Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are unique challenges to recruiting students into the specialty of family medicine within academic medical centers. METHODS: At Virginia Commonwealth University, we developed an advising framework to help students address institutional and personal obstacles to choosing family medicine as a career. RESULTS: The role of a faculty advisor is not to direct the student to a career choice but rather to foster a mentor relationship and help the student come to his or her own realizations regarding career choice. The faculty advisor/medical student interview is conceptualized as five discussion topics: self-knowledge, perception, organizational voice, cognitive dissonance, and anticipatory counseling. CONCLUSION: This framework is intended to assist faculty in their efforts to encourage students to consider a career in family medicine.