'A Window for Helping My Patients': AAFP Member and California Assembly Member Jasmeet Bains, M.D.
Inside Family Medicine · American Academy of Family Physicians
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (traffic.libsyn.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In this episode of the Fighting for Family Medicine podcast recorded at FMX 2024, David Tully, vice president of Government Relations and a member of AAFP's advocacy team, talks with Jasmeet Bains, M.D., about how her family medicine practice and advocacy inform her role as an elected member of the California Assembly. She is one of only a handful of Academy members to have held statewide office, giving her an unusual — and valuable — perspective on what physicians bring to their engagement with lawmakers.
"This gives me a window for helping my patients in a way that I couldn't in my clinic," she says of her time so far in office.
Dr. Bains earned the 2019 Hero of Family Medicine Award from the California AFP and has held a variety of local, state and national leadership roles, including as a scholar with the AAFP's Leading Physician Well-being Program.
Topics by Timestamp
0:22 Introducing Jasmeet Bains, M.D.
1:03 What it's been like for her since she took office
2:55 What unites her motivations as a family physician and as a legislator
6:23 Working with the California AFP to pass a state law that would compensate primary care physicians for screening patients for social determinants of health
10:02 As part of the assembly's Committee on Aging and Long-term Care, what Dr. Bains is doing to build policy to care for an increasing population of aging adults
15:02 What she's learned about advocacy since being elected to the Assembly
17:06 The balance between practicing family medicine and serving constituents
20:17 Advice for any physician considering a run for office
24:25 Conclusion
Related Resources
Disclaimer: Copyright 2025, AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP. The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice. AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.