Master of Medicine in Anatomical Pathology

Purpose

This qualification aims to provide qualifying learners with knowledge, skills and applied competence in Anatomical Pathology. It aims to provide qualifying learners with the foundation for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and for contributing to society at large through advanced patient care, innovation, scholarship and leadership in the field of Anatomical Pathology.

Rationale

The qualification will produce learners who are socially accountable. It will also provide the qualifying learners with specialised knowledge and competence in science and practice in specialist clinical disciplines to enable registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a specialist. These learners expected to contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge at an advanced level by fostering scholarship, and intellectual independence, equipping them with skills and knowledge relevant to the practice of research and professional.

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement is

• Bachelor Medicine in Anatomical Pathology, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8.

This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9, totalling to 720 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 30 Credits

• Research Methodology, 16 Credits.
• A Pathological Clinic & Prof Practice 1, 270 Credits.
• A Pathological Clinic & Prof Practice 2, 270 Credits.
• Research Project, 164 Credits.

Clinical competence

1. Show clinical competence in diagnosis and management of disorders appropriate to the discipline.
2. Demonstrate competence in procedures.
3. Ensure maintenance of high ethical standards in practice and research.
4. Benchmark clinical practice against international standards, using available evidence Scholarship.
5. Demonstrate academic literacy in terms of critical thinking, the ability to access appropriate learning resources, formulate a research proposal, conduct the research and communicate the findings to the academic community.

Generic attributes competence in

1. Communication skills.
2. Creating and sustaining harmonious and effective service delivery teams.
3. Leadership in health provision.
4. Health advocacy.
5. Mentoring junior colleagues in the area of specialty.
6. Dealing with complex issues both systemically and creatively.
7. Demonstrating self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.
8. Exercising sound judgement in the use of data and information.
9. Acting autonomously planning and implementing professional.
10. Self- development as life-long learners Continuing Professional Development(CPD) and as leaders of others (staff development).

Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes.

• Demonstrate academic literacy using the medium of instruction effectively to convey ideas and insight intelligibly and to achieve own communication purposes.
• Interact with text (oral and written) through critical listening/reading skills.
• Produce texts which integrate information from different sources using appropriate academic and professional conventions.
• Communicate effectively with patient and colleagues. Perform appropriate physical examination.
• Demonstrate an understanding of statistical data Interpret and generate numerical data in various formats.
• Apply numerical data to research and clinical practice.
• Take a medical history at a level appropriate to the specialty and communicate the findings and treatment options effectively with the patient and referring doctor.
• Determine signs and symptoms of disease or injury and perform advanced physical examination appropriate to the level of a specialist in the field.
• Use cost-effective investigations which provide sufficient relevant information to aid diagnosis.
• Conceptualise, plan implement and interpret research. Gather information from various sources, reflect critically on knowledge and information and in consultation with the patient and other health care professions (where appropriate) plan and implement to completion a treatment option. Choose appropriate special investigations plan and implement treatment options in a holistic manner.
• Initiate and complete a research project.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment includes performance as a service-provider in the clinical workplace, assessment of class preparation & participation, individual and group written assignments, individual and group oral presentation, work placed based assessments and a professional portfolio. Summative assessment is in the form of the part one and part two Colleges of Medicine of South Africa examinations as well as the assessment methodology for the research module. However, the institution may set examinations for any supernumerary registrars who are eligible to write the part two examinations. The examiners are rigorously chosen for their qualifications in Anatomical Pathology and the examination will be conducted and will be drawn from around the country. In order to satisfy the requirements for the Research Methodology module, the student is required to have produced a satisfactory research protocol ready for submission to the University Biomedical Research Ethics Committee.