Australian Journal of Rural Health
Authors: Alexandra Bland, Anthon Meyer, Eliseo Orrantia, Ilona Hale, Stefan Grzybowski
June 2024

The relationship between rural family physicians and the communities they serve is a powerful tool for quality of care and health system resilience. This article explores the physician-community relationship through three case studies from rural communities in Canada, each highlighting strategies employed by physicians to establish and foster relationships within their communities during challenging circumstances. Transforming care models to better meet the needs of both the community and the practicing physicians, responding to unforeseen health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and supporting long-term community sustainability are all highlighted as ways that relationships can increase community-level resilience to climate change and ecosystem disruption. The findings underscore the significance of building trust, transparent communication, and meaningful collaboration in addressing healthcare challenges in rural areas and emphasize the need to recognize and support physicians as agents of change.