UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

In this unit, science, clinical and professional content will be presented longitudinally, built around the Global MD's core clinical conditions and presentations in the respiratory, gastro-intestinal, renal, endocrine and reproductive systems.

Students cover the foundational concepts of the biomedical sciences of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, haematology, microbiology, anatomical pathology and pharmacology. Case-based learning built around the core conditions and presentations will illustrate clinically relevant aspects of bioscience and introduce principles of clinical reasoning. Communication skills and the clinical skills of medical history-taking and physical examination are introduced in a structured manner, allowing development of professional behaviours and understanding of the patient perspective and of patient-centred care. The concepts of epidemiology, medical research and evidence-based practice are further developed along with the opportunity to discuss the main issues in social determinants of health, global health, mental health, healthcare systems and health economics. Students have opportunities to develop their information literacy skills as applied to medicine. Introduction to professional aspects of medical practice includes professional behaviours, medical law and ethics, leadership and teamwork, collaborative practice, educational theory and practice, diversity within medicine, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Maori and First Nations peoples health.

Credit

24 points

Offering

Availability	Location	Mode
Not available in 2025	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) display professional behaviour in the educational and clinical settings and outline some challenges to professionalism; demonstrate objective self- reflection and insight to recognise own personal values, well-being and difficulties and access support services when necessary; comply with medicolegal responsibilities and outline some ethicolegal issues in the doctor-patient relationship; (2) outline different leadership styles, team structures, group dynamics and their effects on team function; and work effectively in a learning group; outline the clinical roles of health professionals and some health teams; outline priorities of health care in developed and developing health systems and outline health policy development, and demonstrate knowledge of cost-effective and sustainable health care.; (3) explain current health and health care issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Maori and First Nations people and communities, and explain some strategies to best meet the health and health care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Maori and First Nations peoples and communities; (4) outline instances of general and specific advocacy by medical professionals; outline some causes and consequences of health inequalities in specific groups and across populations locally and globally; and explain the principles of health maintenance, promotion, screening and disease prevention for specified organ system medical conditions; (5) discuss clinically relevant normal and abnormal human structure, function, behaviour, and development for specified organ systems, and explain the classification, epidemiology, aetiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, common clinical and pathological manifestations, natural history, diagnostic principles and therapeutic principles for specified organ system medical conditions; (6) perform systematic problem-focussed history-taking and physical examination, explain the diagnostic role of some investigations for specified organ systems, and discuss the principles of clinical reasoning and decision-making; (7) explain generic principles of patient management including pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, and explain the use of therapies for specified organ system medical conditions, and perform specified procedural skills; (8) explain the influence of behaviour, lifestyle, environment, psychological, cultural and spiritual factors on human behaviours, relationships, health, diseases and suffering and outline the benefits of shared decision-making with patients; display professional, concise and accurate oral, written and electronic biomedical communication skills; and outline the importance of quality care systems and clinical audits in preventing medical error and improving health outcomes; (9) explain principles of learning, identify personal learning needs, implement and evaluate a personal learning plan and effectively use appropriate educational resources; apply effective approaches to mentoring relationships from the mentee perspective and outline the importance of role?modeling; explain principles of patient education and counseling; apply adult learning educational strategies and prepare effective teaching and learning materials; and seek and effectively respond to constructive feedback and provide constructive feedback to others; and recommend changes contributing ot curriculum effectiveness; and (10) explain the strengths, weakness and application of common research designs and some biostatistical concepts, and demonstrate basic competency in statistical analysis using selected software; use an evidence-­?based approach to critically evaluate scientific literature of specified organ system medical conditions; and use reliable, efficient and authoritative sources of medical information to support learning.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) end of semester assessment; (2) in-semester assessments; and (3) professional behaviour and attendance assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the end of semester assessment and professional behaviour and attendance assessment components.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Narelle Kealley and Dr Robert White and Global MD Staff member

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

92850 Doctor of Medicine (Global)
and GMED4201 Integrated Medicine 1

Co-requisites

GMED5302 Primary Care 3

Incompatibility

IMED3112 Integrated Medical Systems 2

Approved quota: 105—selection for the Global MD will be overseen with the Medical School's Medicine and Dentistry Admission and Selection Committee, and be consistent with the approved and advertised selection processes for the standard UWA MD (course code 91850).

Contact hours

Approximately 24 hours per week, including, lectures 6-8 hrs, seminars 4 hrs, clinical skills workshops 2 hrs, Team Based Learning workshops 2 hrs, Pathology eLearning and bottles tutorials 2 hrs, labs 2 hrs, online learning 4 hrs