My interest in medicine began while I was in high school. My mother and later my father had medical problems that allowed me to see what medicine was all about. Later, as I went through college, I learned the fascinating functions of the human body. In medical school, I was drawn to the specialty of family medicine. The family medicine doctor is key in directing the care of a patient whether it is prevention of disease or treatment of a chronic condition. The family doctor is central in managing that care, communicating treatment options and helping patients make the most educated health care decisions.