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About The Department

The Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care (DFMPC) is one of nine Departments in the School of Clinical Medicine (SOCM). The DFMPC is linked with the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Department of Paediatrics in Cluster C within the School. There are five Divisions in the DFMPC and the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) programme is a School of Clinical Medicine (SOCM) programme, delivered under the DFMPC on behalf of the School. There is a significant overlap between the foci of both the academic department (DFMPC) and the programme (NMFC), particularly involving the extended academic platform, to warrant a “home” for a School programme within the DFMPC. 

Vision of the DFMPC:

Anywhere from the sports field in a rural community setting to the emergency department in a hospital, the vision of the DFMPC sees the patient benefit from an integrated health care delivery system, along a continuum of high-quality care, provided at the point of first contact to that at more specialist levels. The DFMPC recognises the patient as a person first and foremost, who are also family and community members, at different stages of life, but who are unfortunately unequal in the face of inequitable access to health promotion, disease prevention and all manner of health care provision. To drive the development of “a Faculty with a focus on community and primary health care, providing competency-based training for multiple roles in research and/or service across the full spectrum of health care” (Faculty PHC Task Team, 2015).

 

Mission of the DFMPC:

The mission of the DFMPC is multifaceted: To support the Divisions to meet their own goals and objectives, be they related to identity, performance, and/or sustainability. To be the foremost hub of innovative excellence in health sciences education in the Faculty and the country, as well as establishing a reputation internationally. To identify and develop a culture of synergy and collaboration for the mutual benefit of Divisions within the Department, as well as with others in health sciences education and service delivery fields, identified for the value each can provide and receive. To be a vehicle for the growth and transformation of personnel across all Divisions, facilitating a diverse range of valuable opportunities for all categories of staff, be they faculty, professional and/or administrative staff.  

 

The 6 Strategic FOCI of the DFMPC:

Publications and Research
Marketing and Promotion
Relevance and Transformation
Expanded Academic Platform
Learning Excellence
Financial Sustainability
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