Medicine 1 Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine This publication refers to the session 2009 10. The information given, including that relating to the availability of courses, is current at the time of publication; 5 October 2009; and is subject to alteration. Imperial College London 2009 For details of postgraduate opportunities go to www.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus.
2 Undergraduate syllabuses School of Medicine The School of Medicine provides an integrated course of instruction leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), as well as the Bachelor of Science. In 2008, the School welcomed its first intake of 50 Graduate Entry students to the Medicine programme. Students on this course undertake an accelerated four-year MBBS. They are taught separately in their first year before joining Year three and are exempt from Year four (BSc). In addition, the School offers direct entry into the third year of the course to students who have successfully completed the pre-clinical-training at Oxford and Cambridge to enable them to complete the MBBS, and also offers the possibility for students of medicine from other universities, who meet our entry criteria, to undertake a one year intercalated Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. Details of postgraduate opportunities can be found in the online Postgraduate Prospectus at www.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus. MBBS/BSc course (six years) The MBBS/BSc course is an integrated course extending over six years. The core course comprises four elements: Scientific basis of medicine: explores the principles underlying normal human organisation and function from molecular to social levels. Doctor and patient: problem-based learning (PBL) tutorials where students develop important skills in defining the objectives of a task, and working as a team to produce and present their findings; communication skills; personal and professional development. Clinical experience: patient contact course; medical and surgical attachments; specialty rotations and final year revision block, specialty choice modules, accident and emergency; general practice; professional work experience and elective. Modular BSc Honours degree: the modular science degree programme comprises a two-week BSc Foundation course in the third year and the BSc year (fourth year). FIRST AND SECOND YEARS The first week provides an introduction and orientation to the undergraduate medicine course and to the School of Medicine. This includes study skills and information technology sessions in addition to introductory sessions in the scientific basis of medicine and clinical practice. Students then follow an integrated course comprising the three main elements of the core course: scientific basis of medicine; doctor and patient; and clinical experience. Over the first and second years, the course is organised into the following themes: Molecules, cells and disease includes molecular and cell biology, genetics, blood and bloodforming tissues, metabolism, infection, immunity, cell pathology, and cancer as a disease. Life support systems includes the skin, cardiovascular, respiratory, alimentary and urinary systems, and the anatomy of the thorax, abdomen, pelvis and perineum. Life cycle and regulatory systems includes reproduction and development, neuroscience and mental health, the endocrine and musculoskeletal systems, the anatomy of the head, neck, spine and limbs, and pharmacology and therapeutics. Foundations of clinical practice includes communication skills, sociology, medical ethics and law epidemiology in practice and information technology. The first year element of clinical experience (the patient contact course) is also managed as part of this theme. Science and the Patient includes modules on water and electrolytes, physiology of infection, exercise, drugs and the hospitalised patient, and nutrition. Teaching comprises lectures, clinical demonstrations, tutorials, seminars, computer workshops, laboratory practical and clinical skills classes.
Medicine 3 Clinical experience Students make a number of visits to a patient or a family in their home environment, and in a clinic setting, in order to explore the course themes: symptoms, illness and disease; the experience of health and social care; and living with a long term condition. The patient visits are supplemented by small group work with practising GPs or hospital consultants. In the second year there is a three-week introductory clinical attachment. The main objective of this attachment, which may be at any of the hospitals associated with the School, is to enable students to become much more familiar with talking to patients and taking histories in more detail, and to accustom themselves to as many aspects of hospital life and procedures as possible. THIRD YEAR This year consists predominantly of medical/surgical attachments, which may be at any of the hospitals associated with the school. The system and topics continue to be delivered via a programme of live and web-streamed lectures plus e-learning modules alongside the clinical attachments. The emphasis throughout will be on the acquisition of core skills and knowledge in general medicine (including cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and cancer medicine, gastroenterology, endocrinology, medicine for the elderly), general surgery (including gastrointestinal, breast and vascular surgery, urology), anaesthetics, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Core learning is based on: Medical or surgical takes. GP teaching: basic clinical skills/methods in general practice. Patient clerking: to clerk (take the history and examine) at least two patients each week and to write up these case histories. Students are assessed on two of these written clerkings each firm, separate from the case project. Consultant teaching: key cases relating to the firm students will be expected to present patients during these sessions and this forms part of the assessment. Problem-based learning. Lectures and e-learning modules: a continuation of systems and topics. Other teaching: this will depend on the nature of the clinical programme of your attachment, but should include: outpatient clinic teaching, theatre sessions, endoscopy sessions, anaesthetic sessions, self-directed reading. Modular BSc degree: there is a two-week introductory course early in the third year, which will provide an introduction to the specific BSc course selected by the student. FOURTH YEAR (BSc) Modular BSc degree: students undertake a series of five five-week modules in an area of particular scientific interest leading to a named BSc (see below); three taught modules are taken in the autumn term and early spring term, followed by a two-module supervised research project or specialist course, the latter comprising one taught module and a mini-project during the second module. Intercalated BSc courses: students from other UK medical schools may study for an intercalated BSc by joining the fourth year and following the same modules as Imperial medical students. In order to be eligible, these students must have completed the equivalent of at least two years of basic medical science, meet the eligibility requirements to undertake the intercalated BSc (or its equivalent) by and have a guaranteed place to continue their medical studies at their own university on completion of the year. Further details can be found in the Guide to Intercalated BSc Courses available from the Undergraduate Medicine Office.
