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Posts Tagged ‘Australian Medical Schools in Australia’

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

University of Queensland Medical School students prepare for real-life medical situations

University of Queensland Medical School student Kyle Johnston is in the final year of his medical degree, and getting ready to put all of his medical knowledge and skills into practice as a hospital intern.

As part of this preparation, Kyle recently participated in the “On Call” simulated clinical scenarios project, an initiative between The University of Queensland Medical School‘s Rural Clinical School in Toowoomba, and the University of Southern Queensland’s Faculty of Sciences.

The scene takes place at USQ, where medical and nursing students are brought together in a simulated ward environment with actors taking on the role of patients with ‘real’ problems and symptoms.

The students, using clinical problem solving and judgment, must assess the situation, make a diagnosis and implement a management plan.

Specialized medical trainers are utilized so that students are able to practice skills such as inserting intravenous cannulas and administration of “prescribed” medications.

The students and actors are supervised by University of Queensland Medical School and USQ lecturers, who provide immediate feedback after each scenario identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

Local GP and University of Queensland Medical School lecturer in General Practice Dr Loretto Wainwright was one of the supervisors for the scenarios.

Dr Wainwright said that the activity provided an excellent opportunity for students to experience working together to manage a clinical problem.

“It’s not enough to just have the knowledge, the students need to have the ability to communicate with the medical team as well as the patient,” Dr Wainwright said. “They need to think about a number of issues at once, looking at the bigger picture of what could be happening. Each scenario, I see students growing in confidence and the ability to work with the medical team.”

Kyle said that the experience had given him the opportunity to feel better prepared for real-life medical situations.

“It joins together my learning in a realistic situation where everybody needs to work together at once,” Kyle said.

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Learn more about the University of Queensland Medical School!

Find out how to apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia.

 

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Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

JCU Medical School students top of their field

Two JCU Medical School graduates have topped the field of doctors sitting fellowship exams for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in 2011.

Dr. Lara Sewell of Toowoomba won the Queensland award and Dr. Jerome Muir Wilson of George Town in Tasmania won the Tasmanian award.

Both Dr. Sewell and Dr. Muir Wilson graduated from the JCU Medical School in 2007, making the James Cook University community very proud of its graduates.

The awards are state-based and given to General Practice Registrars achieving outstanding results in RACGP Fellowship examinations.

Professor Tarun Sen Gupta, director of Medical Education at James Cook University, said the recognition of JCU Medical School graduates highlighted the program’s success.

“It points to the impact of James Cook University across Australia and success in postgraduate exams in a variety of disciplines, including general practice, in different geographic locations,” Professor Sen Gupta said. “We are proud, with some justification, we think, of all James Cook University graduates, but were delighted to see news of this award.”

Congratulations to these two JCU Medical School graduates!

 

About the JCU Medical School

The JCU Medical School offers a six-year, full-time undergraduate degree in medicine and surgery, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). The course aims to produce graduates of the highest academic standards who can progress to medical practice and to further studies in medical specialties. The course places special emphasis on rural and Indigenous health and tropical medicine.

The course in based at the Townsville campus for the first three years. The majority of students in years four, five and six relocate to other School of Medicine teaching sites such as Cairns, Mackay and Darwin. In years five and six, students spend most of their learning time in hospitals and health services.

The Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the JCU Medical School produces graduates who will be uniquely qualified in the fields of rural, remote and Indigenous health, and tropical medicine.

The JCU Medical School combines integrated instruction in biomedical sciences, professional practice and clinical medicine, and incorporates the best aspects of student-centred, problem-based learning combined with systematic instruction. Clinical experience, particularly in the rural and remote context, commences at an early stage and science remains integrated across later years. Small-group learning and close relationships with academic staff and clinical preceptors are program features.

Watch this OzTREKK video of Professor Ian Wronksi of James Cook University‘s Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences speaks about the JCU Medical School‘s program.

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Learn more about the JCU Medical School

Find out how to apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia

 

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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Sydney Medical School to host Information Sessions in Canada

Sydney Medical School will host information sessions in Canada later this month to talk to Canadians interested in pursuing their medical degree at the Sydney Medical School.

The Dean of the Sydney Medical School, Prof. Bruce Robinson, will host the meeting along with the School’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Beth Quinlivan, as well as OzTREKK Director Matt Miernik.

Here are the event details:

Toronto
Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Event: Toronto Info Session
Time: 6 p.m.
Venue: Debates Room, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle,
University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario
Map: http://tiny.cc/harthouse

Vancouver
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Event: Vancouver Info Session
Time: 6 p.m.
Venue: Shaughnessy 1, Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel
1128 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia
Map: http://tiny.cc/marriottpinnacle

 

About the Sydney Medical School

Sydney Medical School is a world-class, graduate-entry degree in medicine.

