Master of Medicine in Paediatric Surgery

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Medicine in Paediatric Surgery is to allow the learner to attain competency in the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary for effective clinical practice as a specialist paediatric surgeon and thus render the learner eligible for registration with the HPCSA in the specialist category.

In line with the HEQSF, the primary purpose of this professional Master's Degree in Paediatric surgery is to

• Provide knowledge and skills necessary to equip learners for professional clinical service in the context of the health needs of the paediatric population.
• Produce learners who are socially accountable to communities that they serve.
• Provide learners with specialised knowledge and competence in science and clinical practice in specialist clinical disciplines to enable registration with the HPCSA as a specialist in paediatric surgery.
• Prepare learners to contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge at an advanced level by fostering scholarship, and intellectual independence, equipping them with personal, analytical, technical knowledge and skills which is relevant to advance specialist clinical practice and research within the professional and academic community.
• Produce learners who are competent for admission to Doctoral qualifications.
• Prepare the learner for a life of self-directed continuing learning, reflective practise and professional development.

Rationale

There is a national need for learners who meet the requirements to be able to register as paediatric surgery specialists with the HPCSA. This specialisation will allow them to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our paediatric population. Such learners are required to possess a high level of competence and specialised skill in this clinical discipline and they should possess generic competencies in a range of defined domains such as communication, collaboration, management and leadership to facilitate efficient functioning in the clinical environment of tertiary academic hospitals. Their analytical and synthesis skills, an understanding of scientific enquiry, scholarship and research is important to advance the discipline of academic medicine. This qualification is positioned in order to meet these needs.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is only applicable for the Research component of the Degree. The Research component is recognised for learners who have already completed a Master of Medical Science (Surgery or surgical specialities).

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• MBChB, Level 8 or equivalent.
• Two year's experience.
• Meet HPCSA requirements.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 720 Credits.

• Research Methodology, 16 Credits.
• Research project,164 Credits.
• Clinical and Professional Practice I, 270 Credits.
• Clinical and Professional practice II, 270 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.

Associated Assessment for Criteria Exit Level Outcomes

• 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.
• nterpret 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 field.
• Use cost-effective investigations which provide sufficient relevant information to aid diagnosis.
• 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.
• Initiate and complete a research project.

Integrated Assessment

Learners are subjected to continuous assessment by their clinical and academic supervisors. They are interviewed at the end of each clinical rotation and are interviewed twice-yearly by the Head of Discipline or designated senior academic staff. All assessments are recorded in a portfolio of learning.

The Part 2 examination of the relevant constituent College of the College of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) constitutes the summative assessment for this module. Learners' competence is assessed through:

• Two written papers.
• An Objective Structured Clinical Exam.
• Two viva voce examinations.
• Clinical cases presentations.