Four online courses
Self-paced online learning
The first two courses will open in early November. Please register your interest, and we will let you know when registration opens.
Expression of InterestSex specific differences in Healthcare
`Sex-Specific Differences in Healthcare Program
Online, self-paced professional development program for Australian medical practitioners that builds the skills to recognise and respond to female-specific health risks, enabling more informed clinical
decisions and contributing to improved patient outcomes.
Why this program
Sex-specific healthcare is becoming essential to best-practice medicine.
Medicine has historically relied on evidence generated predominantly in male bodies. This has contributed to gaps in diagnosis, prescribing, prevention and treatment for women.
This program has four course components and equips clinicians to understand and apply sex-specific evidence across clinical decision-making.
The Importance of Sex-Specific Healthcare - Starting in November 2026
Establishes why sex-specific healthcare is a standard of care and explores how the male default in research has shaped clinical evidence, guidelines and practice.
- Historical exclusion of women from research
- Clinical and policy consequences
- Stakeholder perspectives and at-risk groups
- Practice audit and case-based reflection
Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk & Prevention - Starting in November 2026
Synthesises the historical, biological and pharmacological evidence into cardiovascular care, with focus on risk, prevention and recognising female-typical
presentations.
- Female-specific cardiovascular risk factors
- Acute myocardial infarction presentation
- Non-obstructive coronary pathology
- Risk assessment, prevention and clinical work-up
Sex-Specific Biology, Structure & Function – coming soon
Builds the biological foundation for sex-specific medicine, examining how
chromosomal, hormonal and tissue-level mechanisms influence function across
organ systems.
- Every cell has a sex
- Chromosomal and hormonal mechanisms
- Immune, cardiovascular and pulmonary examples
- Biological foundations for clinical decision-making
Pharmacology & Toxicology – coming soon
Translates sex-specific biology into the everyday clinical act of prescribing, with attention to drug response, adverse events and multi-factor prescribing risk.
- Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
- Sex-modulated pharmacodynamic response
- Adverse drug reactions and dose considerations
- Prescribing risk across age, polypharmacy and comorbidity
Course dates and registration
Fees
Course fee
General: $500 AUD per course
Discounted launch offer for courses 1 and 2: $250 each
50% launch discount will be available for a limited period.
Who should attend?
For medical clinicians, trainees and healthcare professionals.
This program suits healthcare professionals seeking to strengthen sex-specific clinical reasoning, risk assessment, prescribing, and prevention across healthcare.
General practitioners
Clinicians involved in prevention, early identification, prescribing, referral and long-term patient care.
Medical specialists and physicians
Specialists seeking to integrate sex-specific evidence into diagnosis, clinical decision-making and management.
Psychiatrists and specialist doctors
Doctors working in areas where cardiovascular risk, prescribing, adverse events and sex-specific health differences are clinically relevant.
Trainees and students
Medical trainees and students seeking early exposure to sex-specific healthcare and its clinical application.
Enquiries and conditions
For more information, contact MCHRI.Shortcourses@monash.edu.
Enrolment is subject to the relevant Monash terms, conditions, cancellation and transfer policies.
Highlights
From foundations to clinical application
The courses build the historical and biological foundations of sex-specific healthcare through to prescribing, toxicology, cardiovascular disease, risk and prevention.
CPD focused - Applied professional learning
The program is designed to support continuing professional development through reflective practice, clinical audit and applied case work.
Certificate and digital recognition
Participants who complete a course may be eligible for course completion certificates and digital recognition.
Online Program
This online, self-paced program is delivered through structured courses. Each course includes learning activities, reflective practice, applied case work, and opportunities to connect the evidence to clinical decision-making.
The program is designed to support continuing professional development through reflective practice, clinical audit and applied case work.
Includes
- Pre- and post-course capability checks
- Clinical case audit and write-up
- Peer review and reflection
- Seminar and discussion
Courses
From foundations to clinical application. The courses build the historical and biological foundations of sex-specific healthcare through to prescribing, toxicology, cardiovascular disease, risk and prevention.
Live seminars & discussions with Professor Cassandra Szoeke
Participants will have access to live seminars and discussions with the Program Lead Professor Cassandra Szoeke, supporting clinical translation and applied learning throughout the courses
- Opportunity to ask questions and consolidate course learning
- Discussion focused on clinical application and real-world practice
- Support to interpret and apply sex-specific evidence
- Designed to complement the self-paced online courses
The Importance of Sex-Specific Healthcare – Launching in November 2026
Establishes why sex-specific healthcare is a standard of care and explores how the male default in research has shaped clinical evidence, guidelines and practice.
- Historical exclusion of women from research
- Clinical and policy consequences
- Stakeholder perspectives and at-risk groups
- Practice audit and case-based reflection
Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk & Prevention – Launching
in November 2026
Synthesises the historical, biological and pharmacological evidence into cardiovascular care, with focus on risk, prevention and recognising female-typical presentations.
- Female-specific cardiovascular risk factors
- Acute myocardial infarction presentation
- Non-obstructive coronary pathology
- Risk assessment, prevention and clinical work-up
Sex-Specific Biology, Structure & Function – coming soon
Builds the biological foundation for sex-specific medicine, examining how chromosomal, hormonal and tissue-level mechanisms influence function across organ systems.
- Every cell has a sex
- Chromosomal and hormonal mechanisms
- Immune, cardiovascular and pulmonary examples
- Biological foundations for clinical decision-making
Pharmacology & Toxicology – coming soon
Translates sex-specific biology into the everyday clinical act of prescribing, with attention to drug response, adverse events and multi-factor prescribing risk.
- Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
- Sex-modulated pharmacodynamic response
- Adverse drug reactions and dose considerations
- Prescribing risk across age, polypharmacy and comorbidity
Grounded in evidence and clinical translation.
The program is led by Professor Cassandra Szoeke and supported by expert clinical and academic contributors across women’s health, cardiology, endocrinology, primary care and sex-specific healthcare.
Designed for practical clinical impact
The program supports clinicians in moving from awareness of sex-specific evidence to applied clinical reasoning, practice audit, case reflection, and improved patient-centred care.
Course facilitators
This program distinguishes itself by its evidence base and expert leadership in women’s health.
Professor Cassandra Szoeke
Professor Szoeke is a Medical Doctor, Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians and Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Digital Health. She is internationally recognised for her work examining female-specific differences in common health conditions that are experienced by both men and women. She has published hundreds of papers in the medical literature outlining sex-specific differences in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and mental health in women. She is a multi-award-winning clinical researcher who pioneered the inclusion of sex differences in consideration of both disease and preventive health.
Our Scientific Advisory Group
Professor Stephen Nicholls
Cardiologist, Director of the Victorian Heart Hospital
Professor Esther Davis
Cardiologist, Head of the Women's Heart Clinic, Victorian Heart Hospital
Assoc Professor Amanda Vincent
Endocrinologist, Head of Early Menopause Research, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University
Professor Helena Teede
Endocrinologist, Women's Metabolic Health Research, Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University
Professor Carolyn Ee Teede
Academic General Practitioner, Leader in Chronic Disease Management, Flinders University
Customised Training
Are you interested in a customised version of this program for your organisation? Contact us to discuss your training needs.
For more information
Please email our team at mchri.shortcourses@monash.edu