Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

WELCOME

Welcome to Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hi there,

Hearty welcome to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Divine Word University. There are seven departments within the faculty that provide high quality teaching and learning towards exciting and fulfilling careers in health in PNG as well as internationally. Through the high quality training that we provide and from our contribution to the human resource needs in the health sector, we are a major partner working towards the country’s Vision 2050 for a healthy, wealthy and wise population. Our staff are highly trained effective facilitators of learning, committed to ensuring the best for our students.

The Nursing programs are offered at St Benedicts (Wewak) and St Marys (Rabaul) campuses while other health programs including Health Management, Environmental Health, Physiotherapy, Health Extension (HEO), Eye Care and the new Medical (MBBS) program are offered at the main campus in Madang. Programs are delivered through full-time, part-time (flexible), online and blended modes using high speed internet access and innovative online teaching and learning platforms. Flexible learning programs include Master of Public Health, Bachelor in Health Services Management and the Bachelor of Rural Health (HEO-Bridging) program. The HEO Bridging program is intended to help Diploma holder Health Extension Officers to upgrade their qualification to Bachelor level. We also conduct high quality research into finding ways to address the various challenges in the health sector. Additionally, we support the National Department of Health in running short courses for health program managers around the country.

The clinical programs (Medicine, Rural Health, Physiotherapy and Nursing) include placements at health facilities around the country (including Angau Memorial Hospital, Madang Provincial Hospital, Kundiawa General Hospital, Wewak General Hospital, Vunapope District Hospital, Etep Rural Hospital, Migende Rural Hospital and Gaubin Rural Hospital) where students do hands-on practical under the supervision of specialist clinicians. Our facilities are among the best in the country. There are new fully equipped lecture halls and resource rooms that support all our programs at all campuses. At the main campus, there are fully functional simulation and anatomy laboratories and a well-established ‘Center for Health Research and Diagnostics’ that facilitates practical training in medical laboratory and diagnostic skills including Microbiology, Hematology, Parasitology, Biochemistry and Pathology.

We are very grateful for the support we continue to receive from our partners including the National Department of Health and the Provincial Health Authorities, particularly Madang, Morobe, Simbu, East New Britain and East Sepik Provincial Health Authorities. We also dearly appreciate support from the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT, Australia), Bread for the World, Old Darts Foundation, Fred Hallows Foundation and others.

The DWU theme for the 2023 academic year ‘The end of all knowledge should be service to others (Cesar Chavez)’ remind us that we exist for a purpose higher than ourselves and that we will give our very best in the tasks we are assigned to do, following the example of Jesus who left his home in Heaven to come to earth to live and serve, heal and love. We work and learn to the best of our abilities to effectively contribute to lifting our health system and achieving the PNG Vision 2050. We know that together we are stronger and with God in our efforts, all things, including strengthening of the health system is possible.

Warm welcome once more, new and continuing staff and students.

Clement Manineng, MBBS PhD

Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

ABOUT FACULTY

VISION & MISSION

CORE VALUES

Divine Word University’s Core Values, as articulated in the University Charter and also expressed in its Vision and Mission statements, are at the heart of Divine Word University’s academic and non-academic programs and its philosophy. These values provide a framework for the University’s development and enliven the University's identity, the University’s heritage and its commitment to knowledge for holistic, personal development and social progress.

