| Title awarded: Family Medicine Specialist |
| SNIES Code 111582 |
| Qualified Registration: Resolution n.º 6812 of April 26, 2023 of the MEN, validity: 7 years. |
| Duration of the Program: 6 semesters |
| Number of academic credits: 198 |
| The program is attached: Faculty of Health Sciences and Basic Sciences |
| Academic Level: Postgraduate |
| Level of training: Medical-surgical specialization |
| Methodology: On-site |
| Location: Neiva, Huila, Colombia |
| Periodicity of admission: Semiannual |
| Contact us: +57 318 071 5286 +57 317 514 1730 |
Presentation of the program
Family Medicine, more than an area of medical knowledge, is an integrating axis of medical practice, which provides holistic and humanized medical care to the person; performing particular processes of characterization, validation of information, management, education and proposal of intervention strategies to focus them on primary health care from a systemic, generalist, differential and inclusive approach that promotes the care of the individual, his family and his community.
This specialization focuses its work on the person; involving the globality and complexity of the being, taking into account both the physical and psychosocial component of the individual and the determinants that modify and maintain their health. For family medicine, health is more than a state of "Well-being", it is the objective and subjective amalgam of factors that, from each of the individual and family life cycles, tend to the harmonious development and the experience of the individual immersed in a social sphere. For this reason, an ethnographic approach is involved where social, family and community relationships and the relationship with the disease itself are pillars of the care process. The ethnographic vision of Family Medicine allows the differential approach of the individual, the family and its cultural group, allowing the production of cost-effective strategies aimed at maintaining the health of specific groups according to their characteristics and needs.
The knowledge and work of the Family Medicine specialist is transversal to the different medical specialties, not as a professional hoarder of knowledge, but as an integrating specialist, mediator and coordinator of medical care, ensuring its resolvability and timeliness. His approach moves away from the separatist perspective and involves the generalization of medical knowledge to provide comprehensive care to individuals, families and communities.
The specialization in Family Medicine is the result of a need for holistic care based on the individual and not on the disease. Due to its principles and focus on prevention, it is a pioneer and fundamental support in integral processes of Primary Health Care and maintenance of the health of individuals, families and communities.
General requirements
According to the institutionally determined enrollment requirements, applicants to study a postgraduate Medical-Surgical program at UNINAVARRA must submit the following documents:
1. Registration form duly completed.
2. Receipt evidencing payment of registration fees.
3. Photocopy of the identity document (Citizenship Card / Alien Registration Card or passport).
4. If you are not Colombian you must bring your student or resident visa.
5. Resume with supports, including undergraduate transcripts incorporating internship (medical).
6. Accredit a university degree in one of the programs of the health area, in a Colombian Higher Education Institution duly recognized and authorized by the Ministry of National Education, or a foreign one recognized by the competent authority of the country of origin and whose degree is validated by the Ministry of National Education.
7. Mandatory Social Service Resolution
Specific requirements
As stated by AGREEMENT NUMBER 03 OF 2015 (May 25, 2015) of the Faculty Council of Health Sciences, which regulates the admission process for Clinical-Surgical Postgraduate Degrees, the following specific requirements were established for admission to the Specialization in Family Medicine program.
1. Evaluation of resume with supporting documents, including undergraduate transcripts incorporating the internship (medical).
2. Knowledge test with the characteristics determined by the institution.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in reading comprehension in English at the independent or intermediate level, i.e. level B1, through the mechanism established by the institution in the call for the admission process.
4. Interview.
5. Psycho-technical test.
Applicant Profile
To enter the postgraduate program, the applicant must have studied medicine and certify a medical degree as a graduate of a higher education institution recognized by the Ministry of National Education or abroad (for which he/she must provide the resolution of validation in which it is demonstrated that the program studied and the degree obtained is equivalent and recognized by the MEN in Colombia as a Physician).
The applicant's profile should demonstrate medical knowledge and interest in social aspects as determinants of health, sufficient for a good performance in the training process in the Family Medicine Specialization.
Must have social sensitivity and humanistic principles, showing interest in caring in an integral and continuous way to people, in the different life cycles, their families and communities in health matters. Willing to contribute with his/her work and professionalism in the reduction of health inequities.
Graduate profile
The specialist in Family Medicine, graduated from UNINAVARRA will be characterized by being a professional with a general knowledge base in medicine and with specialization in the maintenance of the health of the individual in their different life cycles.
A skilled specialist who is familiar with community immersion tools, public health policies and generates strategies that positively impact national health indicators.
A person-centered professional with the pluripotential resolution capacity to work in primary health care, hospital, emergency, rehabilitation, palliative care and administration of health services and policies.
An ethical community leader who will be highly committed to the region, the country and the research processes that generate knowledge in the areas concerning health and its determinants.
