Enhancing Health and Primary Care for our Communities

I am proud to serve as chairman of this outstanding and enduring Department of Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Jack Colwill became the first chair of the modern department, and for more than 20 years he led an evolving enterprise that built successful programs in patient care, teaching, and research. Dr. Harold Williamson became chair in 1998, and he was ideal in this role. He had vision for the department, yet deeply cared about and wanted success for every faculty and staff member. He led by example and promoted a culture of trust, integrity, and respect.

We continue to strive for excellence in patient care, education, and research. Our faculty teach in all four years of the medical school curriculum. Physician faculty members practice side by side with our resident physicians in eight practices and three hospitals providing almost 100,000 visits from patients annually. Our over 400 residency graduates are practicing in states across the nation. Our research efforts mainly focus on preventing and caring for patients with chronic disease, including the evaluation of innovative approaches in creating and maintaining a patient-centered medical home.

Please use this website as a view into our department. Our goal is to help you learn more about family medicine at MU. If you have questions or desire additional information, let us know. We welcome and appreciate your interest.