PRIME-FM: Cultivating the Future of Family Medicine

Preparing for a career in medicine requires not only commitment but also a supportive community. For many students, the demands of medical school can make decisions about residency paths feel overwhelming. Promoting Leadership & Advocacy, Research, Innovation, Mentorship, and Engagement with Communities in Family Medicine (PRIME-FM) offers medical students a place to learn about family medicine through meaningful mentorship. For student Ingrid Anderson, the program provided exactly what she was seeking: guidance, connection and peers who shared her passion from day one.

Through shared academic, clinical, and personal experiences, she and her classmates have built a network of encouragement that helps them navigate the stresses of medical school. “Getting to know my fellow classmates on a deeper level has been wonderful,” she says. “We’re able to offer support and encouragement to each other during stressful times of the school year.”

A Growing Community

Launched by the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) in 2024, PRIME-FM was created not only to support medical students but also to help shape the future of family medicine through an inclusive, exploration‑focused approach. Students do not need to be committed to the specialty to participate in the program.

Each incoming class joins the existing group, creating a community in which students learn from one another. Upper-level students share insights and mentor newer participants. In addition to its strong mentorship model, PRIME-FM offers educational sessions on topics in family medicine and primary care, team‑building activities that foster connection, and immersion experiences that deepen students’ understanding of community health and patient-centered care.

Mentorship: The Heart of PRIME-FM

At the core of PRIME-FM is a student-centered mentorship model in which each participant is thoughtfully paired with a DFMCH faculty mentor who serves as a guide, advocate, and sounding board throughout medical school. The program blends structure with flexibility by encouraging mentors and students to connect at least once a month to maintain continuity and support, while quarterly face-to-face meetings are intentionally informal, often taking place over coffee or on a walk near the Memorial Union Terrace. To ensure the program continues to meet evolving needs, participants provide feedback through periodic surveys and open communication with the PRIME-FM coordinator.

One of those mentors is Danalyn Rayner, MD, who was drawn to PRIME-FM by her love of working with students and helping them explore their aspirations. Rayner works closely with medical students throughout their training and understands the challenges and milestones they encounter along the way.

“I’m curious, and I just like to be a part of a student’s journey and development,” Rayner says. “Any opportunity to get to know someone interesting is always welcome.”

Rayner brings her own passion for family medicine to these mentoring relationships. During medical school, she found herself drawn to many different specialties, but family medicine ultimately offered the scope of practice she was seeking.

“I love pediatrics, but I couldn’t imagine not managing hypertension,” she says. “I really loved the idea of working with grandma, mom, and baby and following them through life.”

Her mentoring philosophy reflects the same openness that attracted her to the specialty. Rather than steering students toward a specific career path, Rayner works to create a supportive environment where learners can honestly examine their interests and values.

“I try to be nonjudgmental and not have an agenda,” she says. “Family medicine is an incredible specialty, but I’ve also had students that surprised themselves when they loved OB-GYN or pediatrics or pathology more than they expected.”

Why PRIME-FM Matters

PRIME-FM is a home base for students exploring family medicine. It offers a space to build lasting relationships, grow as leaders, and discover what brings joy and meaning to a career in medicine.

“As one of our guiding hopes, we envision mentor–mentee relationships that extend far beyond graduation — grounded in mutual respect, shared experiences, and a deep commitment to compassionate care,” says Mark Beamsley, MD, director of Medical Student Education. “We were hoping to recruit five students in our first year, and we met that goal. We are indebted to the DFMCH faculty who volunteered to mentor these students.”

The program also helps students gain meaningful exposure to family medicine at a time when primary care physicians are increasingly needed. Rayner believes mentorship can play an important role in helping students see family medicine as a both a rewarding and intellectually challenging career path.

“We need more primary care in our current medical system,” she says. “I also want all students to have more exposure to family medicine and role models within primary care.”

Although Anderson had long been interested in family medicine, her involvement in PRIME-FM deepened that commitment. She found herself resonating with the specialty’s core values of patient-centered care, relationship building, a whole-person approach, and community engagement. The focus on preventing or mitigating health issues before they develop aligned strongly with her vision of compassionate care.

One of the most meaningful aspects of her experience has been learning from family medicine physicians who are not only skilled clinicians but also leaders in advocacy and education. Rayner has become a trusted guide and role model. “She’s kind, funny, and a great physician and teacher,” Anderson says.

Their relationship has helped her navigate the challenges of medical school with confidence and clarity. In PRIME-FM, Anderson discovered a place where she can grow, connect, and explore what it means to be a future family physician.

To learn more about PRIME-FM, contact Medical Student Program Manager Jill Costello.