Surgeons are expected to be effective leaders and have a detailed understanding of the attributes of professionalism in their discipline. In the modern health care setting being an effective leader and adhering to high standards of ethics and professionalism can be challenging, involving responsibilities to our patients, peers, institutions, community and society. Many recent challenges to surgical practice are related to the quality and style of leadership and professional skills and attitudes. In this capstone unit we will examine in detail the knowledge and skills required to be an effective leader. The unit will feature leading members of the Australian surgical and medical community and examine how we can identify and respond to challenges in surgical practice. Leadership will be examined across a range of scenarios from every-day clinical practice to international health advocacy campaigns. Changes in surgical practice stemming from quality improvement and new technology as well as relationships with industry will be explored to provide a framework for effective leadership and professionalism. This unit will equip surgeons at any stage of training with approaches to evaluate and improve the practice of surgery in Australia.

This online unit with an optional face-to-face component introduces the concept of clinical epidemiology and provides students with core skills in clinical epidemiology at an introductory level. Topics covered include asking and answering clinical questions; basic and accessible literature searching techniques; study designs used in clinical epidemiological research; confounding and effect modification; sources of bias; interpretation of results including odds ratios, relative risks, confidence intervals and p values; applicability of results to individual patients; critical appraisal of clinical epidemiological research literature used to answer questions of therapy (RCTs and systematic reviews), harm, prognosis, diagnosis and screening; applicability of results to individual patients; and evidence-based use of health resources.

This unit introduces students to statistical methods relevant in medicine and health. Students will learn how to appropriately summarise and visualise data, carry out a statistical analysis, interpret p-values and confidence intervals, and present statistical findings in a scientific publication. Students will also learn how to determine the appropriate sample size when planning a research study. Students will learn how to conduct analyses using calculators and statistical software.
Specific analysis methods of this unit include: hypothesis tests for one-sample, two paired samples and two independent samples for continuous and binary data; distribution-free methods for two paired samples, two independent samples; correlation and simple linear regression; power and sample size estimation for simple studies; and introduction to multivariable regression models;.
Students who wish to continue with their statistical learning after this unit are encouraged to take PUBH5217 Biostatistics: Statistical Modelling.

The objective of this unit is to provide candidates with an understanding of key methodological concepts of level one evidence based studies needed to conduct high quality surgical research. It will cover basic concepts and principles of good clinical research practice and provide the necessary skills on how to measure the quality of care. Key topics focus on how to identify, appraise, select and synthesise a systematic review and meta-analysis. The use of databases and registries and how to best present statistical analysis and summarise data. This unit will provide candidates with the skills to measure the quality of surgical care as well as evaluate surgical performance and measures of effects. Candidates will be able to critically appraise published statistics and learn to identify publication bias before applying the findings to their own clinical practice.

Thrombosis and haemostasis affect all areas of clinical practice. This unit of study will familiarise students with normal and pathological haemostasis, interpretation of coagulation laboratory tests, and practical management of bleeding and clotting disorders in the perioperative and critical care setting. Case-based discussions will explore strategies for diagnosis, investigation and management in theatres, ICU and the emergency department to assist in making optimal clinical decisions.

The Surgical Pathology Unit of Study course is an online course available in Semester 1 and 2. It covers general pathology and aligns with the Pathology component of the General Surgical Sciences Examination. The unit utilises virtual macroscopic pathology specimens (bottles) available through the Pathology Museum collection and examination of microscopic slides of relevant pathological processes. The course runs over 13 weeks and covers 13 topics. Each week recorded lectures, accompanying slides, required reading, and supplementary materials are provided to students. All material (including assessments) will take approximately 10 hours per week to complete. Topics that will be covered in the course will include basic pathological processes (eg immunology, inflammation, neoplasia etc) and systems pathology (eg cardiovascular, respiratory, gastroenterology, neurology, genitourinary, etc).

