Education at the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care
The Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care coordinates, ensures quality, and organizes education for staff and students in general medicine and primary care. The division is primarily responsible for parts of Karolinska Institutet's medical program and offers advanced-level courses and professional development for practitioners. the medical program is now transitioning to a 6-year curriculum, with general medicine playing a significant role in 10 out of the program's 12 terms.
KI's 5.5-year medical program
The Division of General Medicine and Primary Care has overall responsibility for four parts in KI’s 5.5-year medical program:
- Primary care stream
- Integrated final exam (IST) assessments
- Clinical rotations for foreign students
The Primary Care stream
The primary care stream aims to gradually train students in managing patients with a variety of diseases and health issues. Students have the opportunity to participate independently in clinical work from an early stage in the medical program, receiving personalized guidance based on their educational level and progression throughout most terms.
Overall goals for primary care in the medical program:
- Early patient contact and consultation training starting from the first term. Students receive basic consultation training with increasing complexity throughout their education.
- Opportunities for problem-based and experiential learning, integrating knowledge from various courses and levels within a primary care context.
- Practical experience under supervision, learning to manage patients with common diseases as well as those with vague symptom presentations.
- Individual perspective on illness and health, emphasizing the importance of continuity for patients and the role of the personal physician over time.
- Interprofessional teamwork in primary care and understanding the collaborative partners within primary care.
Integrated Final Examination (IST)
IST consists of an assessment designed to ensure that the student has achieved the goals for a medical degree and possesses the competencies required for it. By primarily working independently during the course and engaging in dialogue with fellow students, the student further develops their integrated understanding of the content of medical education in preparation for the situation-based examination.
6-year medical program
In the 6-year medical program, which will be fully implemented by spring 2027, general medicine/primary care is covered in 10 out of the program’s 12 terms. Our mission there is very similar to what we have had previously but has expanded in certain areas. We now have greater responsibility for training in clinical skills, including both consultation teaching and clinical examination of patients. Additionally, we have increased responsibility for the clinical medicine course in term 12, where students have an extended clinical placement at a primary care center.
Physiotherapy Program
The Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care conducts a lecture and a seminar in General Medicine as part of the course:
- Theme: Health and Healthcare Medical subjects 2. 7,5 credits (1FY034), Term 4
Education at advanced level
Continuing Education for Professionals
The underlying idea is to start from the reality of patients and healthcare professionals, leveraging the experience and knowledge available in primary care. We do this in various ways, such as through our commissioned training programs.