Georgetown University Medical Center

About Us

Section: About Us

HISTORY
The current Department of Family Medicine evolved from a department that has existed at the medical center for over 100 years. In the mid-1900s, it was known as the Department of Community Medicine and International Health. In 1977, after the creation of the division of family medicine and the start of a family practice residency program, the department became the Department of Community and Family Medicine. In 1993, the department underwent a reorganization to emphasize clinical family practice and was renamed the Department of Family Medicine.

MISSION
The mission of the Department of Family Medicine is to continually pursue excellence in: teaching primary care, family medicine and community health to medical students, residents, and other health professionals; providing family-centered health care to individuals and their families; and conducting community-oriented, population-based, and interdisciplinary research. This mission will optimize our department's ability to contribute to the goals of Georgetown University and its Medical Center.

GOALS
Teaching

  • Continue the population-based, community health focus that the department has traditionally maintained.
  • Recruit, develop and retain excellent clinical faculty.
  • Enhance faculty development of future faculty through departmental fellowship training, including geriatrics, medical editing, and community projects.
  • Develop a formal program in faculty development for full-time department faculty.
  • Increase the number of medical students choosing careers in primary care and family practice.

Clinical Practice

  • Create or expand programs that provide clinical care to medically underserved patient populations in the District of Columbia in partnership with the local community.
  • Establish a clinical practice on campus to provide ready access to family physicians by members of the Georgetown Health Plan.
  • Assume management of the Student Health Clinic and provide expanded services that meet the needs of the student population.
  • Be key participants in Georgetown's clinical expansion at off-campus sites.

Research

  • Continue the occupational and community health focus of our research.

Interdisciplinary

  • Continue to provide leadership in interdisciplinary teaching, research and practice, particularly with the School of Nursing.
  • Provide leadership in medical informatics for teaching, clinical practice and research.