This is the official blog for the Family Medicine Residency which is housed within the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. If you have questions, please email us at fmvitalsigns@hsc.utah.edu
By Alex Fox, MD I have always had a fascination with the Ebola virus, ever since I read Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone at a very impressionable age (which was 10 if anyone is counting, and yes, my parents had read it and deemed it appropriate). Since that time I have watched with fascination and … More Contact Tracing, The Most Effective Tool to Stop Outbreaks
By Erika Sullivan, MD Family medicine is an interesting and wonderful landscape to spend one’s days. Like a good mystery novel, there is an abundance of unusual but endearing characters, treacherous villains (with alarmingly medical names like diabetes and anxiety NOS) and more insidious and unexpected foes, such as poverty and social injustice. When treating … More Navigating Life in Family Medicine is Like a Good Mystery Novel
Nancy Murphy, M.D., a rehabilitation specialist at Primary Children’s Hospital, developed a consultative medical home, or “Comprehensive Care Clinic” for the highest-cost, most medically complicated patients at Primary Children’s Hospital as a way to provide support to “medically fragile” children and their families. This on-call service provides preventive care that ultimately has helped reduce emergency room admissions, hospital … More ON-CALL RESOURCE FOR MEDICALLY FRAGILE KIDS IMPROVES CARE, SAVES $116M
By Susan Pohl, MD Like most students studying algebra for the first time, I remember having the distinct feeling that the subject was strange and disconnected from the other subjects. It appeared to be impractical and esoteric. However, I distinctly remember my math teacher that introduced me to algebra. She was a middle aged woman … More A Strange Pairing: Data and Passion
By Chad Spain, MD Let’s face it, we can all say in one way or another we miss David Letterman and his Top 10 List. I was asked to discuss the most important questions to ask when selecting a job. So, let’s make a top 10 list. Smooth transition, check. Coming out of residency I … More Top Ten Questions To Ask When Selecting A Job
By Richard Backman, MD It is my favorite time of the year. It is time for us to spend time with loved ones, friends, and colleagues and reflect on our favorite events of the past year and move on to the New Year. All of the activities and the expectation to be “merry and cheerful” … More The Holiday Season
Family Medicine Vital Signs 