Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

WELCOME

Welcome to Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

I would like to congratulate and extend a hearty welcome to the new staff and students for choosing to work and study at one of our departments at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), and welcome back all continuing staff and students to this academic year.

The Faculyt of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) is one of the faculties in Divine Word University. It is an expanding faculty with six (6) departments and has a student population of over 800 students per year.

In accordance with the mission of the University we will actively pursue to contribute to the development of Papua New Guinea by producing quality health workforce for the country. FMHS offers these programs, both residental in Medicine (MBBS), Rural Health (HEO), Environmental Health, Health Management, Physiotheraphy and Eye Care as well as those offered in flexible mode through the Department of Public Health, Leadership & Training (Advanced Diploma in Emergency Medicine, Diploma in Health Services Management, Bachelor of Health Sciences In-service Bridging Program for HEOs, Masters in Public Health – Health Services Management).

The other campuses are in Tabubil, Western Province which provides rural placement for the Rural Health, MBBS and Physiotherapy clinical programs and in Kokopo, East New Britain Province with the full amalgamation of the St Mary School of Nursing in Vunapope as our Nursing Department within FMHS.

Vision: “Promote quality Health Education in line with DWU Core values through excellence in Learning and Teaching, Research and Community Engagement”

Mission statement: “Train competent Health Professionals for the needs of the nation and in particular for the rural majority and urban disadvantaged in accordance with the PNG National Health Plan 2011-2020 and PNG Vision 2050”

As we continue supporting vision 2050 of the Government, the National Department of Health in the implementation of the National Health Plan 2011 – 2015 the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is committed to producing human resources with the right attitude and mindsets that are able to provide quality care to the rural majority in Papua New Guinea.

Acknowledgment to our collaborators:

We are thankful to the many supporters of our programs There are so many people and organisations both international and nation that have given us moral, technical and financial support. Our collaboration with them and their support to us have substantially contributed to the development of our faculty and DWU. For this we are greatly indebted and appreciative. As we develop the new programs we are confident that we will have an increasing number of collaborators. To this end we look forward to collaborating with individuals and agencies who share our values and commitment to serving the rural majority and the urban disadvantaged. Here in, we add the links of our important collaborators to date and look forward to adding other valued partners who will join us in the short and long term. We look forward to working with you in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding.

Associate Professor. K Susanna Andrias Khobu

Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Health Science

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.