Mission Statement and Goals

Mission Statement

The mission of the Center for Family Medicine is to train competent, caring physicians who will exemplify the ideals and values of family medicine, and who will provide the foundation of medical care for North Dakota communities.

Educational Goals of the Program

Resident physicians at the Center for Family Medicine receive training within a supportive learning environment that models clinical competence and fosters scholarly inquiry. The training is designed to satisfy the program's mission of training competent, caring Family Physicians. It is expected that upon completion of their training, residents will possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to demonstrate competence in the following:

1. Exemplify clinical excellence by demonstrating skill in gathering essential and accurate information from patients. They will use effective listening and communication methods, examine and analyze data, and formulate comprehensive evidence-based management plans.

2. Practice a commitment to continuity and family-oriented care demonstrated by the ability to manage and treat the majority of medical problems encountered in clinical practice in all patient care settings.

3. Possess sufficient knowledge and technical skills to competently perform procedures within the scope of family medicine.

4. Emphasize disease prevention and health care maintenance in addition to caring for acute and chronic medical conditions.

5. Critique and appraise information for its validity and usefulness and show an ability to incorporate the best medical evidence along with their own clinical expertise and the patient's wishes into medical decision making.

6. Exemplify the qualities of professionalism including respect, compassion, integrity, responsibility, and commitment to the ethical practice of medicine.

7. Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to professional development and the need to participate in life-long learning and improvement.

8. Function effectively within the larger health care system coordinating the provision of quality, cost-effective care as a member of the health care team while serving as advocates for patients.

9. Understand the importance of physician well-being and resilience. This includes personal and family health as well as recognition of early indications of physical and emotional health problems and/or impairment.