AAFP President Robert Wergin, M.D., of Milford, Neb., is the real deal when it comes to practicing family medicine. In a single day's work, he might deliver a baby, visit an elderly patient in a nursing home, treat a high-school student's sports injury and keep a middle-aged mom's blood sugar in check. In short, Wergin's typical work day epitomizes the full scope of family medicine.

AAFP News recently visited with Wergin in his practice to learn what makes him tick and to talk about family medicine's most pressing issues.

Q. Much of your time as president of the AAFP will be spent in Washington representing family medicine. What issues will take top priority as you work with legislators and policymakers?

A. Eliminating the sustainable growth rate formula, clarifying the role of family medicine, pushing for payment reform and prioritizing medical education all are issues of great interest to me.

Q. As a Nebraska native (and self-professed Cornhuskers fan), how will your small-town roots help you connect with your family physician colleagues -- especially the thousands of AAFP members who struggle with challenges unique to small and rural practices?

A. I am their voice and I understand those challenges. I will encourage the Academy to provide the clinical, practice management and business resources all family physicians need to help their clinics -- big or small -- thrive. Even now, as I travel around the country for the AAFP, I encounter family physicians who suggest that Academy leaders may not understand the day-to-day problems faced by practicing physicians, and my response is, "Au contraire, my friend, I understand because I am you."

Q. During your presidential year, the time available for hands-on patient care likely will be less than what you and your patients would like. Why did you want to take on this leadership role?

A. It was a difficult decision and not easily made. As one family physician, I can impact the health of my patients on an individual basis, but by stepping into a leadership role, I can help the specialty of family medicine reach its full potential.

Q. You've said previously that medical school debt is of particular interest to you. What changes need to be considered to ensure that young students can afford to go to medical school and choose primary care careers?

A. Those of us invested in filling the primary care pipeline need to join together to have meaningful discussions about the negative impact student debt can have on students' choice of specialty. For instance, the prospect of paying off significant loans pushes medical students into subspecialty careers, so perhaps making low-interest student loans available could be part of the solution. Another sure way to get students thinking about primary care is to shrink the gap between specialty and subspecialty pay.

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New AAFP President Emphasizes, Epitomizes Full-Scope Family Medicine