do that this year but obviously, there were other pressing matters. One good thing that came out of the pandemic is finding ways to make those connections virtually. While not fully replacing that in-person connection, it really did become the next best thing, and allowed for perhaps more frequent interactions that didn’t require traveling great distances but offered more efficient utilization of time. Like a true family physician, I tried to find the positive in what has been a tragic situation.

I look forward to the day that I can see all of you face-toface, reconnect, and finally look at COVID in the rearview mirror. Until then, it has been my honor serving as your President and I look forward to great things coming next year when Dr. Shannon Connolly assumes the CAFP Presidency. We will be having our CAFP strategic planning meeting in November and setting the three-year plan for our great organization into the future. We have a wonderful Board of Directors representing you and I encourage everyone to get to know them, get involved and make your “Voices of Family Medicine” heard.