1940s - 1970
Department of (Public Health and) Preventive Medicine at University of Utah exists, faculty consists of few biostatisticians and epidemiologists 1970 Launch 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. 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 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, 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 |