In our previous episode, we addressed the notion of "raising the lid", speaking up louder for Family Medicine, and for our patients. In this episode, Dr Thomas White converses with Dr Garett Franklin of Raleigh about his career and his special interest in and passion for advocacy for our specialty. Listen and hear how Dr Franklin was introduced to medicine growing up in a small community in North Carolina, and about his journey from undecided, to chemical engineering, to Family Medicine, and then an expertise in Sports Medicine. Dr Franklin provides inspiration to his colleagues to become involved in advocacy, why that matters, how to get started, and even the importance of "PAC" contributions to this process. You will love his lessons learned: a career in medicine is "awesome", we need to restore "fun" to our care of patients, and we should greatly value the importance of "mentorship" to our careers, and the careers of others.

(Note: Apologies for the technical hiccups ... But ... a truly great episode!)

Have you ever thought you heard a familiar tune, perhaps out shopping, or on a walk, at a loud party, or in a noisy restaurant? In this episode, Dr White recounts a chance conversation he had with a stranger on a trip, occurring in a most unlikely place and circumstance. The exchange brings up a number of relevant topics, such as listening, purpose, commitment, advocacy, and career, and in a rather unexpected manner, the importance of the Family Physician (or General Practitioner!). This is a brief episode, but one which we hope you will find entertaining and motivating. Listen and be motivated to "raise the lid" of Family Medicine! We thank you for listening!

In this episode, Dr Thomas White welcomes Dr Andrea DeSantis, a Family Physician from Charlotte NC, to the podcast. Hear Dr DeSantis describe her journey from growing up in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia with strong family ties and traditions, the impact of her grandfather's family doctor's house calls, her early career in the hospitality industry, her ultimate decision to pursue medicine, and why the specialty of Family Medicine resonated with her. Her career has been devoted to providing access and care to those who have historically been denied these, and she does so on the local level as a clinician, an educator, and on the state and national level as an advocate and thought leader. In this podcast, she shares her lessons of being in the moment with the patient, the importance of earning their trust over time, and the value of listening with intention and flexibility. We are confident you will find our guest thoughtful and inspiring!

In this new "mini lesson" we discuss the topic of the new patient coming in for their first visit to their new doctor. Listen to an (almost) real story about the experience of one of Dr White's former patients. Some very wise NC Family Physicians weigh in with their perspectives, leading to five lessons to consider. We hope you find this episode on a topic not commonly discussed both thought-provoking and valuable.

In this episode, we continue to explore the topic of "Time" and "Balance." Listen to Dr White's discussion with Dr Ben Aiken, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and the MAHEC Family Medicine Residency who now leads Lantern Health, a direct primary care practice with two locations in Asheville NC. Dr Aiken shares the lessons he has learned in his first job as a "juggler" and later as a collegiate athlete, student, resident, practicing physician, husband, and father. In addition to practical tips on incorporating physical activity and emotional health in an office setting, he offers wise perspectives on the future of Family Medicine, encouraging patience, persistence, and optimism. You will quickly understand why his grandfather, a revered Family Physician who practiced in Tennessee, would be so proud of his grandson today.

Welcome back to the podcast as ice melts and schools reopen here in North Carolina!

In this episode, Dr White talks with Dr "Takie" Hondros, a well-known family physician from Charlotte and former President of the NCAFP. The topic is a challenging one for physicians: creating and sustaining "balance" in one's professional life. Dr White leads off with a poignant lesson he learned years ago in his practice. Dr Hondros then describes his very interesting childhood and how it prepared him to be a better "family" physician. He goes on to provide some very thoughtful and practical insights gleaned from his career, and how he continues to re-evaluate and re-adjust as a busy clinician, educator, volunteer, community member, husband, and father. We are confident you will find this episode candid, instructive, and inspiring.

As we close out 2025, and prepare to bring in 2026, Dr White reviews our episodes from the past year, providing a summary for each, and some memorable lessons and quotes. He goes on to share five gifts - five concepts with renewed appreciation - that he received as the result of these episodes and his reflection over the past year: namely, Relationships, Learning, Professionalism, Leadership, and the Privilege of being a Family Physician. Listen to his summaries and even better, go back and listen to the entire episodes which interest you most. We hope your holiday season was enjoyable and peaceful, and we wish you the best of health in 2026.

"Learning" is essential for everyone, no matter what age or pursuit, but especially important for Family Physicians, who strive to provide informed, up-to-date, and compassionate care in an environment of rapidly-growing knowledge and discovery. In this episode, Dr Thomas White highlights the upcoming 2025 NCAFP Annual Winter Meeting in Asheville, a source of continuing education for many NC Family Physicians, and a popular annual tradition. Meeting Chair Dr Kathryn Haga and Co-Chair Dr Amir Barzin both join Dr White to share their excitement about the meeting, and what attendees can look forward to. He then pays tribute to a long-time colleague and leader of Family Medicine in our state, Dr David Rinehart of Belmont, who reflects on how "Learning" has changed for him over his forty year career. And on a personal note, Dr White recounts a very personal story involving a "crisis" and his grandson, and his unexpected "prescription" for the situation. Listen, learn, and enjoy!