This unit is designed to promote academic surgery pari passu with the objectives of the Section of Academic Surgery (SAS) of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Candidates will develop the skills and art of delivering powerful professional presentations. They will learn how to craft a suitable abstract for a scientific paper or conference using their research findings in a format acceptable for adjudication as an oral presentation at a meeting of a Surgical Research Society or the Annual Scientific Congress of the RACS and its subspecialties. This includes critical steps to successful abstract preparation, visual presentation, content, structure, coherent design and delivery. Key topics include the formation of an effective argument and focus point, style of delivery, avoiding critical errors, including analysing, understanding and handling the audience. On completion, candidates will be confident and have the core skills to present findings of their research effectively in a way that is engaging, persuasive and will maximise impact.

This unit of study aims to introduce imaging relevant to the practice of surgery. You will learn the fundamental principles of a range of medical imaging modalities, as well as the indications and risks relevant to surgical practice. On completion of the unit, you will have a broad understanding of the role medical imaging plays in the care of surgical patients and the basic interpretation of common imaging investigations, as well as important imaging findings for common and life­threatening pathologies. New and evolving imaging techniques available for surgical patients will also be touched on.

The aims of the unit are for the student to acquire knowledge of nutrition in surgery and to understand adaptive response of the body to stress, trauma and sepsis. By the end of the unit the student will become competent in providing enteral and parenteral nutritional therapy to metabolically compromised patients. Content includes Nutrition assessment, Surgical Complications in Malnourished patients, Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, Complications in Obese, Obesity and Surgery, Short Bowel Syndrome and Enterocutaneous fistula.

In this unit of study you will develop a sophisticated working knowledge of the academic basis of contemporary vascular surgical practice. Vascular anatomy, pathophysiology, imaging and treatment options (non-operative, open surgical or endovascular) of vascular surgical disorders will be discussed.

The course will deliver focused sessions on applied Microsurgical anatomy, and practical training in Microsurgery - Micro vascular and micro neural techniques. Real time demonstrations, Video, other visual and printed material will be used to aid teaching and to supplement the 'eyes on scope' sessions. Sessions will comprise of brief lecture, demonstration of techniques to be developed in the class, followed by supervised Microsurgical practice with set objectives and standards. Students will keep a detailed log book and present a discussion paper on an element of Microsurgery they find challenging or stimulating.

Inflammation and immunopathology are encountered frequently in surgical practice, in settings such as acute pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and rejection of organ transplants. Manipulation of the immune system through treatment with checkpoint inhibitors and other forms of immunotherapy is assuming increasing importance in the treatment of malignant melanoma and various other cancers. This unit of study will introduce students to the fundamental aspects of innate and cognate immune responses and their relationship to the clinical manifestations of some common surgical conditions.

The objective of this unit of study is for participants to develop greater understanding of the operative anatomy, pathophysiology and treatment options for complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases by laparoscopic or open means. This unit of study will introduce participants to key areas of operative anatomy, pathology, imaging and surgical techniques at an advanced level. By the end of the course, participants will have developed the ability to critically appraise contemporary hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical practice.

This unit focuses on providing a foundation in the surgical skills required by doctors who are applying for surgical training positions and introduces many of the core competencies essential to surgeons during their training and career. On completion of this unit you will be familiar with current standards of treatment for surgical patients with regards to hospital care and technical skills. You will also gain experience in the practical application of the concepts of ethics, scholarship, professionalism, teaching, management and leadership that is expected of junior doctors who plan to pursue a surgical career.

This unit of study covers most of the basic and advanced physiology and some pathophysiology that training surgeons need to have at their fingertips. With a focus on the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary systems, the systems and concepts studied confer a deep understanding of those at play during surgery. It provides students with a solid basis for preparation for the GSSE exam of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

The aim of the course is to assist students in the preparation of the Anatomy component of GSSE conducted by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). These modules comprise: upper limb, lower limb, head and neck thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. Each module has three components: a) Identification and SCORPIOS of anatomical structures in wet prosections of the anatomical area for the session. b) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exercises c) 'Spot' questions on anatomical prosection photographs.

