This was a comment that I received for a seminar on research and teaching in family medicine that I gave to primary care doctors a few years ago. One of the meanings for ‘academic’ defined by the Oxford Dictionary is ‘abstract; theoretical; not of practical relevance’. Academic work especially research is traditionally regarded as the luxurious pursuit of professors working in University ivory towers. There is growing criticism that huge investments in biomedical research has resulted in very little, if any, benefits in people’s health. The term academic needs to find a new meaning. In the establishment as a scientific discipline, defined by Clarke as ‘ a body of knowledge acquired through research that can be transmitted by teaching’, academic family medicine has redefined academic to become the acronym for: Articulating the body of knowledge that informs practice, Conceptualizing the work of a doctor, Adapting to changing needs of the population, Developing medical education, Enjoying and valuing the doctor–patient relationship, Managing resources cost-effectively, Improving the quality of care and Contributing to the art and science of medicine.