In many ways, Dr Hennen has reinforced the point that family medicine merits being recognized in the same manner as other medical specialties. He quotes Morrell in describing family physicians’ breadth of knowledge, reminds us of McWhinney’s and Stewart’s patient-centred method, and speaks of the importance of generalism to our branch of medicine. But many other specialties today also require considerable breadth of knowledge, employ clinical methods, and are increasingly embracing generalism. Rather than relegating family medicine to the sidelines as just another player in this expanding generalist sphere, there is opportunity today to propel our discipline to the forefront, where it can lead all others as the specialty with the greatest expertise in generalism.