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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.


1969
A Governor’s Commission recommends that the School of Medicine form a Department of Community and Family Medicine, and the Utah State Legislature appropriates $92,000 to create the Department.


1969
The American Board of Medical Specialties approves Family Practice as a Medical Specialty in the United States.


1970
Launch of Department of Community and Family Medicine, which absorbs the Department of Preventive Medicine. 


1970
Inaugural Chair of Department: C. Hilmon Castle, MD (d.2016)


1971
Utah MedEx program founded, later renamed the Utah Physician Assistant Program. One of the original 3 programs in the United States. Cofounders Hilmon Castle, MD, and Bill Wilson, PhD.


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


1972
St. Benedict’s Family Practice Residency moved to Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City; McKay-Dee Hospital residency continues.


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
Department renamed to Department of Family and Community Medicine


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).


~1980
The Department has 6 divisions: Behavioral Sciences; Biostatistics; Community Medicine; Epidemiology; Family Practice; Occupational and Environmental Health.


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


1984

F. Marian Bishop, PhD, MSPH named second Chair of the Department (d.2003)


1984
Department renamed to Department of Family and Preventive Medicine


1990
The Department has 40 full-time faculty; 25 are physicians. It has a Family Practice Residency, and Occupational Medicine Residency, and a Preventive Medicine Residency.


~1990
The Department opens the Wasatch Family Practice Clinic, later renamed University Madsen Health Center.


~1990
Family physician faculty in the Department gain admitting privileges at the University of Utah Hospital.


1991
Chase N. Peterson, MD, joins the Department as Director of Medical Student Programs, after stepping down as President of the University of Utah.


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


1995
The Department opens the Northeast Family Health Center, which becomes a family medicine residency clinic, replacing the Moreau Family Health Center


1997
Division Structure of Department dissolved in favor of programs


1998?
RMCOEH moves from the old Fort Douglas Hospital to 391 Chipeta Way


1999
DFPM Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship started


1999
DFPM Family Medicine Sports Medicine Fellowship started


2000
The University of Utah Sugarhouse Family Health Center opens, with a family medicine residency clinic, and physical therapy.


2000
DFPM academic offices move from the old School of Medicine building to 375 Chipeta; UPAP moves from the Annex building to 375 Chipeta Way


2000
The Utah Physician Assistant Program begins awarding a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies to graduates (previously it was a certificate program)


2000
Michael Magill, MD, becomes Chair of the Board of the University of Utah Community Clinics (which were acquired by the University from Talbert in 1998); he serves as Executive Director 2002-2012


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.)


2003
The American Academy of Family Physicians changes the name of its specialty from “Family Practice” to “Family Medicine.” The American Board changes its name in 2005.


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


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)


2021-2022
Former Department Chair Michael Magill serves as Chair of the American Board of Family Medicine


2024
January 2024: The University of Utah Community Clinics join the Department. John Barrett, MD, serves as Interim Chair of the Department. 


2024
February 2024: The Division of Family Medicine is renamed the Division of Family and Community Medicine


2024
July 2024: The Division of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Division of Physician Assistant Studies leave the Department to become free-standing divisions in the School of Medicine.