Undertaken once students have already completed an undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS),  the four-year program includes weekly clinical experience in leading hospitals from the very first weeks, regular PBL (problem-based learning) exercises in small groups, traditional lectures with expert practitioners, and ongoing opportunities to participate in research.

In Years 1 and 2, Sydney Medical School students gain hands-on experience in a structured, supervised program with regular patient contact and weekly clinical school participation. In Years 3 and 4, Sydney Medical School students transfer to a clinical school full-time for further in-depth exposure to clinical practices. Students will also complete an elective term, preferably with one of Sydney Medical School‘s international partners, and may elect to undertake an honours research project.

During the degree, students acquire a thorough grounding in fundamental medical sciences and human anatomy, with the option to attend intensive dissection classes over summer. There are also compulsory independent learning activities (with numerous international opportunities), an eight-week rural rotation and pre-internship training, including preparation for North American registration, if you intend to practice in the USA or Canada.

Why do International Students like the program?

The University of Sydney is deemed one of the world’s top universities for medicine, biology and psychology. The Sydney Medical School is ranked 29th in the world for medicine (QS World University Rankings 2011).

The Sydney Medical School program has received numerous teaching awards and is licensed to universities in the UK, South Africa and the Middle East and to other universities in Australia. The medical program provides a unique learning environment that nurtures communication, team work and life-long learning backed by hard evidence, essential for tomorrow’s doctors.

Finally, Canadians love the location of this medical school! Situated in the heart of the city of Sydney, the University of Sydney provides a wonderful campus experience for international students!

 

About Professor Robinson

Professor Robinson is an Endocrinologist and has been Head of the Molecular Genetics Unit, (now Cancer Genetics Unit) at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital since 1989.

His research has focused on identifying the genetic causes contributing to the formation of tumours in endocrine glands such as the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pituitary. Initially this commenced with identification of mutations in genes causing hereditary endocrine syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, and subsequently hyperparathyroidism jaw tumour syndrome and the hereditary phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes.

He recently formed the International SDH Consortium gathering families from around the world to define the relationships between phaeochromocytoma / paraganglioma and the SDH genes. In addition his lab has characterized mutations and their consequences in sporadic tumours of the thyroid adrenal and recently in brain tumours. He has supervised 25 PhD students.

Want to get more information about the Sydney Medical School information sessions in Canada? Contact OzTREKK!

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Learn more about the Sydney Medical School

Apply now to Australian Medical Schools in Australia

 

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Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Melbourne Medical School begins 150th Anniversary Celebrations

The Melbourne Medical School begins its 150th Anniversary Celebrations, taking a long look down memory lane.

2012 marks the Melbourne Medical School’s 150 years of operation, after first opening its doors in 1862. The Melbourne Medical School has established a historical timeline, showcasing its highlights over its existence.

Highlights include:

  • when women first joined the medical school in 1887;
  • how many of its students left school to battle in WWI; and
  • the number of Nobel Prize winners were are Melbourne Medical School alumni.

While alumni have been encouraged to share their memories from the Melbourne Medical School, the current student roster are also getting involved. The Melbourne Medical School Students’ Association has established a Med150 Ambassador Program.

This nine-person committee will help organize volunteers for events commemorating the 150th anniversary. The majority of the Med150 events will take place between May and September, but the group has already started the planning phases.

If you’re an OzTREKK student about to begin at the Melbourne Medical School, make sure you embrace this opportunity to be a part of a big year! You’ll never forget this time on campus as the Melbourne Medical School celebrates 150 years of history.

 

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Learn more about the Melbourne Medical School

Find out how to apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia

 

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Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Monash University Medical School Students Graduate from Rural Campus

Monash University Medical School students graduated from its rural campus, furthering its commitment to increasing the number of doctors in rural Australia.

The students, who began their studies in 2008, graduated this month as the first ever cohort from the Monash University Medical School at the Gippsland campus, a purpose-built facility designed to specifically address the shortage of doctors and health professionals in regional areas of Australia.

This rural medicine approach speaks to the Canadian medical system, as we see rural medicine shortages across the country.

Professor Judi Walker, Head of the Monash University Medical School of Rural Health – which oversees the operations of the Gippsland Monash University Medical School – said the graduation marked an important milestone not only for graduating students, but for Monash University’s increasing profile as a provider of regionally-focused health and medical education.

“The Gippsland Monash University Medical School has allowed us to extend our education and research footprint even further, and enhance our medical curriculum with an understanding of the specific needs of communities outside of big cities,” Professor Walker said.

“The result is a medical school that brings together local and global knowledge to produce medical graduates with the insight required to not only meet the challenge of working in regional areas, but to make an exceptional contribution to any community they work in, be it at home or abroad.”

