While other doctors cater to diseases of individuals, Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) specialists provide complete health care at the community level. In addition to diagnosing and treating diseases in individuals, PSM specialists provide health services in areas of health promotion, protection from specific diseases, early diagnosis, treatment, disability limitation and rehabilitation to both individuals and populations. They measure & analyze the health needs of populations and then develop appropriate strategies to prevent & control diseases and improve health of populations. PSM specialists are actively involved with the government agencies in the processes of policy making, planning of interventions, training, implementation of programs, monitoring the interventions, evaluation of programs, etc.  They are actively involved in conducting research and development towards improving the health of people and the health care services of the community.

Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine – Karnataka State Chapter (IAPSM-KSC) is a branch of the national level association, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. IAPSM-KSC was started in 2016.. The members of IAPSM-KSC are doctors who are Preventive and Social Medicine (also known as Community Medicine) specialists. Members of IAPSM who hail from Karnataka state are automatically members of IAPSM-KSC.

The main aim of IAPSM-KSC is to improve the practice of Preventive and Social Medicine, not only in Karnataka state, but also at the national and international levels.

Under the banner of IAPSM-KSC, many activities are conducted till date. Conferences, health education activities, Inter collegiate Academic Post graduate Programmes, workshops are being held regularly to enhance the knowledge of post graduates, medical faculty and public health specialists.

The first conference of IAPSM-KSC was held at JSS Medical College, Mysuru in 2019.  

The second conference of IAPSM-KSC was held at Yenopoya Medical College, Mangaluru in 2022.

The third conference of IAPSM-KSC was held at BLDE Medical College, Vijayapura in 2023.

Post graduate refresher course was conducted in SDM College and Medical Sciences, Dharwad on 3rd and 4th of Nov 2023.