Ennis’ Family Medicine essay captures the essence of what a physician should be
In an essay in the current issue of Family Medicine, Michael Ennis, MD, associate professor of family medicine & community health and co-director of the new learning communities in the School of Medicine, writes of an experience—the unexpected death of a 10-month-old baby—that reaffirmed for him the values that led him to a career in family medicine. “Primary Care Ride” stands out as a strong and deeply personal reflection on the power of compassion, empathy and understanding.
“This is such a beautiful essay on being a primary care physician,” said Mai-Lan Rogoff, MD, associate dean for student affairs and associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics.
“Dr. Ennis has captured the meaning of being a physician,” said Frank Domino, MD, professor of family medicine & community health and director of the clerkship in family medicine. “The care he gave by being present will stay for a lifetime with that baby’s parents. Medical students, physicians and all health care providers will see this story as a reminder that being present for your patients is maybe the greatest of our responsibilities, and has the power to heal.”
Dr. Ennis serves as associate clerkship director in family medicine at the Hahnemann Family Health Center in Worcester, where he has been practicing since 1986.
“I hope this essay helps inspire our learners to consider family medicine as a specialty whose cornerstone subscribes to the doctor-patient relationship as being critical, even necessary, to any sense of healing,” noted Dr. Domino.
