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’s life story? For some, it’s 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 SFU School of Medicine’s 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
“A career is never a straight line,” says Dr. Bracken. “Sometimes it’s the bend or the fork in the road that provides the most interesting path. I’ve had to veer off the straight and narrow more than once—and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Like many medical students, Dr. Bracken entered medicine wanting to make a difference. But early on, family medicine didn’t seem like the right path. Discouraged by a lack of visible role models and a subtle “hidden curriculum” that suggested family medicine wasn’t prestigious or challenging enough, she initially pursued internal medicine.
“The idea that ‘you’re too smart to go into family medicine’ or that it’s a ‘jack of all trades and a master of none’ was pervasive in medical school at that time—and unfortunately still exists. This, together with a lack of role modeling, initally put me off family medicine as a career path.”
Obstetrics and gynecology also caught her interest, but in the end, she did not see herself as a surgeon beholden to an operating room. “Internal medicine seemed like the best way to address my curiosity with physiological feedback loops in the body and provide an opportunity to help people.”
Unfortunately, during her internal medicine residency, she discovered a style of practice that didn’t align with her values. “It was all, ‘It’s the lady in bed four with CHF,’ or ‘It’s Addison’s disease in bed six.’ No one thought about the person’s life or circumstances or what really mattered to them. That was not what I signed up for.”
Discovering Family Medicine
After a period of reflection—and a bold decision to leave internal medicine—Dr. 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. “A 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.”
After years in a thriving community practice, she wanted to combine patient care with teaching, leadership, and other forms of scholarly activity—and that led her to McMaster University Family Medicine, a new chapter and a new way to make a difference.
“Moving 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.”
Challenging the “Jack of All Trades” Myth
Today, Dr. Bracken studies the hidden curriculum in medical education—how family medicine is portrayed and often undervalued. She also pushes back against the negative stereotypes of being a generalist.
“Students often see sub-specialties as glamorous, ‘life-saving’ roles. But prevention and holistic care are known to improve health outcomes. Generalists navigate uncertainty every day—and that’s powerful.”
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 SFU School of Medicine, Dr. Bracken hopes to cultivate a culture that values community, wellness, and collaboration.
“Graduates 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.”
For students considering family medicine, Dr. Bracken offers this: “Know 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—a relationship that grows over time. When you take the time to understand and appreciate the complex contexts of your patients’ lives, you’re in a much stronger position to help them.”
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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—particularly the latest award nominees—and exploring new cultures through travel. She has visited more than 35 countries.