We’re discussing A Year in Review: Looking Forward to 2026! Faisel and Dan are reflecting on all we learned through our conversations in 2025, and projecting what’s on the horizon this year.

Our conversation revolves around improving the healthcare system for all patients, expanding access to Direct Primary Care through health savings accounts, and personalizing the way we coordinate care for better outcomes.

This week on Faisel and Friends, we are discussing Following the Information Blueprint: Restoring Joy in Primary Care. Faisel and Dan are talking with Karen Johnson, PhD: Vice President of Practice Advancement at the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Our conversation explores reducing the burdens of practice by utilizing AI, improving information-sharing and data flow to guide impactful action, and rebuilding trust within the healthcare workforce.

Read the Primary Care Information Blueprint here: https://www.aafp.org/dam/AAFP/documents/practice_management/payment/primary-care-information-blueprint-aafp.pdf

We’re discussing Smarter Tech, Stronger Connections! Faisel and Dan are joined by Dr. Paulius Mui & Dr. Gina Engel

Our conversation revolves around preserving human connection and clinical judgement in a digital landscape, enhancing care with responsible AI use, and treating technology as support rather than replacement.

This episode was recorded live at FMX, the AAFP's premier Family Medicine conference! Learn more about FMX here: https://www.aafp.org/events/fmx/2026.html

This week on Faisel and Friends, we are discussing Reclaiming the Human Interaction in The Age of AI. Faisel and Dan are talking with Dr. Steven Waldren & Dr. Jay Lee.

Our conversation explores empowering clinicians with technology, optimizing team collaboration with AI, and reclaiming the narrative around primary care physicians as trusted voices of wellness.

This episode was recorded live at FMX, the AAFP's premier Family Medicine conference! Learn more about FMX here: https://www.aafp.org/events/fmx/2026.html

We’re discussing Empowering Patients to Make the Best Decisions! Faisel and Dan are joined by Dr. Alex McDonald: Family and Sports Medicine Physician, AAFP Vaccine Science Fellow, and Immediate Past President of the California Academy of Family Physicians.

Our conversation revolves around exploring vaccination options with patients, building a movement from an online immunization community, and prescribing lifestyle medicine.

We’re discussing Raising the Bar in Value Based Primary Care Payment! Faisel and Dan are joined by Purva Rawal, PhD, Former Chief Strategy Officer, CMS Innovation Center at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Our conversation revolves around navigating changing healthcare policies, unlearning fee for service as the default, and leveraging community relationships within alternative care models.

This week on Faisel and Friends, we are discussing Growth, Equity, and Alignment in Primary Care Systems. Faisel and Dan are talking with Dr. Doug Jacobs: Executive Director of the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC).

Our conversation explores caring about what’s happening in fee-for-service even if you are in a value-based model, communicating with patients about accountable care, and understanding complexities of the “efficiency adjustment” in the upcoming fee schedule.

We’re discussing Teaching Tomorrow’s Family Doctors: Residency, Resilience, and New Models of Care! Faisel and Dan are joined by Dr. Makandall Saint Eloi, Dr. Christian Widder and Dr. Farah Shaukat.

Our conversation revolves around training the next generation of doctors, implementing new models of care, and identifying practical applications of AI in family medicine.

This episode was recorded live at FUTURE, the AAFP's annual conference! Learn more about FUTURE here: https://www.aafp.org/events/future-conference/2026.html

This week on Faisel and Friends, we are discussing From Inspiration to Impact: Family Medicine at the Crossroads of Change. Faisel and Dan are talking with Shawn Martin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and Dr. Tina Sharma, Chief Resident of Family Medicine at The University of Texas at Tyler.

Our conversation explores the growing direct primary care movement, the utilization of artificial intelligence in medicine, and the bright future workforce of Family Medicine.

This episode was recorded live at FUTURE, the AAFP's annual conference! Learn more about FUTURE here: https://www.aafp.org/events/future-conference/2026.html

We’re discussing Direct Primary Care: a Rising Tide for American Healthcare! Faisel and Dan are joined by Dr. Jeffrey Davenport, from One Focus Medical and Direct Primary Care Alliance.

Our conversation revolves around recent policy changes in favor of DPC, timely momentum in the alternative care model movement, and finding physician satisfaction after burnout.

This episode was recorded live at FUTURE, the AAFP's annual conference! Learn more about FUTURE here: https://www.aafp.org/events/future-conference/2026.html