Jeremy Fish, MD, is the CAFP’s 2020 Family Physician of the Year. Jeremy embodies all that the award recognizes: a family physician who presents the finest characteristics of family medicine and is directly and effectively involved in public service and activities that enhance the quality of life for patients and communities in California. As program director and co-founder of the John Muir Family Medicine Residency Program, he models the way for family medicine residents by providing exceptional care in a state-of-the-art, team-based care model he designed and shepherded through accreditation. In this regard, he has become an authority on every area of strategic interest to CAFP, including payment reform, practice transformation and the primary care workforce. He has offered to share this expertise with CAFP throughout the years by participating at every level of the Academy, from informal interactions with staff to stellar work as a member of the CAFP Board of Directors. Jeremy is an advocate for his profession, his patients and his community. He has participated in numerous CAFP Lobby Days and All Member Advocacy Meetings, meeting with legislators and providing testimony before state committees and public commissions such as the Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Commission. He was instrumental in guiding the development of the CalMedForce GME grant program, informing CAFP’s feedback on the Advisory Council, and his vision led to the development of the CAFP Residency Network, which has grown alongside the number of family medicine residency programs in the state to more than 50 members. He has also participated in the GME Initiative, a network of western residency program directors and stakeholders concerned with reforming federal GME.
Jeremy is an enthusiastic teacher and sound clinician who always creates a comfortable and welcoming learning environment for medical students and residents. He also has a deep respect for underserved and vulnerable patient populations to which he has dedicated his career. Despite having many years of clinical experience under his belt, he remains a humble practitioner with healthy curiosity and an enjoyment of learning which he loves to share with both medical students and residents. He has undoubtedly been responsible for the development of hundreds of dedicated family medicine physicians. As a physician leader, Jeremy is willing to be on the cutting edge and traverse difficult, yet rewarding, pathways to advance Family Medicine. He is fair, open minded, and practical. He makes it a priority to be present in administrative and clinical environments and always maintains an open-door policy. He even makes himself available to his residents outside of clinic hours as he is a tireless advocate for any resident.
As a member of the FP PAC Board, he has been directly responsible for increasing the number of contributions from members to the PAC, and thus CAFP’s influence in Sacramento. Jeremy Fish exemplifies the values of family medicine: patient-oriented, community-based, team-centered, high-quality primary care for the most vulnerable populations and is most deserving of this award.
