Act Scholarly! Embrace your inner behavioral scientist

Abstract

Fifty years of scholarship by behavioral science faculty shaped the training and practice of family physicians. One can trace behavioral science influence from the philosophical underpinnings of family medicine (whole-person, patient-centered, biopsychosocial care), to the translation of psychotherapy skills into tools for family physicians, to the discovery of successful, integrated healthcare teams of family physicians and behavioral science professionals. Family medicine as we know it today rests on the shoulders of scholars who collaborated to conceive, experiment, evaluate, improve, and innovate. The purpose of this paper is to recruit you – behavioral science professionals – to continue this tradition of scholarship in Family Medicine. To advance your scholarly efforts, start by understanding that “scholarship” is not limited to research. “Scholarship” is sharing your good work with other professionals; through that interchange, you and they can improve. Next, surround yourself with people who will help you learn and succeed: mentors, collaborators, and helpers. Select a focus for your scholarship and read scientific literature for a thorough understanding of the topic. Identify a methodology that fits your values, interests, skills and resources. Start small, then grow. Sharpen your skills in writing and, if necessary, in statistics. Finally, Act Scholarly! by sharing your work with other behavioral science scholars.