Course Description

Year 1
Year begins with "Science for Medicine", which provides an introduction to the scientific principles required for the practice of medicine - the principles and vocabulary of biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, genetics and other biomedical sciences. This is followed by "Principles of Disease", a similar introduction to the fundamentals of pathological sciences such as pathology, medical microbiology, genetics and clinical pharmacology. Term 1 also includes an introduction to the role of a doctor from the very first week, with the beginnings of a thread of Personal and Professional Development (PPD) which is portfolio based and will run through all five years. There is clinical teaching as well with "Foundations of Clinical Method" introducing basic Communication Skills, observational skills and first aid.  The Community Course also begins in Term 1, with students attached to General Practices one morning a week to begin a study of the influence of psychological and societal factors on disease. Personal and Professional Development (PPD) is a portfolio based thread that also begins in Term 1 and will ultimately run through all five years of the curriculum.

Following Qualifying Exams in January for Science for Medicine and Principles of Disease (potentially giving exemption from the corresponding degree exams in June), students then encounter the first of the integrated systems teaching (Systems I) that they will follow all the way through from first year to Easter in third year.  The Respiratory and Cardiovascular systems complete the second term of Year 1 and each system includes the relevant basic science, lecture based teaching on disease and clinical teaching on history and examination of the system. Teaching of theory is largely lecture based, but there are problem solving sessions and anatomy is delivered by a mixture of lectures, prosection based demonstrations and small group teaching in surface anatomy and radiology.  There is also specific teaching in clinical anatomy relevant to each system.  Simulated on-line cases (Case Based Learning) are part of each system and encourage students to test their knowledge on common clinical problems.

Following the Easter break, students participate in a group based Student Selected Component (SSC), researching a topic of clinical interest. The degree exams for all courses take place in June, with resits in August.

Year 2
The new format of Year 2 runs for the first time in session 2010/11. Year 2 continues the pattern of integrated teaching of body systems (Systems II) that began with the Respiratory and Cardiovascular systems in Year 1 (see above). The year begins with the Alimentary system, then Head and Neck and the Nervous System complete the first term.  In each case, teaching encompasses basic science and the principles and practice of medicine in relation to that system. In January there is an SSC that focuses on "Molecular Medicine", followed by study of the Urinary System then Diabetes and Endocrine Systems.  After the Easter break there is an assessment in Systems II, which also incorporates material from Year 1.  Clinical teaching throughout is based in the Clinical Skills Centre with regular ward visits to see patients and practice the basic skills of history taking and examination.   The Community Course also continues in year 2, based in General Practices.

Following the exams, students commence Systems III, which continues after the summer break into Year 3. Systems III begins with Advanced Infection, followed by Medical Ethics and Law and the Musculo-Skeletal System.

Phase II Year 3
Year 3 in session 2010/11 is part of the previous curriculum.  Systems teaching in relation to disease begins with Mental Health, followed by the Reproductive System.  In the 6 weeks before Christmas there is a 6 week SSC in Medical Humanities, when students have the choice to cover a wide range of topics that are not primarily medical, These topics range from Spirituality to History of Art and Philosophy and many of then are taught in the College of Arts and Social Sciences.

After Christmas students complete systems teaching on Haematology/Immunology, Infection and various specialties such as Anaesthetics and ENT.  Phase II 3rd year is unusual in that it finishes at Easter and students then have an extended 6 week holiday before commencing Phase III. 

Phase III
Phase III begins with a four week SSC on topics within the general theme of "Clinical Effectiveness".  This includes project choices in global medicine, evidence based medicine and population health.

Phase III repeats the system based theme of the course to date, but is clinically based in small groups and allows students to see the everyday application in a specialist clinical setting of the knowledge they have gained in each system. In clinics and on ward rounds they observe how specialists deliver healthcare system by system and they acquire further practice with the basic clinical skills they have learned. Phase III is a carousel of 9 five week blocks spread across the remainder of 3rd year and all of fourth year (45 weeks in total).  These 9 blocks run in parallel in Aberdeen and Inverness and all students spend at least one block in Inverness.  Each block is largely system based with, for example, the cardiovascular system block encompassing teaching on cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery.  Thus by the end of Phase III, students have had comprehensive coverage of the practice of all major specialties and should have the appropriate core knowledge.  The written exams at the end of Phase III are therefore the "written finals".  There is also a summative OSCE assessment of clinical skills at the end of Phase III.

Phase IV
Phase IV represents a change from teaching in systems as in years 1 to 4, to a focus on professional practice and the holistic care of each patient. This is an apprenticeship year in which the student is a junior member of the healthcare team and develops the generic, professional skills required in the delivery of healthcare by the multi-professional team.  There are four 8 week blocks which run simultaneously through the year:

  • Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Community Health (Psychiatry or General Practice)
  • Clinical Elective

Students have a degree of choice within Medicine and Surgery as to which specialty they are attached to.  In Community Health there is a core week of teaching on generic issues and then students have the choice of a 7 week attachment to either Mental Health or General Practice. The emphasis in Phase IV is on professional practice – the student is part of the team and helps deliver healthcare under supervision. This is an "apprenticeship" year which helps build on basic knowledge and prepares them for their Foundation Programme

The final year elective provides the opportunity for students to develop their own interests by undertaking an 8 week project in any area of medicine anywhere in the world. Students take responsibility for organising this with the help of a local Aberdeen supervisor and have to complete an elective project report. Around 80% of students undertake this project abroad and each year a number of the best projects lead to publication.   

Professional Practice Block
Following the four 8 week blocks described above, Phase IV is completed before the final exams with a Professional Practice Block.  The aim of the block is to ease the transition from student to Foundation Doctor – to cover the practical, professional issues that students will encounter from the beginning of their careers.  The 8 key themes are:

  • Core knowledge and skills (with emphasis on non-technical skills)
  • Clinical Ethics and Law
  • End of Life
  • Prescribing
  • Handover and Communication
  • Dealing with Stress and Conflict
  • Professional Development (including careers)
  • WHO Patient Safety

 

Undergraduate Teaching Programme Contacts

Dr Christine Kay
Curriculum Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 437739
Email: c.d.kay@abdn.ac.uk

 

Mrs Diane Gerrie
Years 1 and 2 Secretary
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 437777
Email: diane.anderson@abdn.ac.uk

 

Mrs Margaret Moir
Year 1/Anatomy Secretary
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 434320
Email: m.moir@abdn.ac.uk

 

Ms Morag Simpson
Phase III Secretary
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 437775
Email: morag.simpson@abdn.ac.uk

 

Ms Fiona Petrie
Phase IV Secretary
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 437776
Email: f.petrie@abdn.ac.uk