4 Undergraduate syllabuses Courses/title of award: BSc Medical Sciences with Cardiovascular Sciences Endocrinology Gastroenterology and Hepatology Haematology Immunity and Infection Management Neurosciences and Mental Health Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Respiratory Science Surgery and Anaesthesia FIFTH YEAR This year includes attachments in obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatrics; psychiatry; oncology; general practice; neurology; infectious diseases; dermatology, critical care; rheumatology and orthopaedics. The clinical attachments are based on wards, out-patient clinics and in general practices. There is also a dedicated pathology course at the start of this year. SIXTH YEAR This year comprises clinical attachments in emergency medicine; general practice; cardiology; radiology; ENT; ophthalmology; two professional work experience attachments (one in medicine and one in surgery); one specialty choice module; a seven week elective period which may be spent in the UK or overseas; private study; the Practical Medicine course, which provides specific sessions on preparing for the foundation year 1, and the revision course which consolidates clinical knowledge preparatory to the final examinations which are held in June. Examinations The examinations will be as follows: Year one examinations will be held twice each year and will include: Paper 1: Sections 1 and 2: Life support systems Paper 2: Molecules, cells and disease I Paper 3: Life cycle and regulatory systems I Paper 4: Foundations of clinical practice I: written paper Paper 5: Foundations of clinical practice I: open book, case-based paper. Year two examinations will be held twice each year and will include: Paper 1: Science and the patient Paper 2: Molecules, cells and disease II Paper 3: Life cycle and regulatory systems II (sections 1 and 2) Paper 4: Foundations of clinical practice II Year three BSc (Foundation) BSc Part A will be assessed by summative in-course assessment only. Year three examinations will be held twice a year, and will include: Written Examination: A written examination covering the learning objectives for the clinical attachments and the lecture/e-learning programme. Clinical Examination: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Medicine 5 Year four BSc Part B and C will be held once a year. Part B will comprise three written examination papers. Part C, the BSc project or specialist course, will be examined by project write-up and oral presentation, or by mini-project write-up and oral presentation and other in-course assessment as appropriate, respectively. Year five examinations will be held twice a year, and will include: Two separate written examinations: o Paediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynaecology; and o Pathology. A clinical examination: Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) Year six Finals will be held twice a year, and will include: A written examination including Medicine, Surgery and Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics; and Clinical examination: practical assessment of clinical examination skills (PACES) in: o Medicine o Surgery Detailed descriptions of examinations can be found in each of the corresponding Year Guides issued to all students by the Undergraduate Medicine Office. Exemptions A student who has previously successfully completed a relevant course of study in the University of London or other university or institution of similar standing, may be exempted from part of the examinations and/or course of study. All applications will be considered individually on their merits. The College may approve a shortened course of study for a student for whom exemption from part of the course or examinations has been approved under the paragraph above. The length of the course of study subsequent to registration for the MBBS degree only shall be not less than 34 months, or not less than 44 months for the MBBS/BSc. Foundation school The Foundation School supports Imperial College students in the National Foundation School Recruitment Process. Following qualification, all graduates are required to undertake a two-year foundation programme prior to entering specialist training within the NHS. The North West Thames Foundation School is linked to Imperial College. Entry to foundation schools and programmes is on a competitive basis, and applications to the North West Thames Foundation School consistently exceed the number of available programmes. The Foundation School offers a number of Academic Foundation Programmes for students considering a career in research/academia.
