Required Courses
Teaching and Learning in Family Medicine
This course presents an approach to teaching rooted in the principles of Family Medicine and drawing from theories of education, the psychology of learning, principles of instructional design and educational measurement. The approach is eclectic and focuses on practical application of principles to teaching in one-to-one, small group, and lecture formats. Students are expected to have opportunities to apply methods of teaching in their own clinical setting.
Theoretical Foundations of Family Medicine
This course reviews the relevant literature on the scientific and theoretical basis of Family Medicine. Topics include: medicine and science, technology, craft and art; theory of diagnosis; classification of disease; natural history of disease; concepts of aetiology; concepts of health and disease; and social influences of health and disease. Does family medicine represent a paradigm shift within medicine?
Advanced Patient Centered Medicine
This course examines the six components of the Patient-Centered Clinical Method with the first term serving as the building blocks. The second term will draw upon developmental theory, systems theory, life cycle issues, and the contextual influences that impact on a patient's/family's experience of disease and illness. Attention will be given to understanding the importance of finding common ground in treatment/management and the enhancement of the patient-doctor relationship. The course will draw upon the students' clinical experience to integrate theory & practice.
Research Methods in Family Medicine
This course deals with research principles and methodologies relevant to family medicine. Four types of epidemiological studies are reviewed: clinical, descriptive, cross-sectional and experimental. Evaluation methods and research synthesis are also covered. Theoretical principles that underlie qualitative methodology are explored. Two specific qualitative methods - in depth interviews and focus groups will be demonstrated. In both the quantitative and qualitative methods the following details are covered: posing the research question, sampling, data collection methods, and analysis. Studies relevant to family practice are used as examples.
Optional Courses
Canada's Health System: Current Policy Issue
s
This course is structured to offer interested students an in-depth look at pertinent issues facing the Canadian health care system, and some possible policy options that could be tried (or are being tried) in order to improve the system.
Clinical/Teaching Practice Experience
The Clinical/Teaching Practice Experience (CTPE) offers students an opportunity to enhance either their clinical or teaching skills through a supervised practicum. This may include enhancement of clinical skills (i.e. psychotherapy) or teaching skills (i.e. development, delivery and evaluation of a course(s)/workshop). As each student's situation is unique the CTPE is negotiated with the Graduate Studies Chair, and supervisors are assigned at both their home location and at Western.
Other Optional Courses
Other optional courses can be selected from Master's programs around the world using a distance education format upon approval from the Chair of the Graduate Studies Program, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Western, and provider university (Not to exceed 1.0 course credit).