The objective of this unit is to introduce candidates to the basic concepts of innovation. Participants will be able to identify and evaluate surgical innovation as well as focus on the methodological and practical challenges to rigorous surgical research. Candidates will be have the skills to design and complete level one evidence based research in surgery with a key focus on randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. The course will evaluate the complexity of surgical innovation and how to identify related factors influencing outcome. Candidates should be able to identify challenges facing the surgical research community when performing an evaluation of a therapeutic, procedure-based intervention. How to pinpoint the issues and deconstruct these into constituent methodological parts such that several important areas will be targeted for developing a systematic process that would guide appropriate, evidence based surgical practice. Ethical aspects in research and innovation will be addressed and the process of translational research will be reviewed. Other broad topics will focus on surgical oncology and survival analysis; evaluating performance when measuring the value of surgical research and the key concepts in diagnostic tests and accuracy in surgery.

The course runs over 13 weeks. The emphasis is on multimodality patient care which offers the best chance for a favorable outcome for a variety of common tumor types including breast, colorectal, prostate, gastroesophageal junction and melanoma. The unit is designed to address each cancer type with an overview highlighting those issues of importance when discussing management at an MDT meeting including: anatomical pathology description of the tumor, clinicopathological staging, pathology, advances in Molecular Biology, Imaging, Surgery, Radiation and Medical oncology, new biologic therapies and the place of palliation of advanced disease. The emphasis is largely on self-­ directed learning with on­line lectures and reading material provided by a Faculty of clinicians drawn from various metropolitan teaching hospitals. Specific Learning objectives: 1) to develop the skills to advocate evidence based management for the individual needs of a patient in an MDT meeting and to understand the contribution of each clinical discipline in the decision-making process 2) to demonstrate an adequate background knowledge of the natural history and classification of common tumors 3) to formulate a cancer specific management plan based on standardised reporting of the extent of tumour burden 4) to understand the influence of evidence­based, independent prognostic factors on outcomes and evolving concepts in cancer biology.

The management of urological cancers requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of the pathological basis, imaging, diagnosis and treatment options for all stages of disease. This unit of study aims to prepare the training surgeon, interested in urology or surgical oncology, for a career managing urological cancers. You will gain a deep understanding of uro-oncology - prostate, bladder, kidney, testis, penile and other rarer cancers ¿ including diagnosis, staging and effective management (in the ward and clinic). The importance of imaging and pathology, and the role and outcomes of surgery, radiotherapy and medical oncology in the management of these cancers will be considered.

Endoscopy has rapidly become the mainstay of modern, minimally invasive surgical practise and includes diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In this unit of study you will gain insight into the current and potential surgical applications of endoscopy. You will develop a deep understanding of the core principles of endoscopy, its history, safety considerations and general troubleshooting, along with an overview of its uses in multiple subspecialties, and gain from practical experience at a compulsory simulation workshop.

Candidates will work on an independent research project in an area of specific interest. The project may take the form of analysis of an existing data set, a systematic review of the literature, a case series, survey or other project acceptable to the project supervisor. An initial literature review will need to be performed to identify relevant gaps in research. The research question and objectives need to be identified based on this review. The literature review can subsequently be incorporated into the Introduction of the dissertation. It is essential, where there is the use of patient information or recruitment of patient study subjects, that appropriate ethics approval is gained from the governing body where the project will take place. A research plan will need to be developed to prepare before commencement. Candidates must provide a letter of approval from their local supervisor that a project and research question have been identified and the relevant approvals have been obtained. A candidate must enrol in a minimum of 12 credit points of dissertation units of study in order to submit their final written work.

Candidates will use the research proposal developed in Part A to expand, develop their data collection form and execute the research project to prepare a paper acceptable for publication in a peer reviewed journal or as a presentation/poster in the annual scientific congress of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. A candidate must enrol in a minimum of 12 credit points of dissertation units of study in order to submit their final written work.

