Course Title: Nuclear Medicine Methods 3

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Nuclear Medicine Methods 3

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
RADI1138	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Simon Cowell

Course Coordinator Phone: 0404 805 413

Course Coordinator Email: simon.cowell@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.8.8

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email to make an appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course builds on the student’s theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during second year from their clinical practice experience, and concepts covered in Nuclear Medicine 1 and 2. Students will be expected to develop intermediate skills in problem solving and in radiopharmacy practice.

Prerequisites:

RADI1127 Nuclear Medicine Methods 2

RADI1129 Nuclear Medicine Practice 2

Co-requisite:  

ONPS2351 Nuclear Medicine Technology 3

Course Description

This course is designed to provide the student with opportunities to gain detailed understanding of the more complex and advanced areas of Nuclear Medicine, including the biochemical issues, radiopharmacy principles and cutting-edge technology. This course is designed to encourage students to apply the relevant knowledge and skills that will allow them to participate in these complex areas of Nuclear Medicine. In addition students will gain a range research skills such as; identifying and reviewing relevant literature, writing clearly defined aims and methods and completing an ethics application.  Modules in this course will be supported via a mix of face-to-face lectures web resources, focused readings, quizzes, student presentations, tutorials, and independent research.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course consists of three modules:

Module 1 Nuclear Medicine Methods
On completion of this module, it is intended the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their understanding of the clinical applications of radiopharmaceuticals gained in second year.
2. Understand and recognise with confidence, various clinical problems and patient presentations encountered in routine and complex Nuclear Medicine practice, and thereby tailor procedures accordingly.
3. Demonstrate their understanding of the applications of digital imaging concepts, including principles of image acquisition and processing, radiopharmaceutical requirements, radiation safety as well as the more advanced clinical / research applications of SPECT and PET.
4.  At the end of this module, students should be able to demonstrate development in a range of research related skills such as; identifying and reviewing relevant literature, writing clearly defined aims and methods (how the research will be conducted) and completing an ethics application.

Module 2 Biochemistry
Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:
1. Relate structures of biochemical molecules to their function.
2. Explain details of enzyme-catalysed reactions and account for the major physiological processes.
3. Account for the major physiological process and concepts in biochemical terms.
4. Describe radiopharmaceutical behaviour and physiological processes in terms of the biochemical systems involved.

Module 3 Computed Tomography.
Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of clinical CT.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the main clinical applications of CT.

Overview of Learning Activities

The student will be involved in learning activities that include self-directed study, problem based learning, tutorials,  practicals, quizzes and online learning activities and a small individualised research project.

Overview of Learning Resources

This course consists of a series of lectures and practical learning sessions that cover the theoretical aspects that underpin the clinical applications of radionuclides in medicine. Students will be encouraged to explore the material provided in lectures independently, by reading widely and accessing appropriate journal articles, texts and World Wide Web resources.
Students will also be encouraged to participate in structured tutorials, during which they will be encouraged to further develop their medical image interpretation skills. These tutorials will also assist students in developing the research skills in scientific writing, reviewing literature, developing research questions and appropriate research methodology and completing an ethics application.

Overview of Assessment

Students may be assessed via in-class tests, quizzes, oral presentation, written examation and a small research proposal.