Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Medicine

It aims to graduate an undifferentiated doctor with sufficient knowledge, skills and attitudes to take some responsibility for clinical care in the role of an intern, but who is able to appreciate their professional limitations

The medical course is based around four themes: the Scientific Basis of Medicine; Doctor, Health and Society; Doctor and Patient; and Personal and Professional Development. These themes are developed during the course.

Throughout the entire program there are opportunities for you to choose optional study blocks that are of particular interest to you. In the final level this block may be taken in an overseas centre.

Please note the information on additional entry requirements for Australian students for the undergraduate medicine and graduate medicine courses, and for International students (undergraduate course).

Educational Qualifications

Structure

Students are taught to undertake self-directed and student-centred learning via problem-based learning of the integrated curriculum, based on the four themes extending throughout the six years. The themes are Scientific Basis of Medicine; Doctor and Patient; Doctor, Health and Society; and Personal and Professional Development. The normal, abnormal and clinical aspects of the patient spiral throughout the curriculum. The first year is concerned with basic science, introducing students to foundations of animal and human biology, physiology, biophysics and clinical chemistry. In second year, students are introduced to the normal structure and function of the human body, which includes elements of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. During the third year the scientific exploration of body systems continues but with a focus on disordered structure and function as it relates to disease. This introduces students to aspects of pathology, microbiology and pharmacology. Running concurrently, and linked to the science teaching theme, are the remaining three themes of the course. These take students into general practices, hospitals, patients' homes and community settings. Students are introduced to patients and their problems, epidemiological and public health issues, cultural issues and aspects of personal development, to name but a few. Years four to six concentrate more heavily on the clinical aspects of medicine with hospitals and general practices, both urban and rural. In the penultimate year, 25 per cent of students spend the year at one of the ten Rural Clinical Sites located throughout the state. The teaching is structured around blocks of general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, general practice and emergency medicine. Specialty clinical areas are also covered. As well, the Doctor, Health and Society and Personal and Professional Development themes introduced in the first three years continue to be integrated throughout the clinical attachments. Relevant aspects of basic scientific material are also incorporated into the clinical teaching streams. Throughout the program there may be opportunities to choose optional study blocks that are of particular interest to students. In the final year this block (elective) may be taken in an overseas centre.

Career Opportunities

A medical career may be followed in one or more of a number of spheres such as private practice, hospitals, government health departments, the military forces and educational establishments such as medical schools, where many members of the academic staff have responsibilities for teaching and research as well as patient care.