In this unit of study, we aim to introduce you to systematic reviews and meta-analyses of relevance to healthcare with a particular focus on systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. Students can choose to learn in online or normal day (on-campus) mode. All students will work through four online modules, delivered over twelve weeks, addressing the following topics at an introductory level: What and why systematic reviews (and meta-analysis); How to formulate answerable healthcare questions and searching for systematic reviews; How a systematic review is conducted and understanding the principles of meta-analysis; and How to appraise, interpret and apply the results of systematic reviews (and meta-analyses). Students will have the opportunity to discuss unit of study learning materials in online tutorials or via weekly (on-campus) tutorials. Readings and other learning materials will be available via eLearning.

Trauma is a major cause of mortality and morbidly. Critical care practitioners asses and manage trauma patients in both the initial stabilisation phase and during their stay in hospital. This unit is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in the basic concepts of trauma resuscitation and management. It addresses numerous key aspects of trauma including trauma systems and epidemiology. It covers the identification and management of injuries specific to each organ system and gives an overview of how to treat the sick trauma patient holistically.

Recent major advances in understanding of the human genome and the relationship between genetic variation and disease have changed clinical practice. This unit provides contemporary knowledge of genetic disease, diagnosis, genomic testing, prognosis, management, inheritance and impact across a range of chromosomal, single gene and heterogeneous genetic conditions. You will study common conditions, such as intellectual disability, inherited cancer, and paediatric and adult-onset disorders, as well as genomic mechanisms and genetic variations which lead to human disease. A case based approach will be used to develop skills in interpretation of clinical, family history and genomic test results to formulate an appropriate diagnosis and accurate genetic risk information. Ethical issues in genomic medicine will also be considered. Advances in treatments for genetic diseases will be explored, along with possible uses and limitations of new technologies, including genome editing approaches. The RACP Clinical Genetics Advanced Training Committee has approved this unit to fulfill the Genetics University Course Requirement for advanced training in Clinical Genetics. It is suitable for all practitioners who require a working knowledge of genomics in clinical practice.

Healthcare is now one of the largest employers and sectors in the Australian economy. Approximately two thirds of its funding comes from government, while two thirds of services are provided by the private sector. This unit explores this complex mix, building an understanding of the inter-relationships among the players in the industry, public and private. The course will explore the financial and regulatory environment in which providers operate and identify the main business models used by different players in the industry, including service providers, private insurers, employers, and government regulators. The unit draws on expert lecturers, international comparisons and case studies to give an understanding of the incentives and constraints that shape strategies to create value in health care. By the end of the unit students will: Have an understanding of the 'eco-system' of health care; Be able to navigate the regulatory and technological aspects of business in the health sector; Be able to identify and evaluate public and private business strategies and business plans in the main health care sectors.

This highly clinically based and practical unit of study is specifically ideal for clinicians looking to develop, update and advance their diabetes management skills. You will learn how to effectively manage diabetes mellitus. Current evidence and concepts in epidemiology, classification, pathogenesis and screening for diabetes and its complications will be addressed. The focus is on patient­centred management of diabetes, including patient engagement, lifestyle interventions, bariatric surgery, medication options and regimens, new technology and monitoring. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as prediabetes and diabetes in pregnancy will be explored with a personalised, case­based approach. Different health care delivery methods in diabetes and team based approaches to care will be discussed.

This unit of study is intended for students who have completed Epidemiology Methods and Uses (or an equivalent unit of study) at a credit or higher level. It is designed to extend students' practical and theoretical knowledge of epidemiology beyond basic principles and in particular to give them a practical understanding of how epidemiological principles and practices are used in real world settings. Students are given an opportunity to acquire some of the practical knowledge and skills needed to undertake epidemiological research and also to consolidate their critical appraisal skills.