Mahuya Barua, MD, is a resident at Harbor UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program in Torrance, CA. She is a 2025 recipient of a STFM Foundation Faculty for Tomorrow Resident Scholarship.

Dr Barua's Family Medicine Story

Why are you interested in teaching family medicine?

Dr Barua: My experience navigating the health care system while trying to help my father with his illness shaped my goals to pursue family medicine and my drive to help others who face similar challenges. My father did not have access to health care and did not prioritize his health while working as a taxi driver to provide for our family. Once his vision began to worsen, we all became alarmed and later found out he had diabetes retinopathy. Since his diagnosis, as a high school student, I became involved in all aspects of my father’s care, including navigating access to care and insurance coverage, advocating for him, and managing his needs at home.

Along the way, I learned the value of preventative medicine. I want to share my experience with others and teach the future generation the importance of family medicine with its focus on preventative health, well-being, and caring for a patient holistically. Family medicine is the best platform to connect with patients and communities to better health for all. Thus, teaching family medicine will be crucial to ensure the next generation is equipped to tackle challenges and improve healthcare. 

Beginning in undergrad, I have enjoyed mentoring and teaching students as I believe this is the best way to continue your growth and learning while collectively working together to bring positive changes. I had the opportunity to be a leader in my medical school’s family medicine interest group (FMIG), become involved in AAFP’s student leadership by working with many students as regional coordinator for FMIG, and mentor undergrad students as a medical student.

As a resident, I have been mentoring medical students and undergraduate students who come to my clinic for exposure to family medicine. I have enjoyed this experience and want to continue honing my teaching skills to ensure students have a good learning experience and patients have safe experiences in a teaching environment. Furthermore, in teaching family medicine, it is important to emphasize cultural competence and community engagement. By teaching family medicine and empowering other physician leaders, I want to dismantle barriers to care, promote preventive health practices, and advocate for policies that support the health and well-being of all patients. 

My passion for family medicine and understanding the life-changing impact it has on patients, their families, and communities motivates me to teach so that collectively we can bring more positive changes in the future of medicine. Family medicine is a field that requires embodying a holistic approach to health care, building long-term relationships with patients, and having the necessary skills to support patients’ emotional and social well-being. For me, teaching family medicine is not just about imparting medical and procedural knowledge, it's about addressing the health needs of marginalized patient populations and guiding them through their health journey. Thus, I am excited to explore how to best be a family medicine leader and follow my mission to improve health equity and help patients from all walks of life.

How do you think you can make a difference in the future of family medicine? 

Dr Barua: I can make a difference in family medicine by becoming an advocate, an ally, and a physician leader. As a family medicine physician, I plan to emphasize preventative care, encourage underrepresented groups to pursue careers in medicine, and learn to become an effective advocate. 

For me, making a difference in family medicine begins in the clinic by establishing a patient-physician relationship that is based on trust and compassion. This will give me the platform to focus on preventative health, maintain wellness, and providing support at every stage of a patient’s life. I believe making a difference also can come from a commitment to continuous self-improvement as a learner and a doctor. By actively seeking out new knowledge and staying current with the latest research, I can enhance my clinical skills and deliver the highest quality of care to my patients. I hope to continue my pursuit of medicine through learning from each patient, attending workshops, conferences, and practicing my skills. Furthermore, I have found it helpful to reflect on my experiences and use feedback from others to improve. Working on personal development can allow me to become the best physician possible for the patients I serve. 

While making a difference may start in the patient rooms, it needs to go beyond that space to improve health outcomes. I have a passion for pathway programs as I am a believer that making a difference in family medicine will need underrepresented groups to pursue careers in medicine. By actively promoting diversity, we can better reflect the communities we serve, leading to enhanced patient care and experiences.

As a Bengali physician, I have been growing my panel of patients at my clinic. Last month, I was able to teach a patient from Bangladesh about the importance of pap smears as this is not a routine procedure that is done in Bangladesh. She finally gave consent to get the first-ever pap smear in her life and this milestone was reached due to a relationship based on cultural competence, trust, lack of language barriers, and compassion. Similarly, I hope students I work can one day share stories like these and leave long-lasting impact in the communities they serve. Together, these mentoring efforts can transform family medicine into a field that is representative of the needs of our own diverse patient populations. 

Family physicians have the best platform to leverage the role as an advocate for practices and policies that enhance the focus on preventative health, reduce health disparities, and improve social determinants of health. By collaborating with various entities such as community organizations, policymakers, and public health institutions, I hope to share my unique perspectives and work toward systemic changes that enable equitable access to healthcare and services. Additionally, I can educate patients on navigating healthcare systems and empower them to make informed decisions. Engaging in advocacy within family medicine is essential for me as it will allow me to support my patients not only in moments of illness but also in their overall well-being.

Contribute to the Creation of the Next STFM Story

Transforming the future of family medicine would not be possible without the generosity of countless STFM members and supporters. Through both member and departmental donations, the STFM Foundation is able to support the pipeline for academic family medicine. 

Help transform the future of academic family medicine by donating to the STFM Foundation. If you have questions about the STFM Foundation, contact Mindy Householder at (800) 274-7928 or mhouseholder@stfm.org.