Family Medicine is a specialty. Family physicians complete 3 to 4 years of graduate medical education after receiving their medical degree. During this period of training as "residents", they study health care for newborns, children, adolescents and adults, pregnancy care, women's health needs, behavioral medicine and they also care for the elderly. This training is completed under supervision ensuring a well rounded education in these areas and preparing those doctors for a unique role to attend for the total health care needs of their patients.

There is a strong emphasis in Family Medicine on promoting health and preventing disease. It provides continuous and comprehensive health care to patients of all ages without limitations on gender or medical condition.

The American University of Beirut pioneered training in Family Medicine in the Arab World by establishing its training program in 1979 together with an affiliated program in Bahrain.