Course description
Programme description
- Many lectures and clinics are led by world renowned dermatologists and researchers.
- The timetable includes at least six hours teaching in clinics each week.
- Students are invited to attend scientific and clinical courses at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals.
An introductory module includes the basic structure of the skin, dermatological terms, epidemiology and health needs, skin pharmacy and histopathology.
Special modules cover medical mycology, bacteriology, pharmacology, contact dermatitis, photobiology and tropical dermatology. General lectures cover the range of skin diseases, skin tumours etc. Other subjects include an introduction to laboratory mycology; dermatological literature - critical appraisal; basis of inflammation; research techniques. You will attend special sessions in dermatological nursing techniques, the use of the pharmacy and day care. You will also undertake a research project.
The programme is based at the St John's Institute of Dermatology, a specialised clinical, teaching and research institute based in St Thomas' and Guy's Hospitals. The Institute has its own academic facilities including lecture theatre, library, study areas and teaching laboratory. The clinical facilities are unusual in the UK as most subspecialties of dermatology, from contact dermatitis to dermatological surgery, are represented in the Institute, which therefore provides a unique environment for learning.
Programme format and assessment
All four modules have to be passed. Theoretical Dermatology: 60 credits, assessment by essay (50 per cent), MCQ (50 per cent).
Clinical Dermatology: 60 credits, assessment by OSCE (70 per cent), oral (30 per cent). Dermatopathology: 15 credits, assessment by practical (100 per cent). Dermatology dissertation: 45 credits, assessment by written piece (60 per cent), oral (40 per cent).
Programme modules for MSc Clinical Dermatology
Clinical Dermatology (Core Module)
This 60 credit module aims to: provide a thorough background knowledge of the full range of diseases that can affect the skin and its appendages; develop approaches to the management of dermatological disease; ensure familiarity with methods of clinical recording and measurement in dermatology and enhance self directed learning. At the end of the module students will be able to identify clinically a range of common skin diseases; determine differential diagnoses; evaluate factors in patient histories for relationships to their skin disease; develop strategies for the treatment and management of patients; develop clinical examination techniques relevant to dermatology; determine which skin manifestations can be indicators of other diseases; determine appropriate techniques for sampling and the appropriate tests to request. Assessment is by clinical exam, oral exam and submission of a clinical portfolio.
Dermatopathology (Core Module)
This 15 credit module aims to: identify normal and abnormal skin structures; provide a thorough background knowledge of the histopathological manifestations of diseases that can affect the skin and its appendages; appreciate the importance of correlating microscopic interpretation with the clinical features of disease; understand the use of histochemistry and immunocytochemistry in diagnosis and enhance self directed learning. At the end of the module the student will be able to examine and interpret histopathological sections; identify a range of common skin diseases on their histopathological appearance; determine differential diagnoses for the histopathological appearance of the specimen and interpret basic histochemistry and immunocytochemistry sections. Assessment is by practical examination
Research Project - Clinical Dermatology (Core Module)
This 45 credit module aims to develop approaches to the management of dermatological disease; enhance understanding of dermatological research; develop a structured approach to critical appraisal of dermatological literature; enhance self directed learning; To enable the students to produce a literature based research thesis on a topic relevant to their experience/interest/country of origin. At the end of the modules the student will be able to identify an area of dermatology of personal interest suitable for a research dissertation; design literature search strategies and access sources of information; critically evaluate dermatological literature; evaluate the findings of the research to formulate proposals for diagnosis/treatment/management/research in the chosen subject area; develop personal learning skills; write a critical research document. Assessment is by submission of a dissertation and an oral examination.
Theoretical Dermatology (Core Module)
This 60 credit module aims to: provide a thorough background knowledge of the full range of diseases that can affect the skin and its appendages; understand the principles of treatment and management of dermatological conditions; enhance understanding of dermatological research; develop a structured approach to critical appraisal of dermatological literature; enhance self directed learning. At the end of the module you will be able to: recognise a range of skin diseases; determine differential diagnoses; distinguish normal and abnormal features of the skin structure; correlate abnormalities in skin structure to the presence of skin disease; examine and interpret mycological specimens; assess the contribution of dermatological research to the development of diagnosis and management of skin diseases; access and critically evaluate dermatological literature and evaluate personal learning and develop learning skills. Assessment is by written examination and MCQ
