Medical Degree (MD)

The Department’s teaching program focuses on the integration of communication, clinical skills and clinical reasoning, to enable holistic, evidence-based care of patients and their families within the community. The philosophy of the Department is to foster an enthusiastic and caring approach to teaching students, with engaging, evidence-based programs, assessment and feedback which drives learning and the provision of pastoral care.

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING PROGRAM – YEARS 1 and 2

Developing clinical competencies and self-care

Year 1 and 2 clinical skills’ teaching by the Department constitutes 25 per cent of the teaching load in the first 2 years of the MBBS. Students learn the basics of history-taking, examination skills, and simple procedural skills.

YEAR 1 TEACHING CONTENT YEAR 2 TEACHING CONTENT

The focus is on personal attributes and qualities required as a medical student and, ultimately, a medical practitioner.

  • History taking
  • Building patient relationships
  • Responding to emotion
  • Cross-cultural communication skills
  • Vital signs
  • Musculoskeletal systems history and examination
  • Cardiovascular system history and examination
  • Neurological history and examination of the peripheral nervous system of the upper and lower limbs
  • Electrocardiography interpretation
  • Subcutaneous and intramuscular injection practical skills
  • Hand hygiene practical skills
  • Real patient interaction opportunities

Students receive extensive education on body systems, including:

  • Respiratory system
  • Reproductive system
  • Haematological system
  • Clinical skills for undifferentiated presentations
  • Central nervous system (cranial nerves)
  • Mental state examinations
  • Gastrointestinal system
  • Genitourinary system
  • Endocrine system
  • Eye and ear a
  • Sensitive examination (breast)
  • Basic life support
  • Real patient interaction

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING PROGRAM – YEARS 4 and 5

Year 4C

Year 4C is the penultimate year of the medical program. It is also where the main exposure to General Practice occurs, being 1 of the 4 specialty blocks in this year. At the Department of General Practice, we have oversight of the curriculum in General Practice and its assessment across all teaching sites in Victoria and Malaysia. We also directly teach circa 275 students each year. This cohort is distributed over 4 x 9-week rotations.

During each rotation, in the Department we deliver interactive face-to-face, large and small group teaching on Mondays and Wednesdays. It continues to be informed and enhanced by best practice in medical education and feedback from both students and staff. There is an emphasis on clinical reasoning, patient-centeredness and holistic care. We provide a breadth of practical experience, as students put their skills into action assessing, diagnosing and managing patients on placement, using case-based scenarios (face-to-face and online teaching) and during simulation sessions.

Content areas include:

  • Acute and serious consultations
  • Chronic disease
  • Dermatology
  • Developmental disability health
  • Difficult consultations
  • ENT
  • Family violence
  • Health care in older people
  • Medicolegal dilemmas
  • Men’s health
  • Mental health
  • Musculoskeletal medicine
  • Palliative care
  • Prescribing
  • Preventative health
  • Ophthalmology
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Women’s health

The teaching and mentorship of students is provided by highly skilled and passionate General Practitioners and simulated patients, in collaboration with colleagues in Dermatology, Developmental Disability Health, Ophthalmology, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy.

When not in the Department, students are provided with the invaluable opportunity of one-on-one supervision with their General Practice clinical supervisors as well as clinical time in Dermatology and Drug and Alcohol Clinics. The feedback on the clinical placements continues year-on-year to be outstanding.

Year 5D

From 2018, the Department of General Practice has welcomed final year medical students to spend additional time in General Practice as an Elective or a Specialty block. This allows students to experience a further 6 weeks in the specialty with increasing responsibility, in preparation for their role as junior doctors. Students also join the teaching team and are mentored to develop skills in medical education and to deliver components of teaching sessions under supervision with feedback.

MD SCHOLARLY INTENSIVE PLACEMENT (SIP)

From 2020, the Department of General Practice will be offering a range of 6 week placements throughout the year. Final year students will benefit from engagement with the specialty of General Practice gaining valuable pre-intern clinical experience, practice-based or education-focused scholarly work, or research experience with internationally recognised research teams known for their supportive approach.

For more information click here or contact the SIPs Academic coordinator Dr Tim Staunton Smith timothy.stauntonsmith@monash.edu.

Students will preference a SIP from a list available at least 2 months before their rotation begins. Alternatively, if arrangements with a specific research stream or clinical General Practice have been made, these need to be approved by and discussed with the SIPS Academic Coordinator.

STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PATHWAYS

Each year, the Department of General Practice have over 40 students take part in one of our research training programs. . We also have a growing community of early career researchers. The Department provides a supportive environment with quality supervision and mentorship, regular team meetings, excellent study facilities and onsite parking.

To find out more visit Research Training.

STUDENT-LED ORGANISATIONS

The Department of General Practice strongly supports student-led organisations.

The Monash University branch of the General Practice Student Network (GPSN) promotes and nurtures awareness and interest of the specialty of General Practice amongst the student cohort.

Run by students interested in General Practice as a specialty career choice, and facilitated by the General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), GPSN focuses on exposing medical students to the inspiring diversity of a career in General Practice. Activities include clinical skills sessions, careers nights, seminars and conferences, social events, peer support and networking opportunities.

For more information, visit GPSN

Education enquiries

Email enquiries: med-genprac@monash.edu

Telephone: +61 3 9902 4477