CHÁVEZ QUEZADA, Dr Lytzalaura
Mexico - Family Doctor and Researcher
Dr Lytzalaura Chávez Quezada is a family doctor based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, and a member of Waynakay Latin America. She was one of three winners of the
Taiwan Family Medicine Research Award (TFMRA),
established by the Chinese Taipei Association of Family Medicine (CTAFM) in 2008. The award supports travel costs for three junior family physicians to attend a WONCA World Conference, and aims to encourage research in family medicine.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into family medicine? What inspired you to choose this path?
Family medicine kind of chose me back in my third year of medical school, even though I only fully acknowledged that interest when I was about to apply for residency. I realized that this path truly matched my values and the way I see medicine and life.
My journey is just beginning - this is my first year as a family physician - but my three years of training completely changed my life.
Choosing family medicine also meant taking on a personal mission: to challenge the stigma around family doctors. The simplest way I know how to do that is through my work - by being the best version of myself, never stopping learning, trusting myself so I can inspire others, and, most importantly, working as part of a team to create real impact and gradual change. That’s how I’ve been creating opportunities to share knowledge about family-oriented care, both nationally and internationally, through research.
During my training, I realized I was really drawn to understanding people’s emotions and their life context, not just their diseases. Family medicine gave me the balance I was looking for, combining the biological and psychological sides of care through a biopsychosocial approach. Learning in a horizontal environment and applying concepts like communication and family dynamics, both in practice and in life, has truly felt like a privilege.
Tell us about your research – what drew you to the topic, and what were some key insights or challenges you encountered?
My family medicine residency program focuses strongly on family-oriented care, which I’m deeply passionate about. I believe evidence is one of the most powerful ways to create impact, so that motivated my interest in research and led us to start by exploring the prevalence of family-based care in our own clinical setting.
Recognizing its relevance today, knowing that about one in eight people may benefit from family-focused care, highlighted an important gap in current evidence, and this work represents just the beginning of what still needs to be developed.
How does your clinical work in Monterrey reflect the values of community-based family medicine?
My clinical work in Monterrey reflects the values of community-based family medicine through a strong emphasis on continuity of care, a biopsychosocial approach, and person-centred decision-making.
In daily practice, I follow patients longitudinally, but also understanding how family dynamics, social determinants, and cultural context influence their health and adherence.
Additionally, working in primary care allows me to prioritize prevention and early intervention. As a family physician and educator, I also integrate these values into my teaching, encouraging residents and students to see the patient as part of a family and community system, rather than as an isolated clinical case.
What role does Waynakay – the Iberoamerican Young Doctors’ Movement – play in your professional life and your vision for the future of family medicine?
I’ve met people who truly inspire me to keep growing, and I’ve learned that you really do go further when you work as a team. Waynakay has become a key part of my personal and professional path, because it’s where I found a tribe that shares the same passion for pushing family medicine forward.
My first experience with YDM in Lisbon 2025 was incredibly meaningful, it felt like coming home, being welcomed by people with the same energy, curiosity, and drive to learn and create together.
What do you enjoy outside of medicine – any hobbies or interests that help keep you grounded or inspired?
I really value staying in balance, and for me that means being surrounded by love and taking care of my energy. I recharge through my family and friends, and by enjoying simple things like board games, traveling, yoga, and painting.
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