MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the University of Guyana, School of Medicine is to maintain an internationally accredited educational programme that produces future physician leaders who are compassionate, able to practice patient-centred medicine of the highest standard, dedicated to the ethical and social principles of health care, and committed to a lifetime of continued professional development and scholarship.
VISION STATEMENT
The School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana is the national institution established to be a first class centre for medical education and training in the region.
Goals
In preparing physicians for the health care delivery systems, the Medical School of Guyana conducts programmes of education, research, and community service and health policy to achieve the following goals:
- To have a sound knowledge of the health care delivery at all levels (structure, function and organization) and to function effectively as a healer in a variety of settings including urban, rural, hinterland and ambulatory.
- To be knowledgeable about priority health problems confronting Guyana and the Caribbean; flexible enough to adapt such knowledge to suit varying needs and situations within the socio-economic, geo-political and cultural context of Guyana and the Caribbean; and problem-solving oriented enough to contribute to the resolutions of such problems through relevant and applied clinical, behavioral, and epidemiological research, intersectoral coordination, and community participation in addition to curative and rehabilitation care.
- To perform comparably and to interact effectively with peers at all levels on the regional and international scenes through acquisition of the theoretical knowledge, technical skills and competencies, interpersonal skills, and the appreciation of the diversity in community health status regionally and elsewhere.
- To provide leadership to members of the health team with appreciation and respect for individual roles, and to use the team approach in planning, programming costing and evaluating health services, in health care policy decision-making, and in attempting to remedy unsatisfactory environmental conditions.
- To inculcate adequate legal and ethical attitudes based on the laws of Guyana.
The UGSM has 7 core competencies which students must achieve by the end of their training programme
Academics
1. Competency #1: Technical expertise
Physicians must possess a defined body of knowledge and clinical and procedural skills that are directed to effective patient-centred care.
2. Competency #2: Communication
Effective communication is critical for optimal patient outcomes. Physicians enable patient centered therapeutic communication through shared decision-making and dynamic interactions with patients, families, caregivers, other professionals, and important other individuals. The application of communication skills and the nature of the doctor-patient relationship will vary for different specialties, but certain fundamental abilities must be acquired by all physicians.
3. Competency #3: Collaboration
CAAM-HP Medical Education Database, UGSM: Section III, 2016 5 Physicians must be able to collaborate effectively with patients, families, and a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, not just for the provision of optimal care, but also for education and scholarship.
4. Competency #4: Scholarship
Physicians are expected to demonstrate a lifelong commitment to reflective learning, as well as the creation, dissemination, application and translation of medical knowledge.
5. Competency #5: Health Advocacy
As individuals, and collectively, physicians must be prepared to use their expertise and influence to promote health at different levels of society. Individual patients need assistance to navigate the healthcare system and access appropriate health care resources in a timely manner. Communities and societies need physicians’ special expertise to identify and prioritize health issues and guide changes in relevant practices and policies.
6. Competency #6: Management
Whether they are members of healthcare organizations or private practitioners, physicians must function as managers in their everyday practice activities, making decisions involving CAAM-HP Medical Education Database, UGSM: Section III, 2016 7 co-workers, allocation of scarce resources, organizational tasks and policies, while balancing their personal and professional lives. They require the ability to prioritize, execute tasks effectively, and collaborate with co-workers in order to contribute meaningfully to the overall health care system.
7. Competency #7: Professionalism
Medical professionals must be committed to promoting the health and well-being of individuals and
standards of behaviour. The privilege of profession-led regulation that society allows medical practitioners must be repaid by maintenance of accountability to those who are served.
The above mentioned competencies are enduring understanding that a taught in each individual course in the curriculum.