Family medicine, a discipline which has redefined its epistemology over the past thirty years, approaches the twenty-first century in the knowledge that it is an area of study and practice central to the delivery of medical and health care. The family physician must be able to provide a wide variety of services, and bring a broad canvas of knowledge, a comprehensive repertoire of skills, and a particular set of values and attitudes to the care of people in their community setting. This article describes the role of the family physician as generalist, family doctor, health promoter and team member, and addresses the issue of medical economics. The training, assessment and continuing medical education requirements are outlined, and the role of the family physician in research accented.