Sex Specific Differences in Healthcare
Sex-specific Differences in Healthcare
Online, 12 month, professional development program for Australian medical practitioners that builds the skills to recognise and apply sex-specific evidence, improving clinical reasoning, risk assessment, prescribing, prevention, and patient outcomes.
Register here
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 equips clinicians to understand and apply sex-specific evidence across clinical decision-making.
For clinicians, trainees and healthcare professionals.
This program is suited to 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.
Four sequential modules across one CPD year.
The program is delivered online through structured modules. Each module includes learning activities, reflective practice, applied case work and opportunities to connect the evidence to clinical decision-making.
Self-paced modules
Complete structured learning online, with each module building on the previous one.
Includes
- Four sequential online modules
- Pre-reading and learning activities
- Case-based reflection and practice audit
- Progression through the annual CPD cycle
Applied professional learning
The program is designed to support continuing professional development through reflective practice, clinical audit and applied case work.
Includes
- Pre-quiz and post-quiz learning checks
- Clinical case audit and write-up
- Peer review and reflection
- Quarterly workshop and discussion
Four modules from foundations to clinical application.
The course is structured to build from the historical and biological foundations of sex-specific healthcare through to prescribing, toxicology, vascular disease, risk and prevention.
The History and Importance of Sex Specific Healthcare
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
Biology, Structure and Function
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 and Toxicology
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
Sex Specific Vascular Disease: Risk and Prevention
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
Live online Q&A sessions with Professor Cassandra Szoeke
Participants will have access to live online Q&A sessions with Professor Cassandra Szoeke, Program Lead, to support clinical translation and applied learning across the program.
- Opportunity to ask questions and consolidate module 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 modules
Register now for the July 2026 launch.
Limited-time launch pricing
A launch discount of 50% will be available for a limited period.
Register hereCertificate and digital recognition
Participants who complete the program may be eligible for module completion certificates and digital recognition.
The program is designed as a structured annual CPD learning cycle.
Register hereGrounded 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 to move 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 being grounded in evidence and led by experts in women’s health.
Course Science Advisory
- Prof Stephen Nicholls (Cardiologist, Director of the Victorian Heart Hospital)
- Prof Esther Davis (Cardiologist, Head of the Women’s Heart Clinic, Victorian Heart Hospital)
- Clin Prof Amanda Vincent (Endocrinologist, Lead Healthy Heart MHCRI)
- Prof Helena Teede (Endocrinologist, Reproductive Risk Factors for Health)
- Prof Carolyn Ee (Primary Care Physician, Specialist in women’s heart health)