Title
Weaving public health education into the fabric of a family medicine residency
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Date
10-2011
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Accreditation; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Graduate; Family Practice; Humans; *Internship and Residency; Massachusetts; Policy Making; Preventive Medicine; Public Health; Schools, Medical
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Medical Education | Preventative Medicine | Primary Care
Abstract
Policymakers and accrediting bodies have recognized the importance of integrating public health, population health, and prevention into graduate medical education programs. The high prevalence of chronic illness, coupled with the impact of behavioral and societal determinants of health, necessitate an urgent call for family medicine residencies to prepare future leaders to meet these challenges. The University of Massachusetts Worcester Family Medicine Residency recently developed an integrated curriculum that strives to develop a culture of incorporating fundamental public health principles into everyday practice. This public health curriculum was designed to integrate new topics within the current residency structure through longitudinal and concentrated experiences. This strategy has substantially improved public health and prevention education without substantial impact on the already strained residency curricular structure. This paper describes the integration of public health and prevention education into a family medicine residency to help residents acquire the fundamental skills necessary to improve a population's health. Inc. All rights reserved.
Comments
Citation: Am J Prev Med. 2011 Oct;41(4 Suppl 3):S256-63. Link to article on publisher's site