6 Undergraduate syllabuses Graduate Entry MBBS Programme (four years) GE FIRST YEAR This course aspires to train the clinical scientists of the future by selecting individuals who have already demonstrated a high level of scientific aptitude and providing them with first class training in clinical medicine. As with the six-year undergraduate course, the graduate course retains some elements of traditional medical courses but also integrates clinical experience with the development of knowledge from the start. Students will spend the first year supplementing the basic knowledge they have gained in their undergraduate science degree with the additional material needed to take students to the same level as those who have completed the first two years of the six-year undergraduate MBBS course. That material will vary between individuals, depending on their experience. The graduate course has been designed to accommodate individuals with different scientific backgrounds. The course will be delivered in four parallel themes: Cellular and molecular science: the study of basic mechanisms of human biology Regional and systems anatomy: a completely new and innovative course integrating the traditional elements of living anatomy and examination of cadaveric specimens with demonstrations of normal human anatomy from different imaging modalities Systematic physiology, pharmacology and general pathology: the foundations of medicine Introduction to clinical practice: comprising courses in communications skills, personal and professional development, problem-based learning, a patient contact course, epidemiology and public health, and medical sociology Clinical Experience Clinical experience in the first year includes the Patient Contact Course. During the course, students will pay a number of visits to a patient or a family in their home environment and in a clinic setting, in order to explore the course themes: symptoms, illness and disease; the experience of health and social care; and living with a long term condition. The patient visits are supplemented by small group work with practising GPs or hospital consultants. This course is designed to enable students to understand health and illness from the perspective of the patient, and their family and carers, in a number of different settings. GE SECOND YEAR In the second year there is a two-week introductory block teaching history-taking and examination skills alongside medical ethics and law. This is followed by one eleven-week and two 10-week clinical attachments, which may be at any of the eight hospitals associated with the School. The main objective of the introductory block is to enable students to become familiar with taking histories and to become familiar with hospital life and procedures. The emphasis throughout the clinical attachments will be on the acquisition of core skills and knowledge in general medicine (including cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and cancer medicine, gastroenterology, endocrinology, medicine for the elderly) general surgery (including gastrointestinal, breast and vascular surgery, urology), anaesthetics and clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Additional teaching is delivered via a lecture programme, partly in the form of e- learning modules, alongside the clinical attachments and problem-based learning cases will be studied within attachments, often based on actual current patients. The Medical Ethics and Law course and parts of the communication skills and personal and professional development courses will be taught and examined during the first term of the second year.
Medicine 7 Core learning is based on: Medical or surgical takes. GP teaching: basic clinical skills/methods in general practice. Patient clerking: to clerk (take the history and examine) at least two patients each week and write up these case histories. Students are assessed on two of these written clerkings each firm, separate from the case project. Consultant teaching: key cases relating to the firm students will be expected to present patients during these sessions and this forms part of the assessment. Problem based learning. Lecture course: including live lectures plus e-learning modules. Other teaching: this will depend on the nature of the clinical programme of the attachment, but could include: outpatient clinic teaching, theatre, endoscopy, and anaesthetic sessions. Reading. THIRD and FOURTH YEARS Years three and four of the Graduate Entry MBBS correspond exactly to Years five and six of the sixyear MBBS/BSc. Examinations First year GE first year examinations will be held twice each year in June/July and August/September and will include: Year 1 Paper 1: Cellular and molecular science and introduction to clinical practice (sociology, and epidemiology and public health) Year 1 Paper 2: Regional and systems anatomy Year 1 Paper 3: Systematic physiology, pharmacology and general pathology Candidates will be required to pass all papers in first year GE before proceeding to second year GE. A candidate who fails any examination at the second attempt will normally be required to withdraw from the programme. Second year GE Year two examinations will be held twice a year, and will include: A written examination covering medical ethics and law, communications skills and personal and professional development (held in December and April) A written examination covering the learning objectives for the clinical attachments and the lecture/e-learning programme. (held in May/June and August/September) An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). (held in May/June and August/September) Candidates who fail any second year examination at the first attempt will be allowed to continue on the course whilst preparing for the resit attempt. A candidate who fails at the second attempt will normally be required to withdraw from the medical programme. Third and fourth years Years three and four of the Graduate Entry MBBS correspond exactly to Years five and six of the six-year MBBS/BSc.
