Department of Community Medicine

CHAIRPERSON’S MESSAGE AND VISION:

Dear Colleagues, Students, and Esteemed Members of Our Community

As the Chairperson of the Department of Community Medicine, it is my privilege to share with you the vision that guides our efforts and initiatives. Our department is committed to advancing public health through excellence in education, research, and community engagement.

Our Vision:

To be a leading department in Community Medicine recognized nationally and internationally for our dedication to improving health outcomes through innovative research, comprehensive education, and sustainable community partnerships.

Key Elements of Our Vision:

Excellence in Education: We aim to provide high-quality education that equips our students and trainees with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding necessary to address the evolving challenges of public health. Our curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and a deep understanding of social determinants of health.
Innovative Research: Research is at the core of our mission. We strive to conduct impactful research that informs health policies and practices, addresses local and global health challenges, and contributes to the scientific body of knowledge. Our focus is on interdisciplinary collaboration, translational research, and the use of advanced methodologies to produce reliable and relevant data.
Community Engagement: We believe in the power of community partnerships to create sustainable health improvements. Our approach is centered on working closely with communities to identify health needs, develop tailored interventions, and evaluate outcomes. We are committed to promoting health equity and empowering communities to achieve better health for all.
Leadership in Public Health: We aspire to be leaders in shaping the future of public health through advocacy, policy development, and thought leadership. Our department encourages students, faculty, and staff to take active roles in local, national, and international public health initiatives, ensuring that our contributions are impactful and meaningful.

As we move forward, we will continue to focus on these pillars, guided by our core values of integrity, collaboration, and innovation. Together, we can make a significant difference in the health and well-being of our communities.

Warm regards

Dr. Zainab Nazneen

Chairperson Community Medicine

DEPARTMENT INTRODUCTION:

Mission: To foster a multidisciplinary approach to health addressing preventive and social aspects of health, research and community engagement for improving the overall health of regional population.

Objectives:

To provide a deep understanding to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the principles of community medicine and public health
To promote a research culture encouraging curiosity, inquiry and innovation
To assess the health challenges of communities and offer solutions based in evidence-based practices
To build collaborative partnerships with physicians, public and policy makers to improve health and well-being of populations

History:

Department of Community medicine has been a leading department of the institution since its inception. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Safdar Zaman, Prof. Dr. Saqib Lodhi, Prof. Dr. Huma Jadoon and Prof. Dr. Salim Wazir as chairpersons, the department’s contributions to the field of public health have been immense. The faculty has been involved in health systems research and providing training to health personnel and communities especially in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, PHC, HMIS, Nutrition, Health Education and family planning.

Outside the institution, the faculty has been engaged by CPSP as well as other national and international organizations in recent years as master trainers and trainers for various initiatives and regularly conduct workshops, seminars and trainings.

SERVICES OFFERED: Community Medicine is a core subject in the curriculum of MBBS program. In addition to undergraduate programs, the department is pioneering in offering postgraduate FCPS training in Community Medicine.

All these programs are designed to foster critical thinking, research abilities, and a commitment to ethical healthcare practices. Through mentorship, internships, and practical experiences, students are prepared for successful careers in public health, healthcare administration, research, and policy advocacy.

Our faculty and students engage in innovative research projects that contribute to the development of effective healthcare interventions and policies. Each year, 3^rd year and 4^th year students are mentored by the faculty for compulsory research projects which are published in the Student Journal of Ayub Medical College (SJAMC). Participation in local, national and international conferences and competitions by students and faculty is facilitated by the department.

Student Journal of Ayub Medical College (SJAMC):

Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad has launched Student Journal of Ayub Medical College (SJAMC). This journal provides a platform for the students to express themselves, publish their research, create awareness regarding different medical issues and create a forum of, for and by medical students to interact and grow. The goal of SJAMC is to publish research work from aspiring students who want to improve their writing and critical thinking skills, and to gain experience in the field of academic medicine and publishing. Furthermore, SJAMC is dedicated to promoting interest in future career research through recognizing the scientific accomplishments of medical students across the country.

The journal is published quarterly and contains articles of medical research interest having basic, applied or clinical research content. Students are encouraged to actively participate in managing and contributing to the student journal. Preference is given to the research work done by 4th year students under supervision and good quality work is published with credit given to all authors.

The compulsory research work done in 4th year is a property of the Department of Community Medicine and cannot be submitted in journals other than SJAMC and JAMC. Publishing to these journals also require prior permission from respective supervisors and Head of the Department.

Undergraduate Medical Research Competition (UMRC):

As per the mission of Community Medicine Department to promote research at all levels, a vision of conducting an Undergraduate Medical Research Competition (UMRC) every year has been taken up.

The first UMRC was held on 10th July, 2019 with a poster competition and oral presentation competition. All batches from the class participated and 3 winners were decided by impartial judges who were awarded with certificates of distinction.

This tradition of UMRC is expected to be carried forward and all 4th year students are expected to participate actively in the activity. The scope of this competition may be expanded to District and Provincial level soon so high quality researches and hard work are anticipated from the students’ end.