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Program Requirements

The PhD program will build upon our MSc in Family Medicine.

Research topics in the field of family medicine and primary health care cross conventional discipline boundaries and research traditions. Our training program focuses on patient-oriented, community-based research using innovative methodologies and participatory approaches. The program advances academic excellence in family medicine and primary health care.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

PhD Comprehensive Exam

PhD students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the following topics: basic statistics, epidemiology, qualitative and mixed methods, literature synthesis, knowledge translation and participatory research approaches. If a PhD candidate does not have prior training in any of these areas and believes that he or she cannot answer questions on these topics during the comprehensive exam, additional courses will be required for the PhD student.

• FMED 701 PhD Comprehensive Examination

  Offered by: Family Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Family Medicine : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program in family medicine (ad hoc).

  Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Summer 2024

  Instructors: Schuster, Tibor (Fall) Schuster, Tibor (Winter) Schuster, Tibor (Summer)

  • Restriction(s): Open only to students enrolled in the ad hoc PhD in Family Medicine program.

Required Courses (9 credits)

• FMED 601 Advanced Topics in Family Medicine (3 credits)

  Offered by: Family Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Family Medicine : Scientific communication; curriculum design and development; professional development; and setting appropriate goals for a successful academic research program in family medicine and primary care.

  Terms: Winter 2024

  Instructors: Carver, Tamara; Rice, Kathleen; Adams, Alayne Mary (Winter)

  • Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor if graduate student is outside the department

  • Restriction(s): Open to graduate students in the Department of Family Medicine

• FMED 604 Advanced Participatory Research in Health (3 credits)

  Offered by: Family Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Family Medicine : Overview of participatory research with community, clinical, and organisational stakeholders. Content focuses on participatory engagement and data collection methods, while students have an opportunity to work through aspects of their participatory project with the help of group discussions, small group work, roleplay, and guest presentations from actual participatory projects.

  Terms: Fall 2023

  Instructors: Andersson, Neil (Fall)

  • Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor if graduate student is outside the department

  • Restriction(s): Open to graduate students in the Department of Family Medicine.

• FMED 702 Advanced Doctoral Primary Care Research Seminars (1 credit) *

  Offered by: Family Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

  Administered by: Graduate Studies

  Overview

  Family Medicine : Research seminars on various topics relevant to advanced family medicine and primary care research.

  Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Summer 2024

  Instructors: Barnett, Tracie; Adams, Alayne Mary (Fall) Abbasgholizadeh Rahimi, Samira (Winter) Schuster, Tibor (Summer)

  • Restriction(s): Restricted to students enrolled in the PhD in Family Medicine and Primary Care and the ad hoc PhD in Family Medicine programs.

  • Topic Summer 2024: "Introduction to Machine Learning".

  • **Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the third lecture day.

* Note: this slot course must be taken three times (3 cr.)

Elective Course (3 credits)

3 credits in advanced research methods, at the 600 level or higher. May be chosen from outside the Department, in consultation with the student's academic adviser or supervisor.