Medical education

Postgraduate medical education and training at Alfred Health is an integral part of the hospital's operations and philosophy. We recognise there is an inter-dependence between the provision of high quality healthcare and the education of medical professionals.

We support postgraduate medical education by providing a wide range of postgraduate educational activities together with a strong commitment by the senior medical staff by providing appropriate clinical experience and education support. Senior medical staff foster an environment of enquiry and learning.

Supervisors

Supervisors of training

• Director Clinical Training - A/Prof Laila Rotstein
• Supervisor of Intern Training - Dr Anna Korin

Supervisors of physician and surgical training

• Director Physician Training - A/Prof Anne Powell
• Supervisor Pre & SET 1 - Mr Andrew Packiyanathan
• Supervisor SET 2, 3 & 4 - Mr Damien Loh

About the Postgraduate Medical Education Unit

The Postgraduate Medical Education Unit supports the development, implementation and evaluation of training and education programs. Education programs for PGY1 and PGY2s are mapped to the Australian Curriculum framework.

The Manager of Learning and Development works closely with the Director of Clinical Training, Supervisor of Intern Training, Supervisor of Physician Training and Supervisors of SET training programs in the development and implementation of relevant educational programs.

Our Supervisors are dedicated to supporting our junior medical staff in their chosen career pathway, and their clinical and professional development.

The Medical Education programs consist of mandatory and recommended components and are delivered in different ways, varying from face to face programs, to workshops and online e-learning modules.

In developing and implementing educational programs the Postgraduate Medical Education Unit structurally seeks feedback from junior medical staff to ensure continuous improvement and that programs are tailored to suit their needs.

Current programs

Junior Medical Staff Mentoring Program

Our mentors are Senior Consultants who enjoy working with our junior staff and follow their professional development and career pathways.

Our mentor philosophy is simple. We aim to create a connection between our Senior and Junior Medical Staff within which it is possible to share experiences, reflect, seek advice and discuss sensitive issues without prejudice.

On commencement as an intern, you will be offered a mentor.

Every year we organise a Mentor and Mentee dinner which offers an opportunity to network, and exchange stories and experiences in a relaxed atmosphere. Mentors often invite their past mentees as well.

We hope that the mentor/mentee relationship will develop and extend well beyond the intern years.

Intern Orientation Program

The Intern Orientation Program is an intensive four day learning experience mapped to the Australian Curriculum Framework. It offers a mixture of didactic and clinically-focussed skills workshops and shadowing components. At the conclusion of the program there is a celebratory welcome dinner.

The orientation program includes after hours lectures designed to familiarise Junior Medical Staff with the presentation, investigation and management of acute medical emergencies and common after hour calls with a focus on clinical scenarios that you are likely to encounter as an intern.

HMO & Registrar Orientation Program

This program aims to familiarise Junior Medical Staff with the hospital and its culture, systems, processes and guidelines and to create confidence in knowing when and how to ask for help and/or escalate. During this program there is a focus on junior medical staff wellbeing and information on support pathways.

The program is followed by unit orientations. Unit handbooks provide detailed information on how the unit runs.

Junior Medical Staff Medical Emergency Program

The aim of the program is to familiarise junior doctors with the presentation, investigation and management of acute medical emergencies and better prepare you for rotations where you may need to lead management of acute presentations, for example, after hours, on night duty, and on rural rotations. Alfred Health has highly specialised services, including cardiac, lung and bone marrow transplantation. The program includes information on patient conditions and possible complications within those specialised units. Topics covered fall within the Australian Curriculum Framework for junior doctors.

The program is aimed at PGY2s and BPTs and covers a wide spectrum of emergency situations in a ward or emergency department setting. The programs are case-based, interactive and address all Alfred specialty areas.

The program is a component of our Junior Medical Staff Orientation programs.

Weekly Intern Education Program

Mapped to the Australian Curriculum Framework.

HMO Education Program

Mapped to the Australian Curriculum Framework.

Investigations program

A comprehensive two day education program dedicated to increasing knowledge and competency in a range of clinical areas such as The Art of History Taking, Investigations and the correct interpretation including radiology, ABGs, Acid-Base, respiratory function tests and clinical skills including video demonstrations of correct technique in each specialty area. The program also included a mini-CEX opportunity for BPTs. 

Deteriorating Patient simulation

Deteriorating Patient simulation training focuses on sepsis and bradycardia, rapid atrial fibrillation and post-operative care. This half-day course aims to combine the trainee’s professional qualities with clinical skills in the management of the deteriorating patient.

Suturing Master Class

Consultant-led practical and didactic half-day workshop with 1 to 4 individualised teaching.

Basic Sciences and Physiology

These full day programs have been designed to assist our junior doctors sitting their first part written exam in the following domains: emergency medicine, anaesthetics, physician and surgical training.

The programs cover renal physiology, respiratory, immunology, haematology, cardiology and pharmacology.

The programs are all Consultant-led and consist of MCQs, tutorials and MCQ feedback.

Professional Development Program

Mapped to the Australian Curriculum Framework, our Professional Development Programs for junior medical staff have been designed to cover areas outside of clinical skills and knowledge, but nevertheless an essential component of your training such as Patient Interaction, Working in teams, and Professional Behaviour. All topics covered are identified in the Australian Curriculum Framework.

Physician Trainees - Part of the Bayside-Peninsula BPT Consortia

Specially designed ‘in house’ programs dedicated to long and short case preparation and mock trial exam preparation.

SET Interview Preparation Program

An Intensive Interview Preparation Program including the opportunity to experience a mock interview with a Consultant panel and receive feedback on behavioural interviewing techniques. Consultants also provide guidance on structuring an interview response via a framework and a clinical psychologist leads workshops on understanding emotional intelligence and how best to prepare for an interview.

Anastomotic Workshop

Consultant-led one-on-one individual hands on teaching to become more familiar with vascular anastomosis techniques and using aortic grafts.

End of Life communication skills

An interactive workshop led by consultants, and involving role play with professional actors to demonstrate how effective patient-doctor communication leads to appropriate clinical decision making.
The focus is on how to elicit the values and wishes of patients and their families and to tailor advice and treatment based on these values and wishes, whilst at the same timegaining an appreciation of the legal, ethical and cultural concerns relevant to end of life care for patients and their families.

Orthopaedics Skills Workshop

A hands-on program run in collaboration with the orthopaedics unit that addresses common fractures, practicing joint aspiration and application of full plasters.