Introducing the AFP 2025-2026 Jay Siwek Medical Editing Fellow: Dr. Michael C. Harding

Lilian White, MD
Posted on June 9, 2025

1. Please tell us a little about yourself. What led you to pursue family medicine, and how has your journey shaped your approach to patient care?

One of the biggest reasons I chose to pursue family medicine was the opportunity for longitudinal patient relationships and the return on investment that prioritizing prevention yields.  Living in a developing nation in West Africa and now working as a medical officer assigned to the Indian Health Service, I have seen firsthand the difference that primary care can make in the patient’s experience and outcomes. The proverbial ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

2. How did you become interested in medical writing and editing?

Writing has been one of my favorite creative outlets for a long time. It allows me to present my thoughts more clearly. When in a conversation or giving a presentation, I often make speaking errors or lose my train of thought. In writing, I believe I can be more eloquent and communicate my desired message much more effectively. 

As an undergraduate student, I worked as a writing tutor in our school's Writing Fellows program. Our main mission was to help students explore and enhance skills in technical writing.  Since then, I have stayed close to scientific writing and editing. I have enjoyed the manuscript production process both as an author and as a peer reviewer. Now as a fellow, I am excited to explore the process from the editorial perspective.

3. What excited you about applying for this fellowship? How do you see the additional skills helping you contribute to family medicine in the future?

As a medical student and resident, I had the opportunity to work alongside several prolific American Family Physician (AFP) authors. I learned about the collaborative process of developing content for the journal and was excited to help shape that process. Additionally, I precept for medical students from Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University, and I hope to model a hybrid of strong clinical care and scholarly activity. I think that having leaders in family medicine from underserved practice locations has mutual benefits. It adds valuable perspective to the work of the journal and the American Academy of Family Physicians and, in turn, provides patient benefit by placing physicians on the cutting edge of evidence-based medicine.

4. What's something you're currently learning or passionate about?

I am currently focused on deepening my understanding of managing various substance use disorders. My residency experience heavily involved managing opioid use disorder, and I recognize the diverse patterns of substance use in different regions, including a greater prevalence of alcohol and stimulant use in Oklahoma. I had limited experience in managing stimulant use disorder during residency, and I'm enthusiastic about expanding my skills in this area.

5. Is there anything else you would like AFP readers to know about you?

I completed a combined residency in both family medicine and preventive medicine. This dual focus allows me to integrate both approaches more effectively. My training in family medicine helped me to be a good one-on-one clinician, but my training in preventive medicine taught me to consider health on a larger level and approach issues through a systems-based approach.