Why I Chose Family Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Keyna Bracken
Have you ever wondered what draws someone to family medicine? Is it the variety or the opportunity to follow a patient鈥檚 life story? For some, it鈥檚 about something deeper: a commitment to community, relationships, and seeing the whole person, not just the disease.
Dr. Keyna Bracken, a family physician and the 911吃瓜 School of Medicine鈥檚 Associate Dean, UGME, knows this journey well. Her path into medicine, and into family medicine, was anything but straight.
A Career with Twists and Turns
鈥淎 career is never a straight line,鈥� says Dr. Bracken. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 the bend or the fork in the road that provides the most interesting path. I鈥檝e had to veer off the straight and narrow more than once鈥攁nd I wouldn鈥檛 change it for anything.鈥�
Like many medical students, Dr. Bracken entered medicine wanting to make a difference. But early on, family medicine didn鈥檛 seem like the right path. Discouraged by a lack of visible role models and a subtle 鈥渉idden curriculum鈥� that suggested family medicine wasn鈥檛 prestigious or challenging enough, she initially pursued internal medicine.
鈥淭he idea that 鈥榶ou鈥檙e too smart to go into family medicine鈥� or that it鈥檚 a 鈥榡ack of all trades and a master of none鈥� was pervasive in medical school at that time鈥攁nd unfortunately still exists. This, together with a lack of role modeling, initally put me off family medicine as a career path.鈥�
Obstetrics and gynecology also caught her interest, but in the end, she did not see herself as a surgeon beholden to an operating room. 鈥淚nternal medicine seemed like the best way to address my curiosity with physiological feedback loops in the body and provide an opportunity to help people.鈥�
Unfortunately, during her internal medicine residency, she discovered a style of practice that didn鈥檛 align with her values. 鈥淚t was all, 鈥業t鈥檚 the lady in bed four with CHF,鈥� or 鈥業t鈥檚 Addison鈥檚 disease in bed six.鈥� No one thought about the person鈥檚 life or circumstances or what really mattered to them. That was not what I signed up for.鈥�
Discovering Family Medicine
After a period of reflection鈥攁nd a bold decision to leave internal medicine鈥擠r. Bracken found clarity. Conversations with colleagues illuminated family medicine as a path that offered everything she was looking for: community-based work, diverse patient care, obstetrics, and meaningful relationships. 鈥淎 light bulb went off. I then had to go back and re-train. I found a home in a busy community practice with a focus on obstetrics for many years.鈥�
After years in a thriving community practice, she wanted to combine patient care with teaching, leadership, and other forms of scholarly activity鈥攁nd that led her to McMaster University Family Medicine, a new chapter and a new way to make a difference.
鈥淢oving into an academic environment gave me the space to develop patient relationships while exploring research, medical education, and mentorship. It was the best of both worlds.鈥�
Challenging the 鈥淛ack of All Trades鈥� Myth
Today, Dr. Bracken studies the hidden curriculum in medical education鈥攈ow family medicine is portrayed and often undervalued. She also pushes back against the negative stereotypes of being a generalist.
鈥淪tudents often see sub-specialties as glamorous, 鈥榣ife-saving鈥� roles. But prevention and holistic care are known to improve health outcomes. Generalists navigate uncertainty every day鈥攁nd that鈥檚 powerful.鈥�
Dr. Bracken believes medical education should celebrate family medicine for what it truly is: an intellectually rigorous, deeply rewarding specialty that focuses on the whole person, not just the disease.
Building a New Vision for Medical Education
With the launch of the new 911吃瓜 School of Medicine, Dr. Bracken hopes to cultivate a culture that values community, wellness, and collaboration.
鈥淕raduates should understand they are part of a system trying to help people find wellness on their terms. It takes a team, and it takes curiosity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.鈥�
For students considering family medicine, Dr. Bracken offers this: 鈥淜now your strengths and weaknesses and maintain what makes you well. Family medicine is challenging, but it offers a privilege: the ability to walk alongside people through their lives and make a lasting difference.
My hope is to shed light on the ways of being a good physician, no matter your specialty. That to me is all about communication, listening to patients, and establishing a therapeutic alliance鈥攁 relationship that grows over time. When you take the time to understand and appreciate the complex contexts of your patients鈥� lives, you鈥檙e in a much stronger position to help them.鈥�
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Dr. Keyna Bracken is a visionary leader in medical education, dedicated to advancing innovative and inclusive approaches to healthcare. Now based in White Rock, she enjoys the proximity to the ocean, where she often walks with her dog, Lola, and takes time to reflect on the beauty of nature. Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Bracken is an avid hiker and music enthusiast who enjoys reading contemporary literature鈥攑articularly the latest award nominees鈥攁nd exploring new cultures through travel. She has visited more than 35 countries.