A Word From Our Chair
I am thrilled to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you as we embark on this dynamic journey together within the Family Medicine department. My name is Kola Okuyemi, and I am honored to serve as Chair. As we enter this new phase, I draw immense inspiration from the outstanding legacy of excellence that has paved our way, notably under the leadership of our immediate past Chair, Dr. Kevin Gebke, and Interim Chair, Dr. Deanna Willis. The Family Medicine Department at IU has a storied history of pioneering education, impactful scholarship, and delivering compassionate, comprehensive care to our community. It is my top priority to build upon these strong foundations. I rmly believe in nurturing a culture of collaboration and inclusivity where each member of our team contributes signi cantly to shaping the future of academic family medicine. I have been deeply impressed and encouraged by your dedication, expertise, and passion throughout my interactions with you over the past few months. These qualities serve as the bedrock of our ongoing success, and I am eager to collaborate closely with you. In the weeks ahead, I eagerly anticipate deepening our connections and gaining insights from your perspectives, ideas, and aspirations for our department. Together, we will continue to foster an environment characterized by excellence, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. Through our collective endeavors, we can uphold and enhance the standards of excellence in academic family medicine. Our steadfast commitment to patient-centered care, education, research, and community service will distinguish us as a beacon of health and wellness, both locally in Indiana and on a global scale. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, suggestions, or simply wish to connect. My door is always open, and I am fully committed to supporting each of you in your respective roles. Here's to an exhilarating and rewarding journey ahead! Let's together leave an indelible mark on the future landscape of family medicine.
Kola Okuyemi, MD, MPH
Chair, Department of Family Medicine OneAmerica Professor of Preventive Health Medicine Associate Dean for Health Equity Research and Implementation Professor of Family Medicine "As the new Chair of the Family Medicine Department at IU, I am committed to building upon our strong foundation of excellence, fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity, and enhancing our contributions to patient-centered care, education, research, and community service."
AHEC-MSE Collaboration Spotlighted in Federal Report
The longstanding collaboration between the Department of Family Medicine’s Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) team and Medical Student Education (MSE) team was highlighted in the Twenty-Second Annual Report to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Congress of the United States. Developed by the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL), the report provides a set of recommendations designed to improve the health workforce nationwide. The partnership between the Indiana AHEC and MSE teams was speci cally called out in the report for the placement of third-year medical students in family medicine rotations in rural communities. The report highlighted a 2014 study by Dr. Jennifer Taylor that reported that 21% of those who participated in the study reported greater intent to practice in a rural setting following graduation, compared with about 12% of their fellow students participating a clerkship in a non-rural setting. To this day, the AHEC and MSE teams continue to collaborate closely to provide the IU medical students with the opportunity to engage in decentralized family medicine placements in rural and urban underserved communities across Indiana.
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