Learning Programme

Notes

PhD

We initiated a PhD cohort in July 2011. The topics include learning patient centeredness, managing drug resistant TB in homes, screening in communities and communication design in communities.

MMed Family Medicine

This is a professional degree in Family Medicine. The candidates in this programme work in the communities and districts and teach medical students and clinical associates.

BSc Honours in Community Oriented Health

This is a new programme developed to provide further training for clinical associates. It is aimed at a multidisciplinary cohort of postgraduates in health science to develop the theory and practice of COPC.

Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine

This is a programme for practicing medical practitioners. This programme was adapted substantially in 2013 to be in line with our learning philosophy and prepare doctors in primary care for a National Health Insurance (NHI).

CPD (Continuous Professional Development) for General Practitioners

An initiative with General Practice organisations namely ASAIPA (Alliance of South African Independent Practitioners Associations) and Netcare Primary Health to provide CPD in line with our learning philosophy and to prepare doctors for the re-engineering of primary health care and NHI.  

MBChB

As part of the School of Medicine we participate in the teaching of the MBChB programme. Our contribution is to move significant parts of undergraduate student learning from hospitals to communities and district clinics, from curative to comprehensive care and from a biomedical to a bio-psycho-social approach.

BCMP

The BCMP programme is a 3 year degree producing mid-level medical workers, namely clinical associates. We developed this programme as part of a national initiative in response to the massive need for clinicians in primary health care in district health in South Africa. We take responsibility for the whole programme. The development and progression of the BCMP programme demonstrates our philosophy and practice of learning.

Nurse Practitioner Primary Health Care

In the endeavour to impact on primary health care, we participate in the learning programme of nurse clinicians in Mpumalanga.

NC(V) Primary Health

We have participated with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in the development of this NC(V) programme. This 3 year programme provides the first opportunity for community health workers to get formal academic training and be able to progress into tertiary education. We are involved in lecturer training and support, assessment and the development of high quality course material. As part of practical expansion and roll out we work in partnerships with FET colleges to co-deliver the programme in the areas where we are involved in the development and roll out of COPC.

Community Health Workers (CHWs)

CHWs are crucial for the success of COPC. We are involved in the development of this cadre through continuous work-based education and training and well as through a curriculated educational qualification (NC(V): Primary Health).

COPC Multidisciplinary Team

We provide ongoing training in COPC as part of the development and implementation of COPC in Tshwane and Mpumalanga.