The purpose of the Joint Master’s Programme is to support physicians who provide community health services in acquiring academic knowledge, clinical and professional skills, critically analyze the relevant literature, and practice evidence-based medicine.

Main Programme Objectives

The main objectives of the Joint Master’s Programme in Family Medicine are to enable students to:

• Recognize the role of the family physician as a primary care provider and gatekeeper of the healthcare system
• Enhance their knowledge and develop their clinical and communication skills by cultivating the appropriate behavior and attitude toward patient management in primary care
• Apply specific procedures for consultation and communication with patients, establishing and maintaining a long-term doctor-patient relationship
• Develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the full spectrum of health conditions in adults and children and recognize medical emergencies
• Make effective and efficient use of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and provide long-term, continuous care as determined by the patient’s needs
• Develop a comprehensive, holistic, and evidence-based approach to medical practice
• Effectively utilize healthcare resources in primary care to coordinate care with other healthcare professionals or medical specialists, when necessary
• Apply the principles of patient-centered care and problem-solving skills
• Promote health and well-being by appropriately applying both health promotion and disease prevention strategies
• Develop their skills in critically evaluating published research and/or in designing, conducting, and disseminating research findings and activities.

Specifically, the Programme will:

• Train clinicians in a broad range of knowledge, skills, and behaviors relevant to the practice of Family Medicine in the community.
• Address health issues in their physical, psychological, social, cultural, and existential dimensions
• Strengthen the professional training, values, and behaviors inherent to the field of Family Medicine
• To promote effective communication skills and advance continuing medical education in primary health care
• To strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills in the areas of health promotion and preventive medicine
• Develop participants’ ability to critically evaluate the literature in order to improve their professional performance
• Provide participants with training in research methods and areas such as nutrition in public health, prevention and health promotion, and population aging, as well as leadership and health education, for targeted in-depth study, so that they can apply this knowledge in their practice

Graduates of the joint master’s Programme in Family Medicine are expected to:

• Provide an evidence-based approach to health care delivery and the management of acute and chronic conditions in primary care
• Communicate effectively with their patients and other health professionals in the primary care setting
• Recognize the importance of providing long-term, continuous care
• Develop a patient-centered and holistic approach focused on the individual, their family, and their community
• They promote patient empowerment in the community
• They understand and apply the basic principles of research and/or public health and demonstrate leadership skills in the context of Family Medicine
• They are able to teach and learn from other members of their team