ABFM Family Medicine case studies
ABFM Family Medicine · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Family Medicine Certification is the continuing certification credential for family physicians. Diplomates meet an exam requirement to maintain certification, and under Certification 2025-the Continuous Certification 5-Year Cycle that began transitioning on January 1, 2025-they choose between two formats. The ABFM Family Medicine case studies are 5 cases and about 3,950 words.
1A 62-Year-Old With Type 2 Diabetes, CKD, and a Mismatched Glucose Pattern
A 62-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes of 14 years, hypertension, and stage 3b chronic kidney disease (eGFR 36 mL/min/1.73 m², urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio 480 mg/g) comes for follow-up. Her medications are metformin 1000 mg twice daily, glipizide 10 mg daily, lisinopril 40 mg daily, and atorvastatin 40 mg daily.
804 words, about 4 min2A Preschooler With "Uncontrolled Asthma" Whose Environment Is the Real Problem
A 5-year-old boy with recurrent cough and wheeze, diagnosed with asthma 6 months ago, returns with his mother. He has used albuterol on 4 days per week for the past month and has had two courses of oral prednisolone and one urgent care visit since March.
787 words, about 4 min3A Breast Cancer Survivor Asking for Hormones
A 51-year-old woman reports 8–10 hot flashes daily, night sweats that wake her three times a night, and insomnia she says is "ruining my work." She completed treatment for stage II estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer 3 years ago (lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy) and has taken tamoxifen for 2 years, with 3 more planned. She is otherwise healthy, BMI 26, last menstrual period 14 months ago, FSH 62.
711 words, about 4 min4Two Falls in Six Weeks and Nine Medications
An 84-year-old woman is brought by her daughter after two falls in 6 weeks, neither with loss of consciousness; the second caused a distal radius fracture. She lives alone and uses a walker "sometimes." Medications: amitriptyline 25 mg at bedtime for neuropathic pain, oxybutynin 5 mg twice daily for urgency, hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg, lisinopril 20 mg, metoprolol tartrate 25 mg twice daily, calcium, vitamin D, omeprazole, and zolpidem 5 mg nightly.
804 words, about 4 min5A 34-Year-Old Man With Depression, Heavy Drinking, and a Recent Family Suicide
A 34-year-old man comes in for "stress." PHQ-9 is 17 and GAD-7 is 12. He drinks 5–6 beers most weeknights and 10–12 on weekends, which he says helps him sleep.
844 words, about 4 min