Given the increasing research suggesting the location of medical training and clinical placements has a strong influence on where graduates choose to work, Professor Walker said Monash University expected the Gippsland Monash University Medical School would make a growing contribution to increasing the number of doctors in regional Australia in the years to come.

“While our training equips graduates equally well for practice in the city or country, we are seeing more students recognising the many opportunities of working in regional areas as a result of their time in Gippsland.”

Since being opened just four years ago, the Gippsland Monash University Medical School has quickly built a profile as one of the country’s leading graduate medical schools, attracting students from across Australia and around the world.

From an initial cohort of 57, student numbers at the School have grown strongly, with 100 students expected to commence their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) next year. Alongside returning second, third and fourth-years, the Gippsland Monash University Medical School will have a total enrolment of almost 350 students in 2012.

Before being accepted into the Gippsland Monash University Medical School, students are required to have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, with the first graduating cohort coming from a diverse range of backgrounds, including psychology, engineering, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, journalism, biomedical sciences, arts and social sciences.

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Learn more about the Monash University Medical School

Apply now to the Monash University Medical School

Find out how to study at an Australian Medical School in Australia

 

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Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Melbourne Medical School Application Outcomes Confirmed

The Melbourne Medical School has confirmed the official release date of application outcomes for the 2012 intake of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

There are a total of 30 places for international students in the Melbourne Medical School; MD program, and executives at the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences have confirmed that application outcomes are due for release the week of October 10th, 2011.

Renowned for global leadership in health research, policy and practice, the University of Melbourne educates more health professionals than any other university in Australia.

The Melbourne Medical School  MD is a four-year, graduate-entry medical program that builds on the University of Melbourne’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research, and is the first of it’s kind in Australia.  It enables students to become outstanding medical practitioners who will excel as world-class leaders in their chosen field.

Applicants for the 2012 intake are reminded that although the timeline has been confirmed, on many occasions, the release of application outcomes is delayed by a few days and possibly weeks from the official date due to backlogs at International Admissions at the University. However, rest assured that you will have your results as soon as OzTREKK receives them!

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Find out how to apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia

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Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

UQ Medical School Student to complete Marathon a Day for 22 Days

UQ Medical School Student Scott Temple will complete a marathon a day for 22 days!

Yesterday we wrote about the good work completed by the University of Melbourne Medical School students, so today we thought we’d highlight a good deed about to be completed further up north!

The third-year UQ Medical School student Scott Temple has set himself an immense challenge, planning to walk from Sydney to Brisbane to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in memory of his father who passed away from cancer in 1995.

The walk will span over 1,000 kilometres, and Scott aims to complete the challenge in the grueling Australian summer months of November/December by completing the marathon distance every day for 22 day – a 42.4 kilometre distance.

“I am aware of a few other people that have done this walk for charity. However, I plan to complete it faster than anyone I know who has done it before,” Scott said.

He has completed numerous endurance challenges including three Kokoda Challenges and a bike ride from the Gold Coast to Sydney for Cystic Fibrosis.

However, this will be the toughest of them all.

He will be sticking to a strict training schedule for the upcoming months involving numerous runs every week.

All money raised will go to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation whose mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

“I am hoping to raise as much money as possible and would greatly appreciate all donations – the Make-A-Wish Foundation does such great work and is worth the pain I’ll be enduring,” he said.

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Learn more about the UQ Medical School

Find out how to apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia

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Monday, August 29th, 2011

University of Queensland Medical School Considers Offering MD Program

The University of Queensland Medical School has announced that it will seriously consider the introduction of an MD (Doctor of Medicine) program to replace the current MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery) program.

This decision was unanimously agreed to by a Working Party earlier this month. The party was chaired by the UQ Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Keniger and also includes the UQ Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Executive Deans of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Science, with the Heads of the University of Queensland Medical School and School of Biomedical Sciences.

Similar to the medical school programs offered at Canadian universities, the MD is a Masters level award that will require students to undertake a three-year Bachelor’s degree before entering the four year postgraduate medical program.

“If UQ is to introduce an MD Program then we are determined that it will be future-focused and best in class,” said Professor David Wilkinson, Dean and Head of the University of Queensland Medical School.

Planning will commence immediately to determine when the School may be in a position to introduce a UQ MD Program with a 2014 target date.

Consultation with key internal and external stakeholders will then follow to gain critical input.

“There is still plenty of careful planning to be undertaken before a final decision to proceed is made and this decision will be contingent on University approval,” Professor Wilkinson said. “Also, if we do go ahead, we will make sure that no student, current or future, is disadvantaged in any way.”

Currently, one of OzTREKK’s Australian university partners offer an MD program – the University of Melbourne Medical School.

So, what happens next?

The University of Queensland Medical School has established a project team working through all the time lines and issues that need to be considered. This is a large task and needs to be carefully planned. The University has established a working party, chaired by the UQ Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor that is providing oversight of the whole process.

