Department of family medicine

Department History

In accordance with the Order of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated May 31, 2019, No. ҚР DСМ–89 "On amendments and additions to the Order of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated January 30, 2008, No. 27 'On the approval of the list of clinical specialties for training in internship and residency'," and based on the Order of the Rector of the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) dated August 28, 2019, No. 720, the Department of Family Medicine was established.

Department Mission

The Department of Family Medicine is a vital structural unit that forms the foundation of the healthcare system. Its activities are aimed at preserving public health, preventing and treating diseases, which in turn contributes to improving the overall well-being of society.
By developing knowledge and practical skills in the field of family medicine, the department strives to enhance population health, improve the quality of medical care, and train highly qualified, competitive doctors who meet modern standards and are capable of working independently and effectively in this specialty.

Main Areas of Activity:

●        Education:
The department provides in-depth training to medical interns and residents in the fundamentals of family medicine, methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. The curriculum includes both theoretical and practical classes.

●        Clinical Practice:
Interns and residents work directly with patients, gaining the opportunity to study real medical cases. This hands-on experience helps develop professional skills and clinical decision-making abilities.

●        Research:
The department conducts scientific research and implements projects aimed at introducing new methods and technologies in the field of family medicine.

●        Public Health:
The department addresses public health issues, promotes preventive measures, and develops programs to improve population health.

●        Professional Development:
The department organizes professional development courses and seminars for physicians and healthcare professionals.

●        Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
The department fosters collaboration with other medical specialties to ensure a comprehensive approach to patient care and to encourage teamwork.

Clinical Training Bases:

The Department of Family Medicine operates clinical training at the following facilities: City Polyclinics No. 1, No. 8, and No. 13 in Shymkent, “Ai-Nury” Medical Center.

Scientific Work

The faculty of the department, along with residents and interns, participate in national scientific research projects and introduce new clinical and pedagogical technologies into the educational process.
Faculty members actively participate in national and international scientific conferences with presentations and publications. Interns and residents are also actively involved in interuniversity, regional, national, and international scientific-practical conferences for students.

Kauzbay Zhumaly Aripbayuly
Candidate of Medical Sciences (PhD), docent (ass. prof.),
head of the department of «Family medicine»

After completing clinical residency and postgraduate studies at the Karaganda State Medical Academy, he defended his PhD thesis in Internal Medicine in 1998 at the State Medical Academy of Astana. Since 1998, he worked as an Associate Professor at the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine at the Kazakh State Medical Academy.

In 2000, upon invitation, he transferred to the South Kazakhstan State Medical Academy (SKSMA) to serve as an Associate Professor at the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine. From 2001 to 2002, he combined his main job with duties as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of General Medicine and clinical responsibilities.

Since 2006, he has held the title of highest-category therapist and, since 2019, highest-category family medicine physician. In March 2008, he was awarded the academic title of Associate Professor.

From 2009 to 2012, he served as Head of the "Polyclinic" Department.
From 2012 to 2018, he was a Professor at the Department of Undergraduate Therapy at SKSMA.
From March 2018 to September 2019, he was Head of the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine at SKMA.
Since September 2019, he has been Head of the Department of Family Medicine.

Since 2014, he has been an accredited independent expert in therapy for the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Center for Quality Control.
He is the author of 18 certificates of authorship and over 150 scientific and educational-methodological publications, including 4 textbooks and 16 standard programs.
He acts as a scientific advisor and consultant for master's students in the "Nursing" field.

He is the principal investigator for the PTS project "National Program for the Implementation of Personalized Medicine in the Republic of Kazakhstan," in collaboration with S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (2020–2023).
He is also a member of the Clinical Council, the SKMA Local Ethics Committee, Chair of the Academic Council on Residency Programs, and a member of the Educational and Methodological Association (EMA) for medical education programs in therapy and family medicine.

He was awarded the Honorary Diploma of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2018 and the "Excellence in Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan" badge in 2021.