L. Allen Dobson Jr., MD, FAAFP

From the editor-in-chief, L. Allen Dobson, M.D.

One week in the Dominican Republic gave me a renewed perspective on practicing medicine.

We simply must provide better preparation and support for those who care for others.

I have been left to wonder, how does being a caregiver affect the health of the caregiver and what how does our system dysfunction play into that effect?

It is time to take stock of where we have been and where we are going.

Here’s to 2022 being the year that we begin to make significant strides in improving the US health care system.

In response to great need for primary care, we have been purposefully redesigning and changing it for a decade now. Have we made any progress?

Medical decision making now is influenced by everyone from insurers and government policymakers to the administrators of corporate entities that employ physicians.

Burnout is real and so is the terrible mental health toll it inflicts on physicians, healthcare professionals of all types and their families. That’s why learning to identify it and developing strategies to regain your resiliency are so important.

Do we have the national courage, compassion, leadership and unity to begin to address the core issues underlying this problem of equity?

The COVID-19 pandemic should have us reflecting on the state of our health care system and beginning a national dialogue on what type of system we want for this country and what investments we need to attain it.

Pharmacy and Primary Care have been dramatically under-allocated COVID-19 vaccinations when compared to influenza distribution and administration.

It is time for an all-hands-on-deck approach.

It is time for an all-hands-on-deck approach.