8 Undergraduate syllabuses Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science (BSc) This degree programme will utilise the impressive array of pharmacological expertise within the various departments of the Faculty of Medicine to ensure that the fundamental principles of basic, translational and clinical pharmacology are provided for students. Students may follow either a three-year course, leading to a BSc in Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science (BB29) or a four-year course, which includes an extra-mural year working within the pharmaceutical industry leading to a BSc in Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science with a Year in Industry (BB2X). This syllabus relates to the new BSc Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science, which applies to students who will start in 2009 10. FIRST AND SECOND YEARS A significant proportion of teaching during the first two years will be based on existing modules within the BSc in Biomedical Science, with shared teaching in some instances. Allocation of course unit (c.u.) values will follow the scheme used in the Biological Sciences, with students taking 4 course units per year. The programme outline is as follows: YEAR 1 (60 ECTS) Core teaching in cell biology, biochemistry/molecular biology, human anatomy and physiology based mainly on selected modules from the BSc in Biomedical Science, with a new module from Medicine in pharmacology. Learning outcomes: at the end of this year the student will have a basic understanding of 1) the anatomy and physiology of the human body; 2) microbiology; 4) biological chemistry, cell biology and genetics; and have 5) gained some experience of basic laboratory practical techniques; 6) become familiar with the use of the scientific literature and have some experience of computerbased information retrieval systems; 7) an improved ability to analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative information, including problem solving; 8) become more competent in communicating information and ideas in writing and orally. YEAR 2 (60 ECTS) The following courses are taken in the second year: principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, systematic pharmacology, experimental pharmacology and human pathophysiology and disease. Specialist options include molecular pharmacology or toxicology, drugs and hospitalised patient or drug resistance. In addition, a module entitled Current issues in drug discovery and development will be provided to promote interdisciplinary science through interactions with other faculties and with scientists working within the pharmaceutical industry. Learning outcomes: at the end of this year the student will have an understanding of 1) the pathophysiology of human disease; 2) principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; 3) systems based pharmacology; 4) their chosen options in pharmacology; 5) current issues in drug discovery and development; 6) experimental design and statistics applied to pharmacology; 7) competence in the use of computers for data analysis, graphical presentation, simple programming, information retrieval and communication; 8) researching and presenting a substantial piece of written work.
Medicine 9 YEAR 3/4 * (60 ECTS) In Year 3, it is expected that most students will select three of the specific pharmacology modules provided for the first 15 taught weeks but a variety of combinations will be possible since students will have the option of selecting ONE module from the current Medicine Science Year streams. Learning outcomes for projects: at the end of the project the student will 1) be familiar with modern research techniques and appreciate the limitations of a particular experimental approach; 2) have acquired the ability to work safely within a research laboratory and gained experience, where appropriate, of a variety of scientific instruments; 3) have developed a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of a topical research area of biomedical science; 4) be able to critically appraise their own data and the data of others; 5) be able to propose profitable research strategies, which would further knowledge and understanding within their area of expertise. * Year 3 (Optional Industrial Placement; 1 c.u.; 15 ECTS) Students will have the option to take a year in industry prior to Year 3. The Year in Industry will comprise a 12-month industrial placement (including exposure to in vivo science) which conditions and details will be arranged between the industrial party on one side and the BSc Pharmacological Medicine Course Director, the Head of BSc Programme, the Head of Undergraduate Medicine and the Student Placement Office on the side of the College. The available places on the Year in Industry Programme will be advertised during (perhaps the beginning of) the summer term of year 2 and open to competition. The ranking of candidates to take a year in industry will be based on the combined final mark in Year 1 and the mark of the examination after the autumn term. The places on the year in industry programme will be filled up before distributing the selected candidates among industrial placements and research projects. The year in industry will commence with the start of Year 3. Three months into the Programme, participating students will be required to submit a research proposal (written as a Grant Proposal) of up to 5,000 words. Students who have taken a Year in Industry will have to submit their write-up of a research project of up to 5,000 words (excluding figures and tables) in Year 3. The students will also have to make an oral presentation of the project. Examinations The examinations will be as follows: Year 1 examinations will be held twice each year and will include Biological chemistry (code bc; 1 course unit) (= total of 0.3 course units, with written exam in June) Cellular and molecular biology (code cb) (1 course unit), with written exam in June) Human biology (code hb; 1.65 course units) with written exams in three parts: 1a (January), 1b and 2 (June) (= total of 2.00 course units). Year 2 examinations will be held twice each year and will include: Principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics Human pathophysiology and disease Sysytematic pharmacology Experimental pharmacology Human pathophysiology and disease Experimental pharmacology Molecular pharmacology or toxicology Drugs and the hospitalised patient or Drug resistance Current issues in drug discovery and development