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1940s - 1970

Department of (Public Health and) Preventive Medicine at University of Utah exists, faculty consists of few biostatisticians and epidemiologists


1970
Hilman Castle, MDLaunch of Department of Community and Family Medicine, which absorbs the Department of Preventive Medicine. Inaugural Chair: C. Hilmon Castle, MD

 


1971
Utah MedEx program founded, later renamed the Utah Physician Assistant Program. Cofounders Hilmon Castle, MD, and Bill Wilson, PhD.

1971
University of Utah Family Practice Residency started at St. Benedict’s Hospital Ogden

1971-1972
John Geyman, MD (later became Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, 1976-1990)  [ Profile ]

1972
Moreau Clinic opened for family practice residents and faculty (absorbing patients from the retiring Drs. George and Esther Gross, an internist and pediatrician, respectively). Also, some family practice residents worked at the Northwest Multipurpose Action Center, affiliated with Holy Cross Hospital.

1972
University of Utah Family Practice Residency moved to Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City

1972
Department renamed to Department of Family and Community Medicine

1973
Public Health program created

1973
Dave Feigal, MD, d.1998. Chief for the Division of Family Medicine  [ Profile ]

1973
Elbert Leigh, MD, d.2015.  Chief for the Division of Family Medicine  [ Profile ]

1973
John Tudor, MD, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine (later became President of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 1993)

1975
Master of Science in Community Medicine (MSCM) degree first graduate

1977-1978
Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational Environmental Health (RMCOEH) formed; William (Bill) Rom, MD, recruited as first director, received first NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC) grant, which has been funded continually since then.

1978
Occupational Medicine Residency program founded

1978
First CEPH accreditation for MSCM degree; the Department’s Public Health degrees have had continuous CEPH accreditation since then

1979
Northwest Community Clinic started by DFPM at the Northwest Multipurpose Action Center (first clinic in what became the Salt Lake Community Health Centers over the next several years)

1980s
Larry Lutz, MD, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine

1982-?
Thomas (Tom) Schwenk, MD, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine

1984
MSCM degree becomes Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) degree

1984

F. Marion Bishop

F. Marian Bishop, PhD named Chair. Dr. Bishop was the first female Chair in the U Health system

 


1984
Department renamed to Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

1989
Master of Public Health (MPH) degree initiated

1989-1993
Joseph (Joe) Hess, MD, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine

1993-1997
Stephen (Steve) Ratcliff, MD, MSPH, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine

1994
Michael Rigdon, PhD, serves as Interim Chair of the Department

1994
Michael K. Magill, MD, joins DFPM and starts a new federal Area Health Education Center (AHEC) for Utah

1995

Michael Magill

Michael K. Magill, MD, named third Chair of the Department

 


1997-2008
Division Structure of Department dissolved in favor of programs

1998
Division Structure of Department dissolved in favor of programs RMCOEH moves from the old Fort Douglas Hospital to 391 Chipeta

1999
DFPM Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship started

2000
DFPM main offices move from the old School of Medicine building to 375 Chipeta

2002
Northwest Community Clinic is renamed the Stephen D. Ratcliffe Community Health Center (Dr. Ratcliffe is former Family Medicine Division Chief and Family Medicine Residency Director.)

2006
Public Health PhD program initiated

2006
DFPM reaches #2 ranked NIH-funded department nationally among Departments of Family Medicine (Blue Ridge ranking)

2008
Division Structure of Department reinstated: Divisions of Family Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Health, Physician Assistant Studies, and Public Health

2008
MOH and MSOH degree programs initiated

2008-2023
Jennifer (Jenny) Leiser, MD, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine

2012
OEH PhD initiated

2016
John Hoidal, MD, serves as Interim Chair of the Department

2017

Kola Okuyemi b&w

Kola Okuyemi, MD, MPH, named fourth Chair of the Department

 


2019
DFPM again reaches #2 ranked NIH-funded department nationally among Departments of Family Medicine (Blue Ridge ranking)

2019
Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C named Chief of the Division of Physician Assistant Studies

2020
Steven Lacey, PhD, MPH named Chief of the Division of Public Health
By rule of the Utah Legislature, the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health moves to Weber State University
Jeremy Biggs, MD named Chief of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Health

2008-2023
Bernadette (Bern) Kiraly MD, Chief for the Division of Family Medicine