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Careers in Medicine

Family Medicine

Family medicine is a primary care specialty which demonstrates high quality care within the context of a personal doctor-patient relationship and with an appreciation for the individual, family, and community connections. Continuity of comprehensive care for the diverse patient population family physicians serve is foundational to the specialty. Access, accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency are essential elements of the discipline. The coordination of patient care and leadership of advanced primary care practices and evolving health care systems are additional vital roles for family physicians.” – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Family Medicine is notable for its training and practice of all aspects of medicine.  All residents train in both inpatient and outpatient environments for both adults and pediatrics in addition to OB/GYN care, general surgery, sports medicine/orthopedics/rehabilitation medicine, emergency medicine, and intensive care.

Practicing Family Medicine physicians are typically community-based, but many have practicing rights at their local hospitals, allowing them to participate in their patient’s inpatient care, surgeries, and deliveries (including C-sections).  Practice options include but are not limited to outpatient medicine, inpatient care, the emergency department, concierge medicine, or long-term care.  Many also recognize a socially-driven mission of this specialty and work in global health, community interventions, health policy, and advocacy efforts.

Choosing a career in Family Medicine ultimately gives physicians the flexibility to create any career they can think of!

AAMC Specialty Information:

  • Length of training: 3 years
  • Annual salary
    • Early career average: $185,089
    • Overall average: $211,452
  • Average work hours per week: 52.6
  • Family Medicine residencies
    • Total number of programs: 480
    • Total number of positions: 3109
  • Median Step 1/Step 2 matched: 214/228
  • Combined residency options:
    • Emergency Medicine-Family Medicine (2 programs with 4 spots)
    • Family Medicine-Preventive Medicine (2 programs with 5 spots)
    • Family Medicine-Psychiatry (5 programs with 2 spots each)
  • Possible fellowships (typically 1 year in length):
    • Adolescent Medicine
    • Emergency Medicine
    • Faculty Development
    • Geriatrics
    • Global Health/International
    • Hospitalist
    • Hospice and Palliative Care
    • Integrative Medicine
    • Medical Informatics
    • Obstetrics
    • Preventive Medicine
    • Rural Medicine
    • Sleep Medicine
    • Sports Medicine
    • Substance Abuse
    • Women’s Health

Josh Cockroft, VMS IV (joshua.d.cockroft@vanderbilt.edu)

Katy Anthony, VMS III (kathleen.p.anthony@vanderbilt.edu)

Rebekka DePew, VMS II (rebekka.e.depew@vanderbilt.edu)

 

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Jonna Whitman
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
General Internal Medicine and Public Health
jonna.h.whitman@vanderbilt.edu
615-322-2427 (2-2427 on campus)
Zerfoss Student Health Center

VUMC Residency Director:

None – Vanderbilt is one of a handful of programs that does not have a Family Medicine residency

VUMC Faculty to Contact:

Please contact any one of the interest group leaders for more information.

Unfortunately, Vanderbilt is one of a handful of programs that does not have a Family Medicine residency. If you would like more information about opportunities in Family Medicine in the Nashville area and beyond, please contact any one of the interest group leaders for more information. We are compiling a database of physician mentors willing to host Vanderbilt students for electives and away rotations, and we would be happy to help connect you to an experience in Family Medicine.