A new faculty training model for countries developing academic family medicine programs.

Abstract

Medical schools in many countries wish to start academic programs in family medicine but do not have specifically trained faculty available. When the only medical school in Malta faced this situation, it agreed to try a new model for training potential faculty. This model was an intensive eight-month course for a selected group of ten experienced Maltese general practitioners to train in Malta with a visiting professor of family medicine. These adult learners were heavily involved in designing and contributing to an intensive course in family medicine and in teaching. Maltese teaching resources were used, and training occurred in the context of the society and health care system in which course members would ultimately teach. Subjective and objective measurements of course achievement were made. Results were compared with certification standards of the Canadian College of Family Physicians. This model merits consideration by other medical schools that wish to start academic programs in family medicine.