April 03, 2023

The inspiration motivating Elizabeth Beiter, MD, to pursue a career in family medicine began decades before she was born.

Dr. Beiter, an associate program director with the Bethesda Family Medicine residency program, regularly remembers her grandparents when treating patients. The couple was a staple in her life, cooking meals and shuttling kids to and from school and sporting events, as her mother continued her education and career. By the time Dr. Beiter reached high school her grandparents’ health was deteriorating, and both died from COPD and complications from diabetes shortly after she graduated.

Twenty years later, Dr. Beiter sees patients living with the same conditions as her grandparents, and she’s committed through health equity to connecting those patients with advanced treatment options.

“I believe everyone is entitled to high quality healthcare, and that achieving health equity is the best way to helping people lead healthy, fulfilling lives,” Dr. Beiter said.

Dr. Beiter’s commitment was recently recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians, which included her in the 2023 class of Health Equity Fellows. The Health Equity Fellowship is designed to develop family physicians into leaders with expertise in social, institutional and cultural influences that impact the country’s health.

During the AAFP Fellowship, each fellow completes a capstone project focused on translating health equity concepts into clinical practice. This involves field research, presenting findings and gaining expertise while ultimately making a difference in the care patients receive. Dr. Beiter’s capstone project is titled Improving health equity now and in the future: assessing and addressing social determinants of health and creating a longitudinal residency curriculum.

“Ideally the capstone project will serve as a model family practices can follow to address health equity by identifying resources healthcare providers can use to build connections with patients and to mitigate social determinants of health,” Dr. Beiter said.

Dr. Beiter knows addressing all the issues connected with health equity can seem daunting, sometimes without a clear place to start. In those moments it’s important to remember the principles of family medicine, she said.

“Meet your patients where they are and find ways to grow with them,” she said. “That will enable you and your patients to begin seeing change, as well as necessary forward progress.”

Congratulations Dr. Beiter! What an amazing opportunity.
Posted by: Cathy Lohmueller on July 24, 2023
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