Forward is the new approach to primary care, offering customized plans to help you control the future of your health. Today, we sit down with Francois Dufresne to hear his take on tech-enabled, member-centered healthcare.
Dr. Francois Dufresne — physician at our New York location in Nomad — completed his residency training in internal medicine at NYU after having graduated from medical school in Atlanta. Prior to joining Forward, he was on faculty at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and has experience in the care of chronic medical conditions and quality improvement.
What first drew you to practice medicine?
From an early age, my brothers and I were surrounded by healthcare, as both our parents worked in the field. I can fondly remember going to the office with my my dad during school breaks, seeing how much time he spent with his patients and reflecting on the depth of the relationships he was able to develop with them. This element of personal connection — and my interest in all things biology-related — is what first fueled my interest in medicine.
What areas of interest do you have as a physician?
While medicine can be complex and deeply rooted in evidence-based science, I have found that digesting and effectively communicating this information to members is a key pillar of the profession. In particular, I am most interested in this collaboration when considering the intersection of multiple medical conditions.
What do you value most in your relationships with members?
Your health is very personal and being able to build connection can be invaluable to the development of durable outcomes. I highly value the sense of collaboration I feel with members in helping them develop a personalized approach to managing their health. Through discussion, shared plan development, and close follow-up, my goal is to restore a sense of empowerment over your health.
What is your experience with the current healthcare industry? Where would you most like to see improvements or changes?
Having spent a number of years in a traditional-practice model, I have been able to witness physicians underpowered to provide the care they’ve been trained to give. Similarly, I’ve helped care for countless patients who expressed frustration at a system which they felt was not designed to be forward thinking and which has not provided the tools for self-realization. These are the areas where I found that Forward clearly distinguishes itself from the current healthcare system.
Why did you decide to join Forward?
Part of the solution to the challenges mentioned above lies in the ability to refocus relationships between provider and patient, partly by using the force of what tomorrow’s technology has to offer. In Forward, I saw an opportunity being given to physicians that would allow them to leverage the upper limits of technology in order to provide the most thoughtful and cutting-edge options for our members. That said, I am most excited about the opportunity to sit across from my members and spend the time getting to truly understand how we can jointly work on their health goals.
What are a few fun facts about you that our members might not know?
I spent the summers of my teenage years on my grandparents’ farm where I learned to make goat cheese!
Find your new favorite primary care physician—become a Forward member, and access all of the health care you need for an affordable monthly fee. From blood and genetic testing to in-person and online appointments for everything that ails you, we provide all of the services you need for preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment.