About 18 months ago, I opened a gender-affirming care clinic in Nova Scotia. The clinic grew faster than I expected and, after much thought, I decided to step back from my role as deputy editor of Canadian Family Physician (CFP) to ensure both the clinic and the journal continue to thrive.

My journey with CFP began during my residency training when I first contributed stories and poetry to the Art of Family Medicine section. In 2018 I became editor of that section before taking on the role of deputy editor.

In following this path, I learned about the operations of a journal and also the evolving field of family medicine. CFP has consistently addressed both the big-picture challenges in health care and the small, day-to-day decisions we face in clinical practice. In this issue, for example, we feature a study comparing longitudinal and rotational family medicine residency curricula (page 500).1 There is also practical advice on acne treatment, such as combining benzoyl peroxide with a topical antibiotic to reduce antibiotic resistance and improve efficacy (page 455).2 Another article explores minor traumatic brain injuries, reminding us that more imaging is not always better (page 490).3 These are all different topics, but with a shared goal: to help family physicians deliver better care and improve outcomes for our patients.

One aspect of CFP I have particularly valued is how it captures the ongoing evolution of family medicine. Family physicians are constantly trying to stay abreast of new research and adapt to developments in the field. Preparing for a measles outbreak? Following the latest guidelines? Protecting patient data while managing new technologies? These are just a few of the moving targets we juggle. Burnout levels remain high, and just when you start to find your footing, another tool, platform, or policy arrives. That is why journals like CFP matter. They give us a place to pause, reflect, and stay connected to the broader picture of family medicine. Collaborating with the physicians and researchers behind these articles has been energizing, and it helped me stay connected to the broader conversation in our field.

Speaking of colleagues, the best part of my time with CFP has been working alongside our incredible, dedicated team. We are a small group of only 10 full-time and 4 part-time staff. When the journal shows up in your mailbox each month, you might not think about the work involved in creating it. While it may seem there is a certain degree of automation involved, and though we have worked to systematize and automate some processes, there are humans hard at work in what we do. Behind every issue are months—or even years—of reviewing, coordinating, and editing. I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with such a smart, kind, and committed group of people. They made this experience more meaningful and left a lasting mark on my professional journey.

As I step away from my role as deputy editor, I am reflecting on the lessons I learned and the opportunities I had to grow. It has given me a deep appreciation for the meaning in family medicine. It is a complex discipline that involves learning, adapting, and doing the best we can with the knowledge and time we have. At its heart, it is about truly knowing not only the medicine, but also our patients. It is about listening to them when others may not, and knowing them so well it actually improves their health outcomes.4 The challenges may shift, but the constant is our commitment to our patients and profession.

Finally, for anyone reading this who has ever considered becoming involved with a medical journal, I encourage you to give it a try. Whether it is peer reviewing, submitting a blog, sharing clinical insights, or conducting original research, your voice matters. Your contributions shape what we publish and influence the future of family medicine—a story we can all continue to write.

The opinions expressed in editorials are those of the authors. Publication does not imply endorsement by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Cet article se trouve aussi en français à la page 449.