This is a report of a one year experience providing formal public health training to family practice residents. This experience is unique in that it integrates a Certificate of Public Health curriculum into a standard residency curriculum without requiring additional training beyond the required 3 years. Family medicine residents from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine can receive formal public health training through the participation in and completion of the Certificate of Public Health taught by the UNM MPH Program. Residents take formal classroom and Web-based courses in public health principles and quantitative methods. Residents must also participate in a 2 year community-based public health project. This is an important educational innovation that allows family physician residents to acquire public health skills that can facilitate their participation in the processes of improving community health status and reducing health disparities. It is also part of the important medicine/public health initiative. Discussion will focus on methods developed to integrate the experience into the residency program, opportunities and barriers encountered in the implementation of the curriculum, resident and faculty perspectives on the value of public health training and program/institutional support for future expansion and development of the project.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. discuss ways to integrate a certificate of public health curriculum into a residency training program 2. recognize opportunities for combining population health skills with traditional clinical skills in a residency training program 3. begin planning a certificate program appropriate for their institution
Keywords: Public Health Curriculum, Primary Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of New Mexico School of Medicine
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.