The following study in Family Medicine identifies factors sustaining family physicians practicing in Milwaukee’s under-served urban areas. Four general domains emerged: (1) cognitive traits and qualities of trouble-shooting, resilience, flexibility; (2) core values of medicine as mechanism to address social justice, (3) skills such as self-care, communication, clinical management, and (4) support systems like supportive family/employer, job flexibility, leadership opportunities, staff function as team. These personal attributes and skills were partly shaped by varying past experiences and personal drivers. The physicians generally perceived the work as rewarding and alignment of values and skills. The research encourages training in the skill sets identified to potentially improve physician retention in such communities.