A family physician's practice might include obstetrics — offering care throughout your pregnancy and delivering your baby. A family doctor also might perform minor surgery.

The typical route to become a family doctor involves four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, and a three-year residency, but Dr. Waits noted that doctors in training spend ...

Family doctors make less than other medical professionals. They’re also required to complete administrative tasks like providing sick notes, for which they’re not always compensated.

What the family doctor shortage looks like in Canada. National survey conducted in 2022–2023 found close to one-in-five Canadian adults do not have access to a family doctor.