An Interview with Dr. Raul Ayala

Your 2023-2024 CAFP President

Why did you choose family medicine? Who were the role models who inspired you to go into Family Medicine?

I was born and raised in Mission, Texas, a small rural town in South Texas about 30 minutes from the border. It's a great town known for its citrus. Mission is where I learned about the importance of community, friendship, and being a good neighbor. We all new each other’s families and our values were imbedded throughout that great town. In many small towns there is that one doctor who does everything. My doctor took care of my grandma, delivered babies, did house calls, and would be on the sidelines on Friday Night Football, was in the parades and could be seen enjoying a free lunch at the local restaurant. I later found out he was a Family Doctor.

My love for Family Medicine continued during my undergraduate studies where I volunteered at a homeless shelter. During my time there, I met a compassionate Family Doctor who cared for the homeless in his spare time and again. I spent time after clinic with him sharing the importance to see beyond the disease being treated, to make an impact on every patient’s life. During medical school, I had the privilege of joining a non-profit organization that started a free clinic in South Texas with the mission to help immigrant families with free health care. It is here where I learned of the importance and impact of government health care programs on individuals and communities. The Family Doctors that I have had the privilege to work with and have mentored me through time have all served beyond the clinic and hospital walls, they showed endless energy and compassion to make a change in our communities. What piqued your interest in becoming active with your county and state AFP chapters?

It all started when my resident colleague and I decided to enter a contest where we had to write on the importance of advocacy and leadership. Happily, we were chosen to attend the National Conference of Constituent Leaders (NCCL) in Kansas City. A "YES" to a CAFP dinner and a flight back to California with our CAFP jewel (retired Executive VP) Susan Hogeland, are what started this amazing journey. An invitation in the elevator turned into a 12-year journey that started for me as a resident member of the CAFP board, where I had the privilege of co-leading the resident council across the state and nationally. This allowed the residency council to amplify our voice on important topics affecting our residents. After graduation, I was voted to serve as the Fresno-Kings-Madera President. Along with the chapter board members, we reignited our local activities. This allowed us to interact with one another and collaborate on engaging residency programs, addressing workforce and offering CME. My role expanded on the board as a director and my learnings and collaboration grew in the areas of advocacy, policy, CME, leadership, practice transformation, wellness, cultural competency, and the joy of medicine. The journey with the academy has been a pathway of growth and learning and most importantly, working with academy members and leaders who support you and ignite the energy you need to continue. What are the most important challenges for Family Physicians? continued on page 30

Access to equitable care, physician shortages, payment reform, and social determinants of health are some of the most important challenges that we face in caring for our patients. I’ve had the privilege to serve as the medical director for our rural clinic system in California, from the corners of Ukiah down to the entrance of Yosemite and over to the oil fields of Taft. Every one of these towns is unique and special all together. My experience in visiting the various clinics and talking to patients, clinic staff, family doctors, and local government officials is that everyone living in that town wants to succeed, to grow, and to thrive. The Family Physician is positioned best to understand and to make a difference in the lives of our communities.

What has been the best part of being an officer in CAFP so far?

The best part for me is the friendships that have been made throughout this wonderful journey. Everyone in the academy has a unique talent and has expertise and experience in just about every subject possible and this makes us stronger. The learnings from each of the talented members has given us an ability to represent CAFP in the state, across the country and globally.