Welcome to the Department of General Practice and Primary Health
Care, one of the leading departments of its kind in the world. As an academic unit within the
School
of Population Health,
the department is committed to continually raising standards and achieving excellence
in teaching
and research at all levels of general practice and primary healthcare.
The department began teaching in 1973 with the appointment of Dr. John Richards
as Associate Professor. He was joined in 1978 by Associate Professor Ray West.
Heads of Department
In 1988 the first chair of General Practice was endowed by Dr Elaine Gurr and the
inaugural professor was Dr. Brian McAvoy.
- 1995 - 2005: Professor Gregor Coster
- 2005 - current: Professor Bruce Arroll
- 2009 - 2010: Associate Professor Stephen Buetow - Acting Head of Department
(1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010)
Mrs Angela Robinson is the Section Administrator for the department.
Aims and objectives
The department has the following aims:
- provide undergraduate students with the opportunity:
- to learn about the principles
of general practice
- to understand the role of the General Practitioner within the Primary Health Care
team and wider healthcare system
- provide postgraduate students with the opportunities to continue their education
and to acquire postgraduate qualifications
- promote research which is critical, creative and caring
- promote high
standards in the health professionals who teach undergraduates in general
practice
- promote high quality healthcare to improve health outcomes and reduce
disparities
