History and goals of the Department :

The Health Department within the Faculty of Medicine was established in 1975 alongside other faculty departments, initiating its role in providing educational services to students. In 1988, following the integration of medical education functions into the former Ministry of Health and the subsequent formation of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, this department was assigned new responsibilities. It was renamed the Department of Health and Community Medicine. The primary mission of this department is Community-Oriented Medical Education (COME). To fulfill this mission, supplementary to offering courses in public health, principles of epidemiology, clinical epidemiology, medical statistics, and research methods, the curriculum was expanded to include family medicine, community medicine clerkship(externship), and internship for medical students. Through these courses, students engage directly with urban and rural health system fields, enabling them to intimately understand community needs and develop the skills necessary for problem assessment, prioritization, and implementing interventions essential for addressing primary issues.

Since 2004, with the initiation of the reform program in medical education at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, the curriculum underwent significant transformation to align with the defined roles for general practitioners and to advance a community-based learning strategy. Community-oriented courses were fundamentally restructured, and students were introduced to key lessons during the basic sciences phase, such as “Early Patient Exposure 1” to help them understand the clinical environment, and “Community Exposure 1” to familiarize them with the nation’s health service delivery system and health risk assessment. Further, “ Early Patient Exposure2” was designed to acquaint students with the diverse roles of a physician. In the clinical sciences phase, lessons on the principles of clinical epidemiology and disease control were integrated, alongside “Community Exposure 2” for assessing health risks in the individual and community level and “Community Exposure 3” aimed at risk analysis, interventions to mitigate health risks, disease management, patient care, population health, and finally two months of “Office-based Learning” for practical medicine experience in clinical settings. The breadth of courses and credits offered by this department ensures that medical students maintain an educational engagement from their entry into the faculty until graduation, underscoring the department's pivotal role in general medical education.

Since 2019, with the revision and implementation of the medical education program, inspired by the experiences gained from the past, several foundational courses have been offered from the first semester through to the final months of study. These courses include Principles of Health Services, Principles of Epidemiology, Epidemiology of Common Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, Principles of Demography and Family Health, Research Methods, Community Medicine Clerkship and Internship, and Family Medicine courses.

Another significant role of the Community Medicine Department is the responsibility to lead community and preventive medicine residency program.This University of Medical Sciences is among the seven universities that provide training for social medicine residents. The department's effective use of the university resources for the training of these residents has led to their success in board exams and professional practice areas. This success is reflected in the numerous top rankings achieved by university graduates over the years. Alumni from this university boast the largest representation among board members, national health experts, and specialized scientific associations. Currently, the Secretary of the National Board of Preventive and Community Medicine is a member of this department. The establishment of the prevention and health promotion clinic in 2008 at Taleghani Medical Center marked a pioneering effort. This clinic, the first of its kind, not only provides preventive health services to the public but also serves as a training ground for residents and medical students in both basic and clinical sciences.

An innovation by the Community Medicine Department includes the establishment of five comprehensive educational health service centers, in collaboration with the university health deputy, serving as training hubs for medical residents and students. A key function of the department is conducting courses in research methods and statistics for postgraduate students, including master’s and PhD candidates in the university's affiliated faculties. The department also organizes workshops on research methods, scientific writing, and other topics to empower students, residents, and faculty members, and participates actively in research centers and councils. It's estimated that at least one department member is involved in all research activities at the medical school, whether as a leader, collaborator, consultant, or reviewer.

The Department of  Community and Family Medicine at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, alongside other educational structures, aims to provide, maintain, and promote public health, within the framework of its defined mission and vision. It plays a vital role in promoting a holistic health approach,  institutionalized healthcare strategies at the community, family, and individual levels, as well as in the implementation of family physician programs, the referral system, and addressing social determinants of health within the university's catchment area which covers almost six million people.