While all types of physicians are needed to care for the health of the public, primary care physicians are crucial, especially in underserved areas. A healthcare system built on an adequate supply of primary care physicians is shown to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. Primary care specialties include: family medicine, general internal medicine and pediatrics. Family physicians provide more primary care than any other discipline in the U.S. and the needs for family physicians continues to grow.

To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, visit the Family Medicine section, the Explore Family Medicine guide, and read about the shortage of primary care physicians.