To fulfill this profile, the graduate physician will have the following attributes:
- Have a profound ability to establish a patient-physician relationship based on empathy, which will be transferred to his or her family and the community in which he or she is immersed.
- Given the characteristics of their training, they must have a high level of resolution and management skills. optimal prevalent health problems affecting different age groups, limiting the patient's mobility to more complex levels of care, which translates into the optimization and rationalization of health system resources.
- Their communicative and administrative skills enable them to act as leaders of the health care teams, facilitating the interaction of other medical specialties and other health care professional, focusing efforts on the wellbeing of individuals and the community environment.
- His ability to relate to the community, his ethnographic knowledge, his knowledge of and to investigate based on their needs, to be able to identify the problems and to and, based on its diagnosis, to focus its efforts on the education and training of the with a differential focus on self-care and self-knowledge.
- To have competences in adaptive processes to the particular characteristics of the environment, respecting the cultural, behavioral and communicative differences of the community.
- To be aware of the institutional support networks inherent to the community and its and of governmental and non-governmental programs that can be used to improve the quality of the as a support to the needs of the population, serving as a connector between them and the individual.
- Their work will be focused on health promotion and disease prevention, as a fundamental element that generates social change, taking into account the principle of the cost-benefit ratio, which is of vital importance in the face of health systems with extensive limitations. economic.
- Thanks to your knowledge in research and ICTS be able to create scientific information. and innovative strategies that it applies to research, education and transformation. individual and collective.
- It does not make presumptions about the individual, but rather, after a process of characterization involves the reality of the person and his or her context and uses simple tools that to evaluate, analyze and assist in the process of transformation of deleterious paradigms and motivates the process of adopting healthy habits, both physically and mentally, of self-care and mutual care.
- He is a human being concerned about ensuring that people regain their dignity in the whole process of care towards the improvement of their quality of life.
Dr. Isidro Torres Castro
COORDINATOR SPECIALIZATION IN FAMILY MEDICINE
Specialist in Family and Community Medicine Universidad de la Sabana. Specialist in University Teaching Fundación Universitaria Navarra-UNINAVARRA. Specialist in Management and Auditing of Health Organizations Universidad Iberoamericana. Neurolinguistic Programming Instructor. ASEIA.
Dr. Martha Estella Niebles Coronell
Professor of Family Medicine Specialization Fundación Universitaria Navarra - UNINAVARRA. Specialist in Comprehensive Family Medicine - Juan N. Corpas University Foundation. Specialist in University Teaching - University Foundation of Navarra - UNINAVARRA.
Dr. Carlos Humberto Reyes Guio
Professor of Family Medicine Specialization Fundación Universitaria Navarra - UNINAVARRA. Specialist in Family and Community Medicine - Universidad de La Sabana. Diploma in University Teaching - Universidad de La Sabana.
Dr. María del Pilar Leal Vargas
Professor of Family Medicine Specialization Fundación Universitaria Navarra - UNINAVARRA. Specialist in Family Medicine - Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Diploma in University Teaching - University Foundation UNINAVARRA.
Dr. Luis Carlos Quintero Malo
Medical Doctor with Specialization and Master in Bioethics. Diploma in Human Rights and Diploma in Medical Sexology.
Dr. Ingrid Carolina García Ayala
Professor of Family Medicine Fundación Universitaria Navarra-UNINAVARRA. Specialist in Family Medicine Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Specialist in Teaching for Higher Education; Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales- UDCA. Candidate Master in Clinical Pharmacology. University Foundation of Health Sciences- FUCS.
Dr. Jhonatan Andres Portes Ortiz
Specialist in Family Medicine from Universidad El Bosque. Specialist in Epidemiology from Universidad Surcolombiana.
Dr. Cristina Isabel Domínguez Charris
Teacher of the Specialization in Family Medicine - Fundación Universitaria Navarra
Medical Doctor - Universidad Metropolitana
Specialist in Family Medicine - Universidad El Bosque
Diploma in University Teaching
Health education begins at home: a pedagogical experience with a preventive approach
Under the name "Traveling with Family Medicine", the second and third semester students of the Family Medicine specialization, in coordination with residents and teachers of the program, led a day of characterization and health education aimed at the UNINAVARRA student community.
The activity, which took place on April 4, 2025 in the facilities of the institution, integrated pedagogical and playful dynamics, through thematic stations set in different countries of the world. Each of these stations addressed key aspects of health promotion and prevention, such as healthy eating, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, consumption of psychoactive substances, lifestyle habits, anthropometric measurements and strategies for early detection of cancer.
This health fair was attended by a large number of students, allowing not only to strengthen awareness about self-care, but also to apply in a practical way the knowledge acquired in the classroom. This type of initiative reinforces the commitment of UNINAVARRA and its Family Medicine program with the integral formation and the construction of healthy environments from higher education.
