Introduction: I have a special reflection this week. Dr. Ron Adler, a graduate of and long-time faculty member at Hahnemann Family Health Center has recently become the President of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians. He joins an impressive list of former graduates and faculty of the UMass Chan Department of Family Medicine and Community Health including David Gilchrist, Dennis Dimitri, Bob Baldor, Randy Wertheimer, Neil Cannon, Fred Baker, Robert Babineau, Bill Damon and others. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our department and honour the ideas of Family Medicine Proud - Ron and others give us ample cause to hold our head high.

Ron gave his Presidential address at the annual MAFP conference recently. It speaks to us to remember why we went into this profession and specialty - of course there are challenges all around us and the system is flawed - but we have overcome before because of who we are and what we believe in. His words are a clarion call for us all - our collective team in family medicine and community health - to accept the challenge and inspire our learners, colleagues, patients, staff and indeed ourselves. See what you think.