Course Title: Laboratory Medicine Project
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Laboratory Medicine Project
Credit Points: 24.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
MEDS2140 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
160H Medical Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014 |
MEDS2142 |
Bundoora Campus |
Postgraduate |
160H Medical Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014 |
Course Coordinator: Professor Denise Jackson
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925-7392
Course Coordinator Email: denise.jackson@rmit.edu.au
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
You will select a Laboratory Medicine Project in one of the following disciplines including Haematology, Transfusion and Transplantation Science, Clinical Biochemistry, Histopathology, Cytopathology and Medical Microbiology. For BP147 students as a pre-requisite, you will be required to have completed the relevant major course in first semester of third year BP147 program to qualify to do a Laboratory Medicine Project in a given discipline. You are expected to have completed the first three years and 1st Semester, 4th Year course content of BP147 including the professional practice placement before undertaking this discipline based project.
For GD102/MC158 students as a pre-requisite, you are required to have completed at least one advanced discipline course for which you would do the corresponding laboratory medicine project.
Course Description
This course has a vocational focus in a specific discipline of Laboratory Medicine. This course is taken as part of a major discipline stream in the final year of the program and is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to competently undertake investigations into a range of discipline specific diseases. A series of problem solving exercises examine the clinical presentation and laboratory investigation of a range of discipline specific diseases.
In addition, a laboratory based project will assist you to develop skills in biological research and scientific communication, including design and performance of experiments, analysis and presentation of experimental data, oral and written scientific reports that use these skills.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Having studied this course it is intended that you should be able to demonstrate the following capabilities:
1. You will be knowledgeable in a discipline of Laboratory Medicine and its practice in a clinical laboratory environment.
2. You will be critical in your analysis of clinical cases, of the laboratory investigations that you undertake and of the results and conclusions that you produce.
3. You will be creative in your approach to problem solving, as well as being responsible in the implementation of your solutions to those problems.
4. You will demonstrate empathy and compassion for the health and well being of the individuals upon whom you perform your investigations and provide results, and which may lead to further action in the treatment of the individual, through your response to questions and case studies.
5. You will be aware of the environmental impact that your practices in the laboratory may have and conduct yourself in a manner designed to minimise that impact.
6. You will have developed the skills to be employable.
7. You will be able to design and conduct an independent laboratory based project.
Having studied this course it is intended that you should be able to:
1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex nature of events contributing to normal and abnormal disease states in your discipline.
2. evaluate laboratory techniques and instrumentation with respect to accuracy, precision, sensitivity and cross-reactivity, recognising the limitations of methodology and instrumentation currently encountered in diagnostic laboratories.
3. describe the clinical presentation of a variety of discipline based disorders.
4. conduct an independent laboratory based project.
5. adhere to responsible laboratory practice regarding data collection and recording, laboratory safety, time and project management, experimental design, accuracy and precision, analysis and interpretation of results.
6. critically read scientific literature, analyse experimental data, prepare a minor thesis (literature review, materials and methods, results, discussion and bibliography)(5000 words).
7. present a seminar on the results of a laboratory based project.
Overview of Learning Activities
This is a discipline-based course from a major stream that is designed to prepare graduates for a career in laboratory medicine, or to pursue postgraduate research in the discipline. The syllabus is covered in a program of lectures, tutorials, laboratory based project and seminar. Tuition is primarily based on problem solving exercises which are designed to extend theoretical knowledge and to develop analytical and critical thinking skills.
Preparation of a reference list and project outline, project work under the guidance of a supervisor, participation in laboratory meetings, seminars, writing and editing a minor thesis in consultation with supervisor, preparation of and presentation of a seminar.
Overview of Learning Resources
This course uses a combination of:
Texts
Practical manuals
Scientific journals
Internet based material/references
Lecture notes/supplementary material available via Online@RMIT
You should obtain material appropriate to your individual topic, by discussion with your supervisors and by searching the appropriate data bases and literature eg: PubMed.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment consists of a combination of theory and laboratory based project. The minor thesis forms the major part of the assessment of this course. Assessment is based upon presentation of a seminar on the results of the laboratory based project and timely presentation of components of the thesis for review.