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Find out how you can apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia

 

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Monday, August 8th, 2011

Monash University Medical School Acknowledged by Hillary Clinton

Monash University Medical School researchers were acknowledged by United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton for a life-saving new drug concept at the Saving Lives at Birth global challenge forum held last month in Washington, D.C.

Following the forum, at which Monash University Medical School researcher Dr. Michelle McIntosh spoke, the research team received funding to engineer a drug that could save the lives of mothers of newborn children in developing countries.

The project has the potential to dramatically reduce the number of women dying, approximately 150,000 women per year, at childbirth from postpartum hemorrhage. Postpartum hemorrhage is a massive and potentially fatal loss of blood after delivery of a baby.

The team of researchers at the Monash University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, will attempt to develop the drug oxytocin for aerosol delivery. Oxytocin is the drug of choice for treating postpartum haemorrhage.

The project was recognised as the most significant of all the projects presented at the two-day forum through a ‘peer award’.

At the forum, Secretary Clinton highlighted the potential game-changing impact of the Monash University Medical School project.

In her speech, Hillary Clinton said: “If you are dealing with the very common problem of bleeding during childbirth the most common treatment, a drug called oxytocin, is delivered by injection.

“Converting that medical intervention into an aerosol spray that can be inhaled through a simple disposable device immediately after childbirth – no needles, no cold storage, no bloodborne diseases – has the potential to save many lives,” said Secretary Clinton.

Monash University Medical School‘s Dr. McIntosh said she and her team were delighted to be recognised by Secretary Clinton and their colleagues around the world.

“It’s a great honour to be acknowledged for our work on this global campaign affecting third-world countries. I feel privileged to be able to present our potentially game-changing idea to such an audience, including the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

“The funding will be used to develop our research project into a viable treatment which could stop unnecessary loss of life in developing countries, where currently, one woman bleeds to death every three minutes,” said Dr. McIntosh.

A partnership between the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada and The World Bank, ‘Saving Lives at Birth’ sought “innovative prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in rural, low-resource settings”.

Currently, oxytocin can be delivered only by injection and must be kept refrigerated. This poses numerous barriers for women in rural areas, where refrigeration is limited and needle-stick injuries have the potential to increase the transmission of blood-borne viruses. Administration of oxytocin via injection also means a trained medical person must be present at the time of birth, however, in developing countries less than 50 per cent of women give birth in a hospital.

Dr. McIntosh said she and her team would now start work on engineering an oxytocin powder which will allow patients to inhale the drug immediately after childbirth.

“This approach will remove the need for cold-chain storage and will open up the possibility of oxytocin being available to women in situations where highly trained health workers are not available,” Dr. McIntosh explained.

 

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Monday, July 25th, 2011

UQ Medical School Clinical School Top in the US

The UQ Medical School Clinical School was recently named the top in the US.

As part of the UQ Medical School, American students studying at UQ Medical School can complete their core clinical rotations at the Ochsner Clinical School in New Orleans, LA. On top of that, fourth-year students can also complete their clinical electives at Ochsner.

The UQ Medical School Ochsner Clinical School is part of the Ochsner Medical Center, which is a 740-bed general medical and surgical facility with 33,522 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 8,569 annual inpatient and 16,803 outpatient surgeries.

The Ochsner Medical Center recently received accolades for its programs and services. This hospital was among 140 facilities—fewer than 3 percent of the 4,825 analyzed for the latest Best Hospitals rankings—to be ranked in even one of the 16 specialties!

Not only is it ranked above the national average for patient satisfaction, it ranked nationally in seven adult specialties. It was also high-performing in five adult specialties and scored high in patient safety, demonstrating commitment to reducing accidents and medical mistakes.

Ochsner Medical Center was ranked #22 nationally for in Cardiology and Heart Surgery. It was #27 for Gastroenterology and #33 for Ear, Nose and Throat. The Center also received a #30 ranking for Pulmonology and #38 in Orthopedics. It was named #39 in Geriatrics and #40 in Gynecology.

The Ochsner Medical Center was also declared high performing in the following adult specialties: Cancer, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Urology, Nephrology as well as Neurology and Neurosurgery.

As one of 10 UQ Medical School Clinical Schools, Ochsner is well suited for taking on medical students and providing them with ample opportunity to learn in a range of medical specialties for their long-term medical career goals. Ochsner and UQ Medical School have joined to create a distinctive program for outstanding students that will lead to the practice of medicine in the United States.

UQ Medical School is so proud to have Ochsner Medical Center as one of its clinical schools, and so are the students who rave about their time spent at the clinical school.

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Learn more about the UQ Medical School!

Find out how to apply to Australian Medical Schools in Australia.

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