Life at Med School in Sydney

March 26th, 2003

Life in Sydney's wonderful. I'm so surprised that I've slid into my new life here so seamlessly. School started the first day I was here, which was a relief, I suppose. No time to second-guess.

School's terrific. It's based on a "problem-based learning" curriculum, which focuses on one case per week, in which all lectures and labs and clinical sessions are related to. We have three 'tutorials' a week, in which we discuss the case of the week, with 9 other students and one tutor. We're first given a 'cue' about the case; for example, "Mr Smith has chest pain." We're then supposed to talk about all the different potential causes for chest pain. Then, we go away for a few days to think about what cause is most likely, given the personal history of the patient (in this case, Mr Smith). We then return for the second tutorial ready with a list of questions to ask the tutor, who this time, is playing the role of the patient. He then tells us more specific details of his symptoms, as well as the results of various lab tests (should we ask for any ­ i.e., blood count, ECG, etc.). From this information, we then narrow down the probable causes into