To provide leadership in, and to promote undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education and research in community medicine, family medicine and other areas of public health.
To collaborate with Government, World Health Organization, other agencies and bodies locally and overseas in education, research and the further development of community and family medicine services.
The objectives of the Department are: to provide undergraduate medical education in community medicine and family medicine to the requirements of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in co-operation with other Departments of the Faculty and the University; to provide postgraduate and continuing education; to undertake research, in collaboration with other agencies/organizations where appropriate; and to provide quality services in community and family medicine.
Medical students who have completed the course in community and family medicine should have adequate academic knowledge of the subjects, an enthusiasm to continue to learn and an ability to apply the knowledge and skills in the practice of the profession and to have a good understanding good the importance of hte family and community in health care.
This course introduces students to aspects of human behaviour and human society which are central to the delivery of effective health care services. The students learn to appreciate the relevance of a whole-person, family oriented approach to health problems.
Year 4 medical students spend 10 weeks attached to the Department, where they learn about Community Medicine (including Occupational Medicine) and Family Medicine.
Research activities are focus on health problems in population groups, in community and on patients attending clinics.
Staff of the Department provide family health care in the Chinese University Family Medicine Teaching Clinic at Lek Yuen Health Centre. Medical care of workers, and consultation to industry on occupational health problems are also provided.
The staff of the department contribute to a large number of local and international organizations e.g. World Organization of Family Doctors, Hong Kong College of General Practitioners, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Hong Kong College of Community Medicine, Hong Kong Institute of Family Medicine, Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Action Committee Against Narcotics, just to name a few. It is the Departmental's goal to establish closer relationship with the Hong Kong Department of Health, and the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Area and China.
The headquarters of the Department of Community and Family Medicine is located at the Lek Yuen Health Centre, Shatin. Most of the teaching activities of the Department take place in the fourth year of the medical course at the Lek Yuen Health Centre.
Student going through their Community and Family Medicine module are given:
Student facilities include the departmental library, seminar room, students' common room with computer and audiovisual facilities and tutorial rooms.
The Chinese University's Family Medicine Teaching Clinic is at the Lek Yuen Health Centre in Shatin. It provides care for over 8,000 registered patients.
Medical students sit in with the doctors during consultations learning how to identify and manage patients' problems.
Medical staff play an active role in patient education, disease prevention and health promotion.
The clinic is equipped with computerized patient records. This gives greater efficiency in arranging patients' appointments, in caring for patients with continuing problems and in providing periodic health examination.