The week "aims to introduce health professions students to the importance of community-responsive primary care," said Mike Sitorius, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine.
Dr. Sitorius said the week also will:
- Provide the students with information about primary care and the range of career opportunities.
- Encourage their collaboration as members of future primary health care teams.
- Demonstrate the commitment of health professions schools and students to meet the need for primary care practitioners.
- Work to reduce problems in health care access experienced by underserved populations in the United States.
For a complete list of UNMC Primary Care Week events, click here.
Tom Tape, M.D., chief of the division of general internal medicine in the department of internal medicine, said National Primary Care Week highlights the importance of primary care by bringing health care professionals together to discuss and learn about generalist and interdisciplinary health care -- particularly its impact on, and importance to, underserved populations.
This year's theme, "Step Up to Primary Care," is intended to encompass a wide variety of topics, including primary care in medical education and health care policy and reform.
Gov. Dave Heineman said Nebraska needs more primary care providers to fulfill the growing need, and the activities taking place this week will encourage everyone to recognize the importance of general practitioners and primary care providers and their contributions to health care delivery and a healthy society.
The UNMC Primary Care Center urges everyone to log onto The Primary Care Project website to learn about this national campaign to bring awareness to primary care. Join in by signing the pledge to support the revitalization of the primary care workforce pipeline in the U.S.
UNMC employees and students are encouraged to promote the campaign using their social media channels, newsletters, websites or other forms of outreach.