All together creating awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer - Family Medicine Program - UNINAVARRA
As part of the commemoration of World Cervical Cancer Prevention Day, celebrated every March 26, the Family Medicine program of UNINAVARRA developed a day of awareness and academic training, aimed at strengthening the knowledge of this preventable disease. The activity took place on April 4, 2025, and was led by Dr. Isidro Torres Castro, coordinator of the program.
During his presentation, Dr. Torres addressed the fundamental aspects of cervical cancer, a treatable and preventable disease if detected early. It was emphasized that its main cause is persistent infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), especially types 16 and 18, responsible for about 70 % of cases. The remaining 30 % may be associated with factors such as smoking, multiparity, prolonged use of oral contraceptives and immunosuppression.
The talk emphasized the importance of screening strategies as a preventive measure. In women aged 25 to 29 years, Pap smears are used under a 1-3-3 schedule (one every three years, if the results are negative). In women aged 30 to 65 years, the recommended test is the HPV DNA test, under a 1-5-5-5 scheme (every five years with negative results). Likewise, the importance of initiating controls in women with risk factors, even if they are under 25 years of age, was recalled.
This initiative reaffirms the institutional commitment to health promotion and prevention of high impact diseases through continuing education of health personnel, students and the community in general.
Strengthening biosafety culture in the healthcare environment
As part of the commitment to the comprehensive training and professional excellence of our future specialists, on April 5, 2025, a day of reinforcement and updating in good biosafety practices was held for residents and teachers of the Family Medicine program of the University Foundation of Navarra - UNINAVARRA.
During the activity, essential aspects related to patient and health personnel safety were reinforced, as well as the optimal conditions in the areas of care and clinical rotation. One of the central points was the review of the five moments for hand hygiene, a fundamental pillar in the prevention of infections:
Before touching the patient.
Before performing a clean or aseptic task.
After the risk of exposure to body fluids.
After touching the patient.
After contact with the patient's environment.
In addition, a practical demonstration of the proper technique for clinical hand washing was given, emphasizing its correct execution as a key measure in healthcare environments.
This event reaffirms the Family Medicine program's commitment to constant updating and the promotion of safe environments, always prioritizing the patient's wellbeing and the protection of the healthcare team.
Joy: a positive emotion and its impact on health
Joy is one of the emotions considered positive, triggered by stimuli that generate a feeling of joy and well-being. Unlike happiness, which is a lasting state and an attitude towards life, joy is experienced at specific times and with different intensities.
There are different types of joy according to its intensity and the stimuli that originate it, among them:
Authentic joy: arises from genuine and satisfying experiences.
Hedonic joy: related to sensory pleasure and immediate enjoyment.
Hilarious joy: characterized by laughter and fun.
Eudaimonia: linked to well-being and personal fulfillment.
Pathological joy: disproportionate manifestation of joy, often related to psychological disorders.
Happiness as a fundamental right
From a legal and social perspective, happiness has been recognized as a fundamental right and a responsibility of States. This concept is based on guaranteeing the well-being of societies, promoting conditions that favor the integral development of individuals.
In this regard, the United Nations (UN) proclaimed March 20 as the International Day of Happiness, through resolution 66/281 of 2012, with the aim of highlighting the importance of this right in people's lives.
Second Narrative of Emotions: "Joy".
These and other aspects were addressed in the Second Narrative of Emotions: "La Alegría", held on March 19, 2025 in the auditorium of the Cultural Center of Neiva - Banco de la República.
The event allowed attendees to reflect on the importance of joy in everyday life, its influence on mental and emotional health, as well as its role in building a more balanced and happy society.
Why study the Specialization in
Family Medicine at UNINAVARRA?
You will receive medical training with a holistic and humanized approach: Family medicine focuses on providing comprehensive, person-centered care, considering both physical and psychosocial aspects. This holistic approach ensures that all of the patient's needs are addressed and their well-being is promoted as a whole.
We promote prevention and health promotion: Family medicine focuses on disease prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles. Family physicians play a key role in educating patients about the importance of prevention and designing intervention strategies to maintain long-term health.
We understand the importance of primary health care: Family medicine is fundamental to primary health care, being the gateway to the health care system for many people. Family physicians are experts in the early detection of disease, the management of chronic conditions and the monitoring of patients' general health.
At UNINAVARRA, we have advanced resources for training in family medicine. The High Complexity Simulated Hospital (HUSAC) gives students the opportunity to practice in a realistic environment with state-of-the-art technology. In addition, we have strategic alliances with important health institutions, such as the Medilaser Clinic, so that students can perform professional practices in a quality clinical environment.
If you are interested in providing comprehensive medical care and being an agent of change in people's health, the specialization in family medicine at UNINAVARRA will provide you with the necessary tools and knowledge to excel in this vitally important field.
