2 year Diploma in Family Medicine                            July

4 year DM in Family medicine                                  

The Diploma in Family Medicine is designed for persons who wish to become or those who are practicing medical practitioners. It is aimed at improving the quality of primary health care in the English-speaking Caribbean by producing Family Physicians who deliver high quality comprehensive and continuous personal medical care to individuals and their families within a community context. Candidates will be eligible for entry to the Diploma after completing their internship and Senior House Officer Years. Candidates are eligible to proceed to complete the D.M. on successful completion of the Diploma subject to Specialty Board approval.  Persons who have obtained the Master of Science in Family Medicine Degree from the University of the West Indies would be considered for entry by the Specialty Board. Candidates must be employed in primary care (public or private) for the duration of the Programme and be able to be released from duties on a regular basis to attend prescribed clinical sessions and at intervals for workshops and block teaching. Each Resident will be assigned to a Family Medicine clinical tutor who will evaluate and guide the acquisition of clinical knowledge and skills relevant to Family Medicine.

Course of Study

• The minimum period of registration for the Diploma is two calendar years from the effective date of registration. The maximum period of registration is four calendar years. 
• The minimum period of registration for the D.M. programme is four years including the two Diploma years (Specialty Board may approve exemption to this for persons who had previously done MSc in Family Medicine).
• The maximum period of registration for the D.M. programme is eight years including the Diploma years.
• The modes of delivery of the programme will be a mix of online/distance education and face-to face teaching.
• The Residents will receive modular courses relevant to Family Medicine delivered via web conference sessions and/or block face-to-face sessions. Residents will complete the study guide, readings, exercises and assignments included therein. They are required to also attend regular online clinical presentations, a total of two weeks of face-to face workshops and a set number of faceto-face clinical sessions at accredited Family Medicine Centres and hospitals.

Assessment

• In order to sit the final examination the Resident must have passed all modules and clinical rotations.
• Modules are graded based on assignments completed. Upon completion of a module, if a Resident does not achieve a passing grade he/she may be allowed to repeat the assignments at the discretion of the Course Tutor. If the Resident still does not achieve a passing grade, he/she would be deemed to have failed the module and will have to repeat the module at the next available offering.
• Clinical Rotations will be assessed on attendance and performance as well as by assignments done.
• Residents will be permitted only one repeat of each module and one repeat of each clinical rotation. 
• Residents who come to the end of year 2 and have modules or clinical rotations to repeat will have to defer the taking of Diploma examinations to the following year.
• Residents in the D.M. Programme who come to the end of year 4 and have not completed the required modules and clinical rotations will have to defer the taking of examinations to the following year.
• Residents are required to pass all modules, clinical rotations and examinations within the stipulated time period to be awarded the Diploma.
• Residents are required to pass all modules, clinical rotations, examinations and presentation of a Clinical Research Project within the stipulated time period to be awarded the D.M.
• Residents who have failed three components of the Diploma Programme (modules and/or clinical rotations) in one year will normally be required to withdraw from the Programme.

Examination

• Students are assessed by examination for the Diploma at the end of two years. There is a three-hour written paper and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. The student is also required to hand in a portfolio of his/her work for grading and may be required to attend an oral examination. Each section needs to be passed and carries the following weighting:

a) Portfolio/Oral 30% 

b) Examination (Clinical) 40%

c) Examination (Written) 30%

d) Total 100%

• Diploma with distinction will be granted to students who obtain 70% or better on each of the Portfolio, clinical and written examination and have not failed a course. If a Resident fails the written or clinical examinations he/she would be required to re-sit the part failed within 12 months. Candidates will be permitted only one re-sit of the clinical and written examinations. Students will not normally be allowed to continue the Diploma Course beyond four years. For the D.M., the following must be successfully completed: 

a) Two written papers - taken at the end of Year 3

b) Clinical Examination - taken at the end of Year 4

c) Clinical Research Project - presented at the end of Year 4 (Written submission must be received at least three months before date of the examination).

Portfolio Grading

i. Module Assignments- Each module will be given a mark. This will be determined by averaging the marks given for the assignments for that module.

ii. Clinical Sessions- This will be assessed by means of an evaluation form that will record attendance and performance at clinical sessions as well as by assignments done. The marking scheme for clinical sessions will be pass or fail. Residents must pass all clinical rotations.

iii. Reflections- Evidence that the student reflects on his/her learning, trying to relate learning to previous knowledge and experience, and evidence that the Resident is using reflective pieces as an instrument for growth. Evidence that the Resident has experienced positive change because of this course - the Resident demonstrates a change in attitude towards medicine, learning, patients, and the health care system.

iv. Oral Examination (at the discretion of the examiners) - The Resident may be questioned on any aspect of the Portfolio. Residents must pass all modules, clinical rotations, and the clinical and written examination to obtain the Diploma.