Welcome!

We are an integral part of New Jersey Medical School. Established in 1991, our mission is to teach and model the principles of Family Medicine - which include biological, social and educational aspects of care - to students, residents and other physicians. We are dedicated to academic excellence, expanding the knowledge of medicine through primary care research and serving the Greater Newark community.

Since our inception, the department has actively contributed to advancing the school's curriculum introducing two major required courses and an innovative internship:

• The Physician's Core, formerly Art of Medicine (TAOM) - first and second-year
• Clerkship in Family Medicine (CFM) - third-year
• Family Medicine Acting Internship- fourth-year

Additionally, we were instrumental in the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and in the development of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for the school. In September 2003, we received the UMDNJ Excellence in Education Award in recognition of the quality of our curriculum, use of information technology - including Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) - and faculty development for community preceptors.

In developing our research focus, we have established interest in the following areas: obesity, cancer prevention, family violence, health disparities and educational outcomes. Our research endeavors reach beyond the department, including a recently received Bureau of Health Professions/Health Resources Services Administration grant to create a primary care research consortium, in collaboration with internal medicine and pediatrics, to address the issue of health disparities among the underserved.

In addressing community needs, the Department of Family Medicine has two major clinical sites:

• The New Jersey Family Practice Center (located in the Doctors Office Center)

• The Yaffa-Rose Integrated Healthcare Center (located in the Behaviorial Health Sciences Building), established in June 2009 to address the primary care needs of patients with serious mental health illnesses.

We are also administratively responsible for the Student Health and Wellness Center for the student population at UMDNJ's Newark campus.

The Department sponsors the following community outreach programs:

• The SMART Program (Science, Medicine And Related Topics), a health and biomedical program for students in grades 6-12 interested in pursuing careers in science and health professions.

• The Student Family Health Care Center (SFHCC), established in 1967, is a student-run community health clinic that provides medical care to the uninsured and underinsured.

• Community 2000 (C2000), a community outreach program, in which students conduct health-related workshops, seminars and health fairs at community churches and organizations.

We invite you to browse our Web site to learn more about the activities and accomplishments of the Department of Family Medicine.

MARK S. JOHNSON, MD, MPH
Professor and Chair
johnsom2@umdnj.edu