Building Your Care Village: Seeking a Primary Physician as a Person of Colour
Finding the right primary care provider matters.
If you’ve ever felt rushed, dismissed, or misunderstood in a medical appointment, you’re not imagining it. Many people of colour have experienced care that didn’t fully listen, explain, understand, or reflect their lived reality. That’s why choosing the right primary physician is so important.
For people of colour, this search often requires added layers of trust and self-advocacy. Your primary physician is often the front door to the health system. They help with prevention, referrals, tests, and long-term care. When this relationship works, everything else works better.
This article offers guidance on what to look for in a primary physician, questions to ask, and how to begin building a care team that truly supports you.
What is a primary physician?
A primary physician (also called a family doctor or primary care provider) is the health professional you see for:
Regular checkups
Ongoing health concerns
Referrals to specialists
Preventive care and screenings
They are meant to know your health story over time, not just treat symptoms.
Why trust matters
Trust isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s essential.
When you trust your provider, you are more likely to:
Share symptoms early
Ask questions
Follow care plans
Return for follow-ups
For people of colour, trust can be shaped by past experiences with racism, bias, being ignored in medical settings, or medical education not reflecting the population it is supposed to serve. A good physician understands this, even if they don’t share your background.
What to look for in a primary physician
You deserve a provider who:
Listens without interrupting
Explains things in clear language
Takes your concerns seriously
Respects your cultural context
Welcomes questions
Discusses a care plan that makes you comfortable
Conversations should be open, curious, and respectful.
Questions you can ask (and it’s okay to ask them)
You are allowed to interview your doctor. Here are simple questions that can help you decide if they’re a good fit:
“How do you approach preventive care?”
“How do you involve patients in decisions?”
“What is your experience with Black, Indegenous, LGBTQ health?”
“How do you work with specialists (ex. Naturopath)?”
“What’s your approach when symptoms don’t show up on tests?”
Pay attention not just to what they say, but how they respond. If they seem annoyed or aggrevated by your interest in YOUR health, it may not be the right fit.
It’s okay if the first doctor isn’t the right one
If you leave an appointment feeling:
Dismissed
Confused
Rushed
Unheard
Take what you have learned to inform future conversations. You are allowed to seek a different provider. Changing doctors is not rude or dramatic. It’s 2026 and you are entitled to GOOD and responsible care.
Start building your care village
Your primary physician is just one part of your care village.
Your village may include:
A therapist or counsellor
A pharmacist you trust
A dentist
A physiotherapist or massage therapist
A naturopath or nutrition professional
Community health clinics
Cultural healers
Each role supports a different part of your health at a foundational level. Future articles will help you in selecting the right one.
Tips for finding a provider
Ask friends, family, or community groups
Check local community health centres
Look at clinic websites and provider bios
Call clinics and ask if they are accepting new patients
Ask other members of your care village
Affirmations to live by
You are not “difficult” for asking questions.
You are not “dramatic” for wanting clarity.
You are not asking for too much by wanting to feel safe.
Building your care village is an act of self-respect.
Do you have any suggestions or tips when seeking out Primary Care Doctor? Write them in the comments below!
