World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Family Medicine and Primary Care

The Centre is the first of its kind in the world to have a specific focus on family medicine, and one of few in the world with a focus on primary care and primary health care. As a collaborating centre, the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) assists the WHO in researching, evaluating and strengthening family medicine and primary care at a global level and in countries around the world. This recognition reflects the depth and richness of DFCM and the department’s reputation as an international leader in family medicine and primary care education and research.

In order to draw upon the experience and expertise of all of our members, the entire DFCM is designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre. This includes our nearly 2,000 faculty members in community clinics and academic teaching centres across Ontario, our 450 residents and graduate students, and all of our staff and interested medical students. 

Read the full announcement.

Directors

• Dr. Danielle Martin, DFCM Chair
• Dr. Katherine Rouleau, Global Primary Health Care Lead in the Office of Health System Partnerships at DFCM

Read more about our international faculty.

What is a collaborating centre?

According to the WHO, Collaborating Centres are "institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the Director-General to carry out activities in support of the Organization's programmes" Currently, there are over 800 WHO collaborating centres in over 80 Member States working with WHO on areas such as mental health, communicable and chronic diseases, and new technologies in health care.

What a collaborating centre does:

WHO Collaborating Centres are designated by the WHO Director-General to carry out activities in support of the global health programs of the WHO. The WHO Collaborating Centre on Family Medicine and Primary Care will assist the WHO in researching, evaluating and strengthening family medicine and primary care at a global level and in countries around the world. The Centre’s primary WHO regional partner is the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), which is responsible for health across the Americas.

Goals of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Family Medicine and Primary Care:

• To provide technical support for the development of family medicine and collaborative integrated people-centered multidisciplinary care 
• To support the WHO in building strong primary care-based systems 

Types of activities the Collaborating Centre on Family Medicine and Primary Care will undertake:

• Training and education
• Research
• Providing technical advice to WHO

More information

For more information on WHO Collaborating centres, visit the WHO website.