Explore Medicine
Exploring a career in primary care
A medical degree can lead to many different career paths. At the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine, our focus is on preparing physicians for community-based care and strengthening primary care, so this page explores the many ways a career in primary care can take shape.
What is primary care?
Primary care is often where people first connect with the health-care system. It includes preventive care, health advice, diagnosis and treatment of illness, ongoing support for chronic conditions, and coordination with other health professionals.
At its core, primary care is about relationships. Over time, health professionals can get to know their patients, understand their circumstances, and help them navigate different parts of the health-care system.
Where does family medicine fit?
Family medicine plays a central role in primary care in Canada. Family physicians often provide first-contact, comprehensive, and ongoing care for people throughout their lives.
They also frequently work alongside other health professionals, including nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, and social workers.
Many family physicians provide primary care, while others may also develop focused areas of practice or work in settings such as hospitals, emergency departments, maternity care, or addictions care.
What do primary care physicians do?
A primary care physician may:
Provide routine care, screening, immunization, and preventive services.
Diagnose and treat a broad range of health concerns.
Support people living with chronic conditions.
Care for people across different stages of life.
Coordinate care with specialists and other members of the health-care team.
Support patients through changes in their health over time.
Consider the social, cultural, environmental, and personal factors that can influence health.
Because primary care physicians often build long-term relationships with patients and families, they can develop an understanding of the whole person, not only a single health concern.
Primary care can happen in many places
Primary care is not limited to one type of clinic.
Community health centres and family practices.
Indigenous health centres.
Rural and remote communities.
Hospitals and long-term care settings.
Outreach and community programs.
Patients' homes.
Virtual-care settings.
Some physcians work in one setting, while others divide their time across several.
A career with many possibilities
A career in primary care can evolve overtime. Physicians may shape their practice around the communities and populations they want to serve and the kinds of work they find meaningful.
Alongside caring for patients, physicians may:
Teach and mentor medical learners, residents, and other health professionals.
Conduct research and contribute to new knowledge and better models of care.
Lead and improve health systems through quality improvement, administration, or health-care leadership.
Use technology and innovation to improve access, coordination, and quality of care.
Advocate for communities and contribute to more equitable health systems.
Develop focused areas of practice based on their interests, training, and community needs.
Could primary care be a good fit for you?
Primary care may appeal to you if you enjoy working with people, building relationships, solving a wide variety of problems, working as part of a team, and understanding how health is shaped by people's lives and communities.