Launch of the new Master of Medicine Program

The Sydney Professional Master of Medicine Program (SPMMP) welcomed its first cohort of students last Friday 30th June to Sydney as they begin their program with a 2 week residential on the Camperdown campus and at the teaching hospitals across Sydney.

Students have travelled from as far as remote rural Australia and the United Arab Emirates to attend the residential component of the program, undertaking the core units of study in the specialty streams Renal Medicine and Paediatric Medicine.

The first two days of the residential program focused on orientation to The University of Sydney, the Faculty of Medicine services for students and an introduction to WebCT, which is the platform they will be using to complete the remainder of the program from their place of residence. The Faculty hosted a plenary welcome for the students on their first day, which was attended by Discipline Coordinators and the Dean of Medicine, Professor Bruce Robinson. “What an impressive group of clinically experienced doctors, many of whom are contributing to health care in NSW”, said Professor Robinson. “Many of these people have made great sacrifices to practice in Australia and their enthusiasm for learning is an inspiration.”

The remainder of the 2 weeks will focus on intensive workshops, interactive lectures and site visits to the teaching hospitals which include practical sessions, department meetings, grand rounds and equipment demonstrations.

This innovative program has attracted international student interest because of its cutting edge design offering a selection of specialist training areas and a flexible structure that allows students to select units from across the entire program.

With the majority of the program delivered online, students from around the country and the world participate in a variety of learner centred activities. Through the use of case studies, students discuss current evidence and practice together with tutors, leading clinicians and fellow students.

The inclusion of electives such as leadership, ethics and advanced research practice enable students to extend their skills and knowledge into a variety of significant areas.