Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine

Course code: 1759 ~ Course abbreviation: GradDipFamMed ~ Total credit points required: 48 ~ 4 semesters part-time ~ Managing faculty: Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Study mode and course location

Off-campus (Clayton - P/T only)

Course description

This course, offered by the Department of General Practice, has been specifically designed for general practitioners who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in areas relevant to general practice and to meet their own personal and professional needs as well as the needs of their patients and the community in which they practice. Opportunities may exist to upgrade to the masters degree program.

Course objectives

On completion of this course students should be able to: accurately define and describe the nature of the discipline of general practice including its history, philosophy and practice; compare and contrast general practice with other medical specialties; appreciate the significance of patient centeredness in differentiating general practice from other disciplines; understand the role of the general practitioner as the gatekeeper of the health care system and the implications of this role in providing cost-effective primary medical care to the community; recognise the potential for growth in the academic aspects of general practice in the future and the contribution that graduates from this course can make to this growth; appreciate the nature and scope of general practice research including similarities and differences to research in other medical disciplines; and acquire knowledge and skills in a number of chosen areas of special interest as defined in the elective units of this course.

Course structure

Course requirements

Students are required to complete two core units, plus three 8-point elective units or a mix of electives and 4 point modules.

Core units

• MFM2000 Principles of general practice
• MFM2006 Introduction to research methods

Electives

• MFM1002 Clinical nutrition
• MFM1004 Dermatology
• MFM1006 Women's health
• MFM1007 Child health
• MFM1008 Practice management
• MFM1012 Community geriatrics
• MFM1014 Musculoskeletal medicine
• MFM1017 Ethics
• MFM1019 Ophthalmology

Modules

• CGP1002 Depression and other mood disorders
• CGP1003 Anxiety
• DFM3002 Stress management
• DFM3003 Pain management
• DFM3004 Palliative care
• DFM3005 Preventive care
• DFM3006 Issues in general practice prescribing
• DFM3007 Diabetes
• DFM3008 Men's sexual and reproductive health
• DFM3009 Evidence-based general practice
• DFM3010 Cardiovascular health

Assessment

Assessment is by coursework participation, assignments with occasional special projects and some weekend workshops, plus formal examinations from time to time.

Contact details

Postgraduate administrative officer: telephone +61 3 8575 22163; email genprac@med.monash.edu.au or visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/general-practice/teaching/pgrad.html

Course coordinator

Professor Leon Piterman