Pub. 4 2020 Issue 2

very little direct difficulties or prolonged illness with the core family of this residency.” Dr. Christianson has witnessed from the pandemic’s beginning that all of his colleagues at the hospital have rallied to provide the best care possible. “It always seemed like the right thing to do, and I think that was one thing I appreciated; it seemed so natural for them not to want to hide. The care I see provided is inspira- tional across the board. We have entire hospital areas transformed into pandemic floors.” What Christianson does not want to do is refer to it as “the new normal.” The barrage of daily news and fluctuating numbers is constant, but individuals and families still need routine care. While Christianson, his colleagues, and residents have adjusted to new routines while seeing patients so they can keep everyone as safe as possible — both patients and health care providers — they have also seen a great deal of suffering. And he stresses that this is not a political issue for those providing daily care to patients fighting COVID-19. “We are seeing patients; young patients, pregnant patients and elderly patients suffer from devastating consequences. The reality of it should sweep aside the politics of it. It is affecting peo - ple we care about. The politics of it is wiped away when you are dealing with it on the ground.” The Future of Family Medicine and the Need for More Residen- cies in Utah With a new college of osteopathic medicine opening in Utah County, Christianson has significant concerns about residency opportunities not expanding in Utah at the same rate as medical schools. He points out the number of medical students we already have leaving to go to other states to complete their residencies when we currently have a shortage of primary care physicians in Utah, particularly in more rural areas. Christianson says, “It leads to the question: what are appropriate Dr. Marlin Christianson | Continued from page 23 Gracias www.mica-insurance.com Utah Valley Family Medicine Residency Class of 2023 services and how do we best provide those for the health of our communities and our nation? I don’t know that there is always great thought that goes into those answers. What is the best way to provide primary care? What is the best way to have teams that do that? There certainly is room for more residency training in Utah and throughout the West because there is a need to have well-trained family physicians who can do great good in their communities.” www.UtahAFP.org | 24