To choose the best university for family medicine, you will need to spend some time evaluating the teaching styles, academic strengths and program placement percentages for all of the schools to which you are considering applying. Nearly every medical school in the world offers coursework in family medicine, because the practice area is universal, transcending cultures and technological capabilities. Just offering the coursework, however, does not necessarily make a school a strong university for family medicine. Usually, the best schools will combine a highly clinical approach with hands-on instruction in a range of practice areas that are specific to families.
The medical school selection and admissions process tends to vary based on jurisdiction. In some countries, students generally apply to medical programs after first completing a bachelor’s degree, and in other countries, students more commonly enter into extended medical education programs directly from high school. As such, the contours of your search for a university for family medicine will vary slightly depending on the system in which you are studying. Basic search tips are likely to be similar, however.
One of the most important things to look for in a university for family medicine is a commitment to clinical practice. Medical programs generally have one of three focuses: research, academia or clinical work. Research is important to family doctors, just as it is to other specialists, but the heart of a family practitioner’s work is with patients. Be sure that the university you choose places an emphasis on hands-on treatment and will allow you to gain broad exposure to many direct care techniques.
In most places, medical specialties such as family medicine require more than a simple medical degree. Residencies and fellowships are common ways for graduates to get more direct family practice experience. As such, it often is a good idea to look at a university’s graduate placement rate in the family medical specialty in addition to its basic teaching ethos and course lineup. Placement statistics can help you identify schools that have the strongest programs and might provide some indication of your own chances of earning this kind of position in the future.
Finally, you usually must factor cost into your search. No university for family medicine is likely to be inexpensive, although the specific price tag can vary dramatically from place to place. Many schools offer scholarships for promising candidates to help offset the tuition costs. Keep in mind that family doctors, particularly those who work in community health promotion and disease prevention, usually are on the lower rungs of the pay scale. If you intend to finance your medical education in whole or in part based on loans, you will need to consider your projected earning potential before you can come up with a realistic payback plan.
