About UW Family Medicine
Our Mission
The University of Washington Department of Family Medicine leverages the transformative power of family medicine to create more just and equitable healthcare for all through education, scholarship, and clinical care.
Staff Faculty Clinical FacultyExplore UW Family Medicine
What is Family Medicine?
Family Physicians provide comprehensive, cost-effective, high-quality health care for individuals and families. Unlike most medical specialties which focus narrowly on specific conditions or parts of the body, Family Medicine takes a broad approach that integrates biological, clinical and behavioral science. Doctors specializing in Family Medicine care for all types of people:
- Children, adults, and the elderly;
- Individuals with diverse socio-cultural and economic backgrounds;
- Expectant families, delivering mothers and newborns; and
- Healthy individuals as well as those facing serious health challenges.
To Family Physicians, accessible, safe, affordable, evidence-based care that is respectful of patient preferences and culture is essential to optimal physical and mental health.
Who are we at the UW Department of Family Medicine?
The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine has been ranked by US News and World Report as the #1 Department of Family Medicine in the country for most of the last 27 years and is consistently rated by the AAFP as a “Top 10 Department” in placing graduate medical students into the family medicine specialty.
At the Department of Family Medicine, we are committed to three core tenets: 1) high quality, rigorous, patient-focused education for students and residents, 2) an internationally-recognized research organization focused on increasing the quality, effectiveness, accessibility, and sustainability of primary care, and 3) compassionate, high caliber, evidence-based clinical patient care. We achieve this through the work of seven departmental sections and our Osher Center with the support of our administrative team.
Our sections and Center include:
Medical Student Education – develops and delivers innovative training to medical students
Residency – provides immersive, broad-based training to medical residents
WWAMI Family Medicine Residency Network – a network of family medicine residency programs across the five-state WWAMI region committed to collaboration and achievement in training high quality physicians
Research – conducts cutting edge research to answer vital healthcare questions that impact primary care, and disseminate result to practitioners and policymakers
MEDEX Northwest– a regional program that educates Physician Assistants
Sports Medicine – provides patient care and fellowship opportunities focused on the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sport and exercise
Palliative Care – conducts research, trains students, and provides patient care focused on quality of life during serious illness
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine – focuses on integrating traditional and complementary wellness approaches into patient care
The Department has approximately 100 regular faculty, 140 paid clinical faculty, 1200 WWAMI courtesy clinical faculty across the region, 30 adjunct/affiliate, 30 emeritus faculty members, 26 residents, 3 fellows, and over 75 staff. Our clinical faculty work across UW Medicine clinical sites of practice to include UWMC Montlake, UWMC Northwest, Harborview Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, and UWMC Stadium Clinic.
Commitment to Diversity
As a department in the UW School of Medicine, we are committed to a diverse, inclusive community. Our intention is to create a community that encourages participation and connection, and values each individual’s unique contributions regardless of socioeconomic status, race, culture, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, spiritual practice, geography, mental and physical status or age.
In order to meet this intention our department’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI) Committee focuses on supporting inclusive and equitable department climate and relationships, cultivating career development to address issues of systemic racism and sexism, promoting equitable hiring and retention practices for underrepresented populations, and promoting health equity in our education and scholarship. The committee has nearly 30 members from across the department, including faculty, staff, and residents, who are organized into several sub-committees. Please read more about the work of our JEDI Committee.
Our residency and fellowship programs are also committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Learn about our Health Equity & Anti-Racism (HEAR) committee in our Family Medicine Residency, and our support of a diverse, inclusive, and equitable learning environment in our Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.
You will find more information here about the diversity commitment across the UW School of Medicine.