UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

In this Unit, integrated science, clinical and professional content will be presented longitudinally, built around the Global MD's core clinical conditions and presentations, in the musculoskeletal and neurological systems.

Students will go into more depth on foundational and advanced 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 introduced 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.

Global MD Students will learn alongside Year 2 UWA MD students in the Clinical Preparation rotation and undertake the same assessments as these students.

Credit

18 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, outline some challenges to professionalism, and reflect on own and others' professional behaviours; demonstrate objective self- reflection and insight to recognise effects of own personal values, well-­being and difficulties on professional performance and access support services when necessary; and comply with medicolegal responsibilities and recognise and discuss common ethical and legal issues in medical practice; (2) outline the requirements of team leadership, followership and the shared leadership model of care; and display team skills; respect, value and utilise the expertise, opinions and skills of other health professionals; explain the roles and functioning of and community health care settings and staff; and outline career pathways in medicine; (3) outline the role of the doctor and priority issues in supporting and advocating for individual patients, the local community and society; display the ability to obtain and record a culturally secure, accurate and comprehensive history, physical examination and diagnostic plan with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Maori and First Nations patients; and discuss some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Maori and First Nations peoples health issues; and display a culturally secure clinical approach and explain contributing factors and consequences of health inequalities, outline health maintenance, promotion and disease prevention strategies with patients and colleagues; (4) discuss the classification, epidemiology, aetiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical and pathological manifestations, natural history, diagnostic principles and therapeutic principles for specified core medical conditions; perform an accurate, systematic and timely clinical assessment for the specified core presentations and derive a relevant differential diagnosis or problem list; and select or perform and interpret specified investigations under direct supervision; outline the management principles for the specified core medical conditions; and perform specified procedural skills under direct supervision; assess and respect the patient's values, preferences, context, and perspectives, and explain the effects of these on shared decision-­?making, diagnosis and management; display professional, concise and accurate oral, written and electronic clinical communication skills with colleagues and respectful, courteous and effective communication with patients/carers/families; and explain elements of the quality care and clinical audit processes in hospital and community settings and their role in improving health outcomes; (5) explain and apply principles of life-long 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 discuss the importance and effects of role-modeling; assess patient understanding of their health and health problems and effectively respond to questions from patients/carers/families; demonstrate skills to facilitate teaching and learning in one to one, small and large group sessions, including clinical teaching with patients; and display effective self-­?assessment skills, seek and effectively respond to constructive feedback, and provide constructive feedback to others; and (6) apply knowledge of research and biostatistical methods to inform clinical learning; apply evidence-based-practice strategies and tools to specified core medical conditions and presentations; and use clinical information and support systems and resources in a relevant, effective and professional manner.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) in-semester assessment; (2) end of semester assessment; and (3) professional behaviour 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 assessment components.

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

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Narelle Kealley and GMD staff member

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

92850 Doctor of Medicine (Global)

and Successful completion of

GMED5301 Integrated Medicine 2

Co-requisites

Enrolment in

GMED5402 Primary Care 4

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 20 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 2 hrs.