The Department of Family and Community Medicine, also known as Preventive Medicine, is one of the clinical departments in undergraduate medical education. In addition to theoretical and practical teaching, it conducts scientific research and extends its activities to cover all areas of primary healthcare at both the first and second levels. It is a relatively new department compared to other medical and healthcare fields.

The department's curriculum includes seven distinct and integrated areas:

  1. Principles of Epidemiology, Scientific Research Methods, and Medical Statistics
  2. Epidemiological Research on Infectious Diseases, National Programs, and Hospital-Acquired Infections
  3. Family Medicine, which includes practical training in clinics, maternal and child health centers, and school health services.
  4. Healthy Nutrition and Therapeutic Nutrition
  5. Epidemiological Research on Chronic Diseases and Disease Patterns
  6. Occupational and Environmental Diseases
  7. Primary Healthcare, including Principles of Health Management and Health Information

Family Medicine

Family medicine focuses on comprehensive and continuous healthcare with an emphasis on the individual within the family as a social unit, without restrictions on gender, age, or type of illness. It is a specialty that integrates health, behavioral, and social sciences.

The training aims to prepare professionals in family medicine who can:

  • Address individual health needs within the family while understanding prevention methods.
  • Diagnose and treat diseases while building a trusting relationship with the trainer, enabling open discussions and feedback.
  • Maintain a personal record of acquired experiences and observations.
  • Be open to receiving criticism and guidance.

Family medicine is the science and art of studying community health needs, organizing and delivering comprehensive healthcare services, and evaluating and developing health programs to improve health and prevent diseases.

Community Medicine

The training in community medicine aims to prepare specialists capable of performing the following tasks:

  • Identifying and analyzing current and anticipated health problems in the community based on geographical, demographic, social, and economic data and proposing appropriate solutions.
  • Studying the causes of health problems.
  • Identifying community health needs and priorities.
  • Planning and managing healthcare programs, including health promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
  • Enhancing teamwork among healthcare professionals and encouraging community participation while coordinating with various sectors involved in health program planning, organization, and evaluation.
  • Conducting and promoting health research, especially applied research.
  • Participating in the training of healthcare workers.
  • Developing health education programs that align with community needs and ensure public participation.
  • Evaluating and improving healthcare services to increase their effectiveness.