Laura Slings, MD

When I first decided to become a Family Medicine physician I was attracted to the long-term relationships I would develop with my patients, the trust that would be cultivated and the sacred privilege I would have to walk alongside families, from delivering their babies to counseling them through end of life decisions and all their healthcare needs in between.

Throughout my years of practice I have been frequently reminded of how unique each individual is and how difficult it is to fit people into a box. Each person has innate value and dignity and I desired to provide a safe space to listen, support and counsel patients through health decisions.

Listening goes a long way to helping patients feel heard and known, avoiding unnecessary diagnostic testing and crafting a shared treatment plan consistent with a patients' goals and values.

Listening takes time. Time has become my biggest battle – I want to give my patients the time they need, but am almost constantly apologizing for running late.

As I reached my 20th year of practicing in a large fee-for-service healthcare system I realized that although I had been fighting for this vision for so many years, my philosophy of care and the reality of how I was actually able to practice were becoming less and less congruent.