Medicine Program Introduction
The medical program bought and delivered from the University of Sydney (USyd) in Australiain June 2004. Four themes extend throughout the program, providing the framework for the curriculum and assessment. These themes represent a radical departure from the traditional organization of medical courses around pre-clinical disciplines such as Anatomy and clinical disciplines such as Surgery.
Basic & Clinical Sciences
This is the most substantial theme,
covering the scientific knowledge base required for medical practice. It
includes pre- and para-clinical disciplines (e.g. anatomy) as well as clinical
disciplines (e.g. surgery).
By the time they graduate,
students should be able to:
Apply an understanding of normal and abnormal human
structure, function and behavior to the diagnosis, management and prevention of
health problems.
Use the best available evidence of outcomes to prevent or
cure disease, relieve symptoms or minimize disabilities.
Analyze clinical data and work to determine its validity
and reliability.
Participate in the generation, interpretation, application
and dissemination of significant advances in medical knowledge.
Recognize the limits to scientific knowledge and
understanding, and the continuing nature of all scientific endeavor.
Patient & Doctor Theme:
This theme covers the range of
clinical skills that students need to acquire - the motions that doctors go
through when actually dealing with patients.
By the time they graduate,
students should have:
- Apply an understanding of the therapeutic nature of the
patient-doctor relationship and the impact of the individual characteristics of
both patient and doctor in that relationship.
- Apply the ability to listen and identify issues of concern
to patients, families and caregivers; and to respond to those concerns, using
whatever means necessary for effective communication.
- Apply the ability to elicit and interpret clinical
symptoms and signs by interviewing and examining patients systematically and
with sensitivity, and to use this information to guide further investigation.
- Apply the ability to perform important clinical
procedures, particularly those in vital and life-threatening situations.
- Apply a Ethical behavior in meeting the needs of patients
and families, concern for confidentiality, and respect for individual autonomy,
enabling patients and their families to make secure, informed decisions in
relation to their medical care.
Community & Doctor Theme:
This theme covers the range of
clinical skills that students need to acquire - the motions that doctors go
through when actually dealing with patients.
By the time they graduate,
students should have:
- An understanding of the therapeutic nature of the
patient-doctor relationship and the impact of the individual characteristics of
both patient and doctor in that relationship.
- The ability to listen and identify issues of concern to
patients, families and caregivers; and to respond to those concerns, using
whatever means necessary for effective communication.
- The ability to elicit and interpret clinical symptoms
and signs by interviewing and examining patients systematically and with
sensitivity, and to use this information to guide further investigation.
- The ability to perform important clinical procedures,
particularly those in vital and life-threatening situations.
- Ethical behavior in meeting the needs of patients and
families, concern for confidentiality, and respect for individual autonomy,
enabling patients and their families to make secure, informed decisions in
relation to their medical care.
Personal and Professional Development
This theme deals with medicine
as a profession, teaching skills that are required to fare in the medical
workforce (e.g. teamwork and stress-management) as well as in the wider
profession (e.g. maintaining scholarly connections).
By the time they graduate,
students should have:
- Commitment to compassionate and ethical professional
behavior.
- The ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team
and to accept and provide leadership as appropriate.
- Recognition of the inevitability of decision-making in
circumstances of uncertainty and the capacity to make rational and sensitive
decisions based on the best available evidence.
- The ability to recognize his or her personal, physical,
and emotional needs; and the ability to respond to stress and maintain openness
to assistance in time of need.
- Ongoing commitment to the advancement of learning within
a community of medical scholars,
Skills in the recording,
organization and management of information, including the use of appropriate
information technology resources.
There is still an initial
focus on basic sciences and clinical skills, and a later emphasis on clinical
knowledge, skills and judgment. However, the theme structure ensures
that students' knowledge and skills develop systematically over the four
years. In addition, the themes provide a framework for the program
objectives. Students are required to demonstrate satisfactory performance in
all four themes throughout the course.