To the Editor:

Your article “Is It Time to Reexamine Family Practice?” was timely. I am a physician assistant (PA) who was trained with Generation-2 family physicians and am also a preceptor for medical students and masters-level PAs.

PAs are completely dependent on physicians to practice their profession. Therefore, I find comments that portray us as competitors onerous.

In PAs, family physicians have devoted disciples in their desire to provide primary care. Unfortunately, most are unaware of the advantages of this dependent, efficient and cost-effective partnership.

I strongly believe and advocate that medical school curricula and/or resident training of family physicians should include comprehension of how PAs are trained and teach strategies for effective utilization.

By assisting family physicians in their mission, PAs will help provide patients and physicians with a better quality of life.