Course overview
Students build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous courses in the program. The central theme of Medical Studies 2B is Metabolism. Students will explore the major roles of the endocrine, digestive and urinary systems in maintaining life and the consequences when these systems become diseased or disordered. Key mechanisms, concepts and issues will be explored using a variety of teaching modes, including lectures (delivered face to face and online), practical classes, workshops and simulated events. Clinically relevant scenarios will continue to be used to frame concepts across the domains of Science & Scholarship, Clinical Practice, Health & Society and Professionalism & Leadership.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe key features of normal anatomy and histology of the endocrine, digestive and urinary systems.
- Explain physiological processes driving the normal function of endocrine, digestive and urinary systems.
- Describe the pathophysiology and pathology of conditions affecting the endocrine, digestive and urinary systems.
- Apply knowledge of normal and abnormal structure and function of endocrine, digestive and urinary systems to construct mechanistic and diagnostic hypotheses.
- Describe and explain rationale for current and emerging pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment and management strategies for identified medical conditions involving endocrine, digestive and urinary systems.
- Demonstrate information sharing skills, including correct amount and type of information and describe strategies to approach communication at challenging stages of care.
- Conduct medical interviews with simulated patients, including psychosocial history, with some adaptation to the structure of the history according to patient responses.
- Undertake physical examination of designated body systems, detecting obvious signs in simulated patients while ensuring patient comfort; explain the pathophysiology of signs.
- Develop a basic problem list; justify common investigations in relation to the pathological basis of disease.
- Present written and oral case summaries of clinical scenarios ensuring logical sequence, inclusion of relevant data, and correct use of medical terminology.
- Describe the concept of health equity and reflect on and discuss the role of the health system and the individual medical practitioner.
- Apply the principles of population-based health promotion and illness prevention to specified situations.
- Identify and demonstrate effective communication protocols in healthcare contexts with Indigenous peoples.
- Reflect on and apply medical, ethical and legal principles and frameworks to analyse, synthesise and resolve ethical dilemmas.
- Apply and integrate relevant knowledge and skills from previous courses within the Bachelor of Medical Studies with knowledge obtained within the Medical Studies 2B course.