Family and Community Medicine Department is a joint basic and clinical sciences department within the Qassim College of Medicine. The Department is distinguished by faculty with a broad multispecialty interests in family and community medicine issues. The Department is devoted to the promotion of family medicine and community medicine through education, research, population-based and family-centered advocacy, and community service. The ultimate mission of the Department is to promote the health of individuals, families, Qassim community, and the nation through excellent community-based teaching, research and service in the fields of Family Medicine and Community Medicine”

The department, through its faculty qualified in medical education, takes active part in the Department of Medical Education of the College as well as various curricular committees. It also has faculty members experienced in quality assurance and management who are associated with the Quality Assurance Unit of the College for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the College program. The Department is a pioneer in introducing Evidence Based Medicine “EBM” to Qassim Region and it conducts regular EBM workshops and courses for health professionals. The wide-ranging and diverse expertise of the faculty adds to the strength of the Department. 
Education

The department serves the College as the academic home for family medicine, public health, preventive medicine, research methodology, social and behavioral sciences as well as biomedical statistics. The Department ensures that medical students are taught fundamental of primary health care, public health, preventive and social medicine. The Department also emphasizes preparation of students to be culturally competent family physicians to meet the needs of the communities through its family medicine program. The Department also assists primary health care and public health professionals improve their effectiveness through consultation and continuing educational programs. The Department has a plan to introduce postgraduate training and degrees for family medicine and community medicine in its curriculum. Meanwhile, the department shares other postgraduate training and courses offered by other regional institutions.

Research

The Department has an active research enterprise, with expertise in research methodology, and biostatistics, focusing on projects with immediate local impacts on the community as well as general scientific relevance. Pertinent to this target, the Department aim to build capacity within local health institutions to engage in research, and quality improvement efforts. Many of the Department research activities are multidisciplinary involving faculty members from other departments in the College as well as other health-related colleges in the University. The Department has also been involved with several research projects with national and international partners. Students are involved in research activities as a part of their educational program, while those students interested in extra-curricular research opportunities are encouraged to contact faculty directly about their research programs.
Community Service

Community service is an integral part of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Our philosophy of education and research emphasizes community engagement and service. The Department provides consultancy assistance to health-related agencies and community-based organizations. The Department support students to provide health education and screening services to vulnerable population, and organize partnership and collaboration with local health care institutions.

Teaching and Learning strategies

The curriculum of Family and Community Medicine has been carefully designed in line with the mission of the College. The course contents are imparted through interactive lectures, Problem Based Learning (PBL), case-based discussions, medical audit, research project assignments, critical appraisal of medical literature, workshops on evidence-based medicine (EBM) and communications skills, patient simulation, community-based learning activities in primary health care centers of Ministry of Health and other societal settings, assignment for making health education pamphlets, students conducting health education activities in the schools etc.