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About

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at UPSOM educates, develops and mentors physicians to provide exemplary personalized healthcare and advances the scientific knowledge base for clinical practice and equity in population health. As a regional, national and international leader of innovation and excellence, we improve health outcomes through three foundational pillars of education, research and whole person patient care.

Education

We deliver a comprehensive educational program for medical students, residents, fellows, faculty and practicing physicians, teaching evidence-based, patient-centered care across the lifespan and the community, and developing leaders in clinical care, academic medicine, research and patient advocacy.

Research

We anchor our research in primary care of individuals and clinical epidemiology of the community, mindful of the need to reduce health inequities.  Our research aims to improve health through studies on:  infectious disease epidemiology, vaccine effectiveness, and informing vaccine policy makers; novel primary care-based precision medicine in conjunction with national precision medicine initiatives; and fostering scholarship in clinical translational research, implementation science and quality improvement. 

Patient Care

We serve our communities by delivering patient care during all stages of life, including comprehensive and continuity care that embrace well-being from a holistic approach.  We also elevate community well-being and health equity through advocacy and innovation by responsive, inventive and forward-thinking clinical leaders. 

Our Department is expanding. Our three original affiliated residencies – UPMC McKeesport, UPMC Shadyside, and UPMC St. Margaret –  are three of the oldest family medicine residency programs in the country. Recently we have expanded to include affiliated family medicine residency programs at UPMC Altoona, UPMC Horizon, UPMC Pinnacle Lititz, UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg, and UPMC Susquehanna, with plans for future expansion.

These eight family medicine residencies are in urban, suburban, and rural communities where they provide invaluable community-based patient care and clinical experiences for trainees. These Residencies also support a variety of fellowship programs: faculty development, geriatrics, sports medicine, and palliative care.