Vietnam Family Medicine Development Project
Mission:
Introduce and establish family medicine as the core specialty for primary care throughout Vietnam
History:
The project began in 1996 as an advocacy effort conceived by Drs. Alain J. Montegut (Brown FM 1981), currently the director of The Global Health Primary Care Initiative at Boston University, and Stephen F. Cummings (Brown FM 1982), Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine at Brown University with private foundation funding. The project continues through successive foundation and corporate grants to strengthen residency training programs and continuing medical education initiatives to upgrade primary health care physicians.
Brief Description of Program:
A long term medical manpower development project, based on the core curriculum of family medicine, to upgrade primary health care physicians in Vietnam. The project began in 1996 as an ‘institution without walls’ by two practicing physicians
with extensive prior development experience working through several U.S. and international departments of family medicine, private and corporate foundations and international FM organizations. The project has trained senior faculty and supported establishment of FM residency training programs in 6 of the 8 VN medical schools and worked continuously with the VN Ministry of Health which declared FM as a new specialty in 2002.
Current Projects:
Current projects continue to support curriculum reform, faculty training, creation of MSc and PhD programs in VN FM Departments. Recent involvement is focused on distance learning innovations to increase the reach of training opportunities to working doctors who cannot leave practice for full time training
Future Projects:
Several pilot projects are underway to develop continuing medical education opportunities for physicians in practice, create a national certifying exam, and establish a basis for licensing as a primary health care specialist.
Faculty Leaders:
Stephen F. Cummings, MD, Associate Director
Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine
Brown University
Alain Montegut MD, FAAFP, Director
Global Health Primary Care Initiative, Dept. of Family Medicine
Boston University
Opportunities for Students / Residents:
Elective opportunities for medical students and residents could be arranged.
References / Links:
http://www.bu.edu/familymed/globalhealth/vietnam/index.html
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Global Health 
