Written by Juliana Stanley, MBA, CMPE
I recently sat down with Carl Bryce, MD, FAAFP, to give readers of The Arizona Pulse insight into the mind of a family medicine physician and residency program director. Dr. Bryce is currently the Associate Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Abrazo Health. He practices full-scope primary care with a special focus on disease prevention and nutritional medicine. For Dr. Bryce, office-based procedures (such as colonoscopies and acupuncture) are enjoyable parts of his job, and he loves taking care of the entire family “from cradle to grave”. He is also a member of the largest physician-led organization in Arizona, the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA). Born and raised in New Mexico, Dr. Bryce is a Southwesterner at heart. To learn more about what makes him tick, not only as a physician but as a person, I asked him a few questions…
What inspires you?
I come from a long line of teachers, and the science of medicine is fascinating. I love that I get to blend the two in my role as a family medicine educator; watching residents grow into independent physicians and mentoring them through residency is a tremendous privilege. I am humbled to think that what they are learning now will benefit them and their patients for the rest of their careers.
What was the most memorable patient or event in your career?
I remember how proud I was to place my first central line as an intern! The patient was an older man, admitted for sepsis secondary to a urinary tract infection and he very nearly died in the intensive care unit. Several weeks later, he saw me in the grocery store, ran up to me and said, “Hey! You’re the doctor who saved my life!” I think residency training is such a formative time in our lives during which, we all can remember such patients and the emotions surrounding their care.
Do you speak any other languages?
I speak fairly fluent Spanish and am always working to improve it. Spanish is the primary language for many of our patients, and I really enjoy caring for them in their native language.
What would you like people to remember about you?
I can think of so many people in my life that have helped me get to where I am now. I hope that when people think of me, they will remember how I helped them in a moment of need.
What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?
You’re going to have many things to look forward to; milestones to accomplish and hurdles to overcome… but don’t just live for that next event on the horizon. You only get to do today one time; be present and make it worth it!
What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?
Medicine is a profession that affects every member of our society. The public has placed trust in our profession to provide exceptional healthcare, and I believe that we as doctors can be most effective when we work together. The future health of our patients depends on strong leadership from physician leaders today, and organized medicine is a way to collectively advocate on behalf of our patients.
About the Author
Juliana Stanley, MBA, CMPE, has more than thirty-three years of experience in health care administration. She is currently the Director of Member Experience and Practice Solutions at the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA). Juliana’s expertise lies in new practice setups, business operations, revenue cycle management, process improvement, and staff education and training. She is the author of a number of articles and publications surrounding medical practice management topics. Juliana holds a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in health services management and is certified as a medical practice executive by the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
