"Vibe Check: Is Family Medicine Right for Me?" video series
Get an inside look at family medicine from physicians who’ve been where you are—and discover if it’s the right specialty for you.
The "Vibe Check: Is Family Medicine Right for Me?" video series, presented by the AAFP in partnership with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), features inspiring family physicians who share their career journeys, the versatility of family medicine and insights into choosing the right medical specialty.
What you’ll learn
How family medicine offers diverse career paths, including geriatrics, preventive medicine and public health
The role of family physicians in navigating complex healthcare systems
Strategies for physician well-being and preventing burnout
The importance of advocacy and leadership in shaping healthcare
Who should watch?
Medical students exploring specialty options
Residents considering fellowships or subspecialties
Anyone passionate about holistic, patient-centered care
Watch the videos below to get inspired by the real-life stories of family physicians shaping the future of healthcare!
Latest episode: AAFP member exclusive
Vibe Check #5
Vibe Check host Bright Zhou, MD, interviews Maryal Concepcion, MD, FAAFP, about direct primary care.
What's inside this session:
Finding your fit in family medicine: Hear how Maryal Concepcion, MD, FAAFP, discovered a specialty centered on community, relationships, and caring for patients through all stages of life.
Exploring direct primary care (DPC): Learn how Dr. Concepcion found DPC after searching for a way to spend more time with patients and gain greater autonomy in her practice.
Seeing a different way to practice: Discover how DPC can reduce insurance-related barriers and give family physicians more flexibility in how they care for and communicate with patients.
Building stronger patient relationships: Hear real-world examples of how accessible, relationship-based care can make a difference, particularly in rural communities.
Exploring DPC as a future physician: Get advice for finding DPC physicians to shadow, connecting with mentors, and expanding your vision of what a career in family medicine can look like.
Previous episodes
Vibe Check #4
- Exploring how to choose a medical specialty: Dr. Bright Zhou introduces the AAMC Careers in Medicine framework and guides students through key steps in aligning career choices with their values and interests.
- Understanding the appeal of family medicine: Dr. Bright Zhou interviews Dr. Russell Kohl about his journey into family medicine and the importance of continuity of care and broad clinical practice.
- Highlighting diverse career pathways: Dr. Russell Kohl shares how family medicine enables opportunities in leadership, advocacy, health policy, and quality improvement.
- Examining impact beyond the clinic: Dr. Russell Kohl discusses his work in street medicine and caring for underserved populations through innovative, community-based care.
- Offering career advice for students: Dr. Russell Kohl reflects on the importance of saying “yes” to opportunities and using personal experiences to make a meaningful impact in medicine.
Vibe Check #3
What's inside this session:
- Exploring family medicine as a career: Dr. Bright Zhou interviews Dr. Victoria Boggiano about what drew her to family medicine and how the specialty supports a wide range of clinical and professional interests.
- A flexible and broad specialty: Dr. Boggiano shares how family physicians can practice in many settings—including inpatient care, obstetrics, outpatient clinics and academic medicine—while tailoring their careers over time.
- The role of mentorship: Mentors played a key role in Dr. Boggiano’s journey into family medicine, and she now mentors students and residents as part of her academic career.
- Integrating lifestyle medicine and advocacy: The discussion highlights how family physicians can incorporate areas like lifestyle medicine, community engagement and policy advocacy into their work.
- Guidance for medical students: The episode introduces the AAMC’s Careers in Medicine framework and offers encouragement for students exploring specialties and navigating setbacks along the way.
Vibe Check #2
What’s inside this session:
- Geriatrics and full-spectrum care: Hear from Courtney Huhn, MD, CMD about combining family medicine with a geriatrics fellowship, caring for older adults in long-term and skilled nursing settings and taking on leadership and quality improvement roles within her health system.
- Public health and preventive medicine pathways: Learn how Richard Bruno, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACPM, AAHIVS, integrates family medicine with preventive medicine training, working in public health departments and harm-reduction settings to address substance use, infectious disease prevention and population health.
- Care for survivors and health justice leadership: Discover how Anita Ravi, MD, MPH, MSHP, FAAFP, founder of the PurpLE Health Foundation, uses family medicine to provide trauma-informed, comprehensive care for survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking while advancing health equity and policy change.
- Blending clinical care with systems change: Explore how family physicians can expand their impact beyond the exam room — shaping community programs, advancing health equity and influencing policy while maintaining meaningful patient relationships.
Vibe Check #1
What’s inside this session:
- Diverse career journeys: Hear from doctors working in sports medicine and medical education (Alex McDonald, MD), hospital and critical care in rural settings (Ian Coker, DO), and full-scope private practice including obstetrics (Emily Briggs, MD, MPH, FAAFP).
- Community and identity in practice: Learn how family medicine serves vulnerable populations — including unhoused individuals and those with substance use disorders — and supports leadership in health equity (Ryan Walker, MD, MPH).
- Advocacy and specialized care: Discover how one panelist founded an LGBTQ+ primary care clinic at the VA and integrates advocacy into clinical work (Kelly Thibert, DO, MPH).
- Practical insights for students: Panelists reflect on meaningful moments from medical school, choosing residency and what they wish they knew before applying.