Together in Transformation: Reimagining Primary Care Teams 

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September 11, 2025

By Neil Shah, Primary Care Transformation Lead 

Transforming primary care starts with a simple truth: our current system isn’t working for everyone. 

For some, primary care works exceptionally well. This is thanks to the dedicated, hard-working, and highly skilled providers who show up every day—meeting people where they are, guiding them through life’s most difficult moments, and using their expertise to keep individuals and families as healthy as possible.  

There is no question, we need more of these incredible professionals. 

But we also need a system that supports them—a system that attracts new learners into the field, sparks innovation in how care is delivered, and opens doors to new ways of practicing. 

I’ve seen that at it’s heart, primary care is that personal interaction between clinician and patient. But it is also about ensuring people have a safe home, nutritious food, and a sense of belonging in their community.

Transformation means creating the conditions for a system where providers are able to:  

• rely on one another to pick up where one leaves off, 

• draw on one another’s expertise,  

• have the tools and supports needed to deliver excellent care. 

As we plan ahead for transforming primary care at SCHC, the commitment to our model is already there – helping people stay healthy where they are, and making sure the care they receive is truly the care they want. This means breaking down barriers to access and creating a system where care is seamless, comprehensive, and team-based. 

We also know we cannot transform alone. Nor should we. Transformation is a collective effort, and it will take a network of committed providers, organizations, and community partners working together to bring team-based care for all to life. By collaborating with physicians across our community, we can begin to build the capacity needed to scale this model and ensure that more people can benefit from it. 

Transformation is not always a straight path—there will be learning moments, and some stumbles along the way. But every step forward moves us closer to a system where care is available, accessible, and equitable for all. 

I am genuinely excited about this journey ahead. Primary care transformation is not just about changing systems—it is about reimagining what’s possible for the health and well-being of our communities. I hope you’re just as excited and want to be part of this journey.