Medicine

MED100 – Foundations of a Medical Vocation
This unit is 42 weeks in length. The educational model is that of problem based learning in which a clinical problem sets the context for the students’ learning of content material each week. This is supported by a series of fixed resource sessions of lectures, practical classes; web based material and expert tutorials.

As well as content material, the skills that are acquired are: communication; critical analysis; problem solving; team work; literature searching; clinical examination; laboratory skills in Pathology and Microbiology.

Weekly Clinical Debriefing tutorials are designed to introduce and develop skills in reflective practice. Social justice in the form of community service is an integral part of the course.

The Notre Dame core units of Theology and Philosophy are integral parts of MED100 as Philosophical Studies in a one week intensive course and Theological Studies in Semester 1.

MED200 – Foundations of Clinical Practice
This unit is 43 weeks in length.  The educational model is that of problem based learning in which a clinical problem sets the context for the students’ learning of content material each week. This is supported by a series of fixed resource sessions of lectures, practical classes; web based material and expert tutorials.

As well as content material, the skills that are acquired are: communication; critical analysis; problem solving; team work; literature searching; clinical examination; laboratory skills in Pathology and Microbiology.

Weekly Clinical Debriefing tutorials are designed to develop skills in reflective practice.  Social justice in the form of community service is an integral part of the course.

The Notre Dame core unit of Ethics is an integral part of MED200 as Ethical Studies in Medicine during Semester One.

MED301 – Clinical Apprenticeships in the Rural clinical School
Medical students enrolled in this unit spend the academic year in a rural setting and are enrolled in the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia which is a partnership between The University of Notre Dame Australia and The University of Western Australia.

MED300 – Clinical Apprenticeships
Prerequisite units: MED100, MED200.
The unit comprises 43 weeks which includes:

  • Orientation
  • four clinical rotations in: o Medicine and Medical Specialties (9 weeks);
    • Surgery and Surgical Specialties including Ophthalmology (9 weeks);
    • Community & Children’s Health (8 weeks); and
    • Women’s & Neonatal Health (8 weeks)
    • Workshop weeks
    • Exam periods

MED300 consists of a formal lecture program (Back to Base) in which four lectures per week on a variety of clinical topics, are given by practising clinicians. The practical aspects of MED300 are provided through the patient centred clinical rotations which provide direct contact with patients.
At the completion of this unit, a student will have demonstrated satisfactory performance in:

  • Patient history taking and examination
  • Clinical procedures undertaken in each rotation
  • Understanding of the essential elements of each discipline area
  • Clinical reasoning ability
  • Preparation of a professional portfolio

On successful completion of the unit, students will be eligible to progress to MED400.

MED400 - Preparing for Internship
Prerequisite units: MED100, MED200, MED300.
The unit comprises 44 weeks which includes:

  • Orientation
  • four 8-week clinical rotations in:
    • Medicine (General, Geriatric & Palliative);
    • Surgery & Rural Practice/Selectives;
    • Critical Care (Anaesthetics, Emergency Medicine & Intensive Care); and
    • Psychiatry, ENT & Musculoskeletal/Orthopaedics
    • Workshop weeks
    • a 4-week elective
    • Exam periods

Students spend 4½ days in a clinical setting and ½ day on campus for a Back to Base lecture program.
As this unit is an apprenticeship style model, students are expected to attend all clinical placements and to maximise learning opportunities presented on the wards, operating theatres, outpatient clinics and clinicians consulting rooms.
On successful completion of the unit, students will be eligible to graduate.

MED401 - Honours Research Project
Prerequisite units: MED100, MED200, MED300.
The MBBS (Hons) is open to currently enrolled and eligible medical students at the discretion of the Dean of Medicine, Fremantle. The minimum requirements for entry to the Course will be a minimum mark of at least 65% in MED100, MED200 and MED300.
The requirements for successful completion of the unit are:

  • MBBS (Hons) students shall complete a final draft of a peer reviewed journal article.
  • MBBS (Hons) students will be required to complete a grant proposal (15%), ethics application (10%), abstract (5%), thesis (60%) and an oral presentation (10%).
  • To graduate with Honours, MBBS (Hons) students must achieve at least 60% in the above assessments which is equivalent to an Honours Division IIB (H2B).

Honours within the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery is awarded as graded Honours.