Head’s Message

“Community medicine connects medical education with the health needs of the population. Our department is committed to preparing students and residents to understand disease prevention, social determinants of health, epidemiology, and the role of health systems in improving community well-being. Through education, applied research, and professional consultation, we aim to contribute to sustainable and evidence-based improvements in public health.”

Overview

Welcome to the Department of Community Medicine at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The department was established in 1951 as the Department of Health, initially providing education in medical history, ethics, statistics, and public health for medical and allied health students. In 1976, it became an independent academic department and was renamed the Department of Community Medicine. Its responsibilities subsequently expanded to include preventive medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, family planning, community-oriented education, and health-related research. The department has contributed to postgraduate education in public health and has offered residency training in community medicine since 2010.

Our Expertise

The Department of Community Medicine contributes to education, research, and health promotion through the following areas:

• Preventive and Community-Oriented Medicine: Teaching preventive medicine, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, and related subjects across different stages of medical education.
• Postgraduate Education: Contributing to postgraduate training in public health-related fields and community medicine residency education.
• Applied Health Research: Conducting studies addressing community health needs, health-system challenges, and evidence-informed interventions.
• Health Promotion and Consultation: Providing scientific consultation and supporting initiatives that strengthen population health and intersectoral collaboration.

Educational & Research Mission

Our mission is to educate competent health professionals, conduct applied research responsive to community needs, and provide evidence-based consultation for improving population health and health-system performance.

• Vision: To serve as a leading national and regional academic department in community medicine, health promotion, and preventive healthcare education.
• Mission: To educate competent health professionals, conduct applied research responsive to community needs, and provide evidence-based consultation for improving population health and health-system performance.

Objectives:

• Strengthening knowledge, attitudes, and practical competencies in preventive and community medicine among health sciences students.
• Expanding applied research on priority health issues and gaps in healthcare delivery.
• Supporting health-promotion programs through consultation, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Enhancing the quality of education and research in community medicine at undergraduate, postgraduate, and residency levels.