The University of Edinburgh (UoE): A hub of Family Medicine Education.

Studying Master of Family Medicine at UoE offered me a unique experience. Kudos to the programme directors for FM in the medical school (Prof. Liz Grant, Prof. David Weller and Dr. Robin Ramsay).

The qualitative teaching made me appreciate that the hospital practice being offered to patients as a "one time" event is unappreciable and fragmented way of care. From the FM perspective, patients require a long term schedule that is contextualized. This may sound involving but it works perfect!

And now I have these three take home messages for Family Medicine physicians across continents;

1. Understand each of your patients' needs. This may take time but it is achievable.

2. Be willing to listen first and listen second. What patients want is "someone to listen to them".

3. Walk in the patient's shoes - whether torn, heavy or un-sizable. That may help you to understand the unique shoes they are wearing.

Benard Chinua, FMP.