Integrity- offers to the University the ability to realize the Christian values and maintain the highest academic standards by upholding academic policies. It promotes the University strategic objectives and its Vision by emphasizing holistic education at the University and encouraging a consistency of actions and values.
Academic Excellence – DWU is committed to quality of research, learning and teaching for every individual learner. DWU’s diverse academic faculties with a qualified academic staff, in collaboration with international academics and universities, promotes critical thinking for staff and students who are engaged in learning, research, and creativity. Thus, DWU stimulates academic and personal leadership for staff and students with a spirit of ethical values and personal discipline.
Community Engagement/Service – commits the DWU Community to follow the example of the Divine Word to utilize our gifts, talents and abilities to advance the genuine well-being of the people we encounter in our community and the nation.
Respect– the DWU Community respects every person’s dignity, background and potential, and appreciates and respects the right to express diverse ideas with a freedom of academic enquires.
Diversity – the University’s Founders were from a different cultural and social background. Diversity nurtures an international academic community within the university that fosters a culture that is open and welcoming to people of diverse backgrounds, and promotes ideas and perspectives that engages the faculty, staff and students in academic and non-academic activities in an educational environment, and prepares the students to live and work in an international society within a global economy.
Hospitality- at DWU we attend to our daily duties with a spirit of openness and kindness that welcomes new ideas and people with a diversity of backgrounds and beliefs. We receive and value our visitors with divergent ideas and new insights and challenges.
Learning for Life – DWU is committed to providing opportunities to staff and students for personal growth in an environment that supports the development of discipline, ethical decision- making, and personal responsibility.
Social Responsibility - DWU is committed to equity, social justice, and diversity, and maintains the highest standards of integrity in our relationships with others.DWU is an institution that serves as a resource for and stimulus to social, economic, educational, cultural, environmental, and community development in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.

GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The Faculty of Health Sciences Strategic Objectives fall in place accordingly to the strategic directions of Divine Word University. The Strategic objectives shall serve as the framework for the development of our Faculty programs, activities and strategies:

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1: ENHANCING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

The University’s first strategic objective is to enhance the student experience. Academic and non-academic experience of students at DWU aims at producing graduates academically qualified, with life skills, competencies and sound philosophy of life based on Christian values. Seeking to continually improve the student experience must be what will drive much of DWU’s efforts and actions.
Academic and non-academic experience of students at DWU aims at producing graduates academically qualified, with life skills, competencies and sound philosophy of life based on Christian values. Seeking to continually improve the student experience must be what will drive much of DWU’s efforts and actions.

STRATEGIC OBJECTVE 2: PROMOTING QUALITY OF DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMS

The University’s second strategic objective is to promote the quality of distinctive academic programs. Responding to the changing needs and demands of the public and private sectors and developments that will be required towards the achievement of Vision 2050, all academic and nonacademic programs offered at the University must be of quality and prepare graduates for the future.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3: SUPPORTING HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

The University’s third strategic objective is to support high quality research and knowledge exchange. DWU has to focus its research activities within the faculties, attract active researchers who can publish in international journals, attend international symposiums and contribute to the new body of knowledge. All University program specification documents have to be annually updated through research. DWU has to establish a culture of research and engage in partnership with overseas researchers.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4: CAPITALIZE ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP

The University’s fourth strategic objective is to capitalize on opportunities for partnerships. Details can be found in the Strategic Plan 2006-2016. Each faculty of the University is strongly encouraged to establish partnership with other universities overseas and within the country.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 5: OPTIMIZING THE CONTRIBUTION OF STAFF

The University’s fifth strategic objective is to optimize the contributions of our staff. Each academic staff at the University ought to perform the following duties: teaching, research, administrative work and community engagement.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 6: MAXIMIZING ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

The University’s sixth strategic objective is to maximize organizational effectiveness. The University is a national institution on a continuing quest for excellence through effective, integrated systems and performance management. We need to optimize the output of the University’s talent and capabilities through operating as a single organization with one financial plan, one marketing strategy and one set of funding priorities, sharing resources, ICT technologies, staff allocation and admin support to promote collaboration and interaction between faculties, divisions and campuses across the whole University.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 7: MAKING THE MOST OF OUR ASSETS

The University’s seventh strategic objective is to make the most of our assets. Staff are the most important asset for any university. The extent to which they maximize the effectiveness of their time and their use of available physical resources determines the overall significance of the Faculty offering. All University staff and students should feel responsible for proper use of all DWU assets such as lecture rooms, auditoriums, dormitories, staff houses, ICT equipment, vehicles and all other assets of the University.