A recognized leader in clinical care, premedical education and practice-based research
Mission
To improve the health and well-being of society, particularly the citizens of Alabama, by providing innovative health services of exceptional value that are patient- and family-centered, a superior environment for the education of health professionals, and support for research that advances medical science.
Vision
To be a top academic department that develops leaders in Family and Community Medicine.
Guiding Principles
Excellence, Innovation, Curiosity, Leadership, Collaboration, Energy
Our Culture
We strive for continuous improvement as we work toward our goal of ever-increasing excellence in clinical care, education, scholarship and service. Continuous improvement requires clear communication and candid feedback, possible only when individuals feel valued for their unique perspectives and contributions, and safe to express themselves.
Developing and maintaining the departmental culture that we desire, and that allows everyone to do their best work, is itself an ongoing process subject to continuous improvement. Our activities to support our departmental culture include a mentorship program matching new team members with a peer mentor; opportunities for systemic feedback from peers, supervisors and direct reports; individual, confidential consultations with the Office of Leadership and Professional Development as desired; periodic faculty and all-department retreats; regular check-in meetings with the chair and executive administrator; and periodic workshops and facilitated discussion sessions focused on emotional intelligence, interpersonal relationships and team culture.
Our History
The Department of Family and Community Medicine was established in 1975 as an administrative unit of the University of Alabama School of Medicine by founding chairman Dr. Robert G. Sherrill, Jr. In 1979-80, the UAB Family Practice Residency program began and an ambulatory training clinic was established both to educate residents and to maintain faculty clinical skills. The clinical practice saw approximately 9,000 patients each year until the mid-1980s when increasing demands for primary care and demands to generate additional clinical revenue to support the department’s educational mission caused a surge in outpatient visits. For the next decade, the joint faculty-resident clinic practice completed over 20,000 outpatient visits annually. In addition, the department maintained a hospital inpatient service, provided care at a local nursing home, and offered family-centered obstetrical services. During the early 1970s, Family Medicine Residency Programs were also established on the Huntsville and Tuscaloosa campuses and in Selma.