Rural Medicine
Contents
Introduction
On this page you will find information about studying Medicine at UNE. Briefly, the Joint Medical Program (JMP) is a unique partnership collaboration between Hunter New England Health (HNEH), the University of Newcastle (UNCLE) and the University of New England (UNE) – an Australian first. The JMP initiative is an innovative, cost-effective response to the chronic shortage of doctors in regional, rural and remote areas of the Hunter and New England regions and across Australia. From 2008, the BMed - JMP will be delivered across the two universities capitalizing on both institutions long traditions of excellence and achievement.
The JMP offers an exciting prospect for the future of medical education and training in which formal partnerships provide the platform to ensure top level student experience is provided in environments that will encourage graduate doctors to work in areas of workforce shortage.
This site has been designed to provide information about the BMed – JMP, the School of Rural Medicine, and its teaching activities.
Why Study Medicine at UNE?
The newly established School of Rural Medicine will be responsible for the delivery of the JMP at UNE. Staff required to deliver the program who have expertise relative to the curriculum include UNE and UNCLE academics, local clinicians, clinicians in HNEH, and clinical specialists. The School of Rural Medicine will also have teaching input from Schools of Health, Science and Technology, and Environmental and Rural Science.
The BMed – JMP has a five-year integrated curriculum. During the first two years learning is based around a series of clinical working problems run each week and supported by fixed resource sessions, laboratory practicals and tutorials. For UNE students, the education program in Years 1 and 2 will take place predominantly in newly purpose-built facilities.
The medical program will offer students a seamless mix of metropolitan, regional, rural and remote experience. It is charactised by an innovative problem-based, integrated curriculum with early clinical exposure and substantial community involvement. Students will work in small tutorial groups of 8-10 to analyse clinical problems, and to gain an understanding of relevant scientific data.
BMed Graduate Profile
The BMed is designed to train students in the practice of medicine. Commitment to the following core values is expected of students, staff and graduates.
BMed graduates will:
- Practise medicine based on an integrated body of knowledge and guided by evidence
- Respect the primacy of patient interests
- Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible practice
- Be committed to life-long continuous educational development
Courses
Bachelor of Medicine – Joint Medical Program
Assessment
Assessment in the BMed - JMP is course-based. Students must satisfy the following course prerequisites in order to proceed through the program:
MEDI1011 - Introduction to Professional Practice
MEDI1012 - Introduction to Medical Science
MEDI1013 – Introduction to Public Health
(pre-requisites: MEDI1011 and MEDI1012)
MEDI1014 – Professional Practice 1
MEDI1015 – Medical Science 1
MEDI2011 – Professional Practice 2
MEDI2012 – Medical Science 2
MEDI2013 – Professional Practice 3
MEDI2014 – Medical Science 3
(pre-requisites: All Year 1 and 2 courses)
MEDI3013 – Regional Rotation
MEDI3014 – Health Equity Selective
MEDI3015 – Professional Practice 4
MEDI3016 – Clinical Sciences & Med
MEDI4011 - Medicine
MEDI4012 - Surgery
MEDI4013 - Paediatrics
MEDI4014 – Reproductive Medicine
(pre-requisites: All Year 3 and 4 courses)
MEDI5011 - Medicine
MEDI5012 – Psychiatry/Primary Healthcare Selective
MEDI5013 – Anaesthesia & ICU/Oncology & Palliative Care
MEDI5014 – Surgery/Emergency Medicine
Students must be Satisfactory in all assessment items to pass each course. Students who are Not Satisfactory in an assessment instrument may, however, be granted a Pass in the course if their performance overall has reached a satisfactory standard.
Assessment instruments are designed to test three aspects of the student’s professional development: the acquisition of knowledge, the development of skills and the development of appropriate professional attitudes and behaviour. All three of these are essential for competent professional practice, and it is the student’s progress towards competent professional practice that is being assessed.
Careers
The School of Rural Medicine supports the Joint Medical Program and High Research Health related degrees.
Graduates of the Joint Medical Program will graduate with a medical degree with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to be registered as an intern in an Australian Hospital. The JMP graduates doctors who can contribute to the health of people and health research throughout the world. The JMP aspires to be at the forefront of Australian medical, population health and research education in the 21st century. There is a particular emphasis on understanding rural and remote health care and health equity issues.
JMP graduates (like other medicine programs) are required to undertake an intern and resident medical officer year and then commence their postgraduate speciality training (General Practice, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Paediatrics and others) with their chosen respective speciality colleges. This can vary between 3 to 6 years.
The School of Rural Medicine in conjunction with the School of Health presently conducts Doctorate of Health Service Medicine Degree. This program suits middle health service managers wishing to conduct applied research in Australia or internationally.
A number of new research degrees at Masters and PhD level will be offered in 2008.
Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links
Other UNE Schools teaching into the BMed program
- School of Health
- School of Science and Technology
Discipline of Human Biology
Discipline of Molecular & Cellular Biology - School of Environmental and Rural Science
Scholarships
Commonwealth Bonded Scholarships:
Bonded Medical Places Scheme
The Medical Rural Bonded (MRB) Scholarship Scheme
Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarship (RAMUS) Scheme
Contacts
Admission Enquiries (Armidale):Help for Students You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE
Future Students may also call 1800 818 865 |
Admission Enquiries (Newcastle):
Enquiry Centre
University of Newcastle
Callahan NSW 2303
Phone: 02 4921 5000
Email: EnquiryCentre@newcastle.edu.au
Professor John Fraser
Transitional Head of School
Phone: 02 6773 2751
Email: jfrase22@une.edu.au
Trish Battin
Office Manager
Phone: 02 6773 3877
Email: pbattin@une.edu.au
Jo McRae
Year 1 Manager
Phone: 02 6773 2949
Email: jmcrae@une.edu.au