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.