Photo: Bryan Goodchild
The Ministry of Family Medicine and Community Health at UMASS Chan Medical School marks an important step on Saturday March 15, observing its 50th anniversary and highlighting its contributions to national and local leadership in education in family medicine and primary care centered on the patient.
“The objective of the 50th anniversary is to recognize and celebrate the role of family medicine in health and health justice, in particular in this region, as well as to expect the future of family medicine in the region,” said Diane McKee, MD, UMASS MEMORIAL LEDWITH FILES in family and community medicine and president and professor of family medicine and community health.
The department was the first of its kind in New England and a founding department of the Faculty of Medicine.
“Umass Chan has always had a mission to train family doctors to help respond to the need for primary care in Massachusetts and the region.”
Since 1974, 632 UMASS Chan medicine students have graduated from the family medicine program, or around 13% of all graduates. In particular, on more than 2,500 approved family physicians active in the Massachusetts, one in five finished his medical studies in Umass Chan.
“Umass Chan admits students who are attached to good quality patients,” said Linda Cragin, MS, an instructor in family medicine and community health and director of the Massachusetts AREA Health Education Center network. “We want good family medicine doctors to provide the care people need. These students see role models in our department, making care and commitment of visible patients visible. »»
Tracy Kedian, Md’96, Doyenne Associate for the admission of Th Chan School of Medicine and professor of family medicine and community health, completed his training in residence in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
“The values of the institution are demonstrated by the support of an in -depth community commitment and support for students from a diverse set of environments,” said Dr. Kedian. “These values comply with the practice of family medicine. Students who come to Umass Chan because they are looking for this type of experience are potentially important adjustments for family medicine. »»
Since 2012, 175 UMASS Chan graduates have been adapted to a family medicine residence program, with the biggest figures in 2019 (20) and 2024 (23). During the next match in March, 15 other students in medicine hope to correspond in a program of residence in family medicine.
“You must be a little courageous to choose family medicine, because there is a huge amount of content that you must be ready to learn and use and apply,” said Patricia Seymour, Md’07, an associate professor of family medicine and community health. “You must believe in the mission to take care of all those who cross your door beyond your need to be recognized for this.”
The DRE Seymour also completed its training in residence in family medicine and community health at Umass Chan and declared that the residence program had provided a large understanding of essential medicine and interpersonal skills, which it uses daily in its career.
“I interacted with this department as a student, as a resident, as a junior and now as an educational leader in the establishment. In family medicine, you can take care of everyone. This option really appealed to me, and I think my training prepared me for being ready for everything, ”said Seymour.
For more information on the celebration of the 50th anniversary, Umass Family Medicine at 50: stay focused on access, equity and justice, contact Linda Cragin to Linda.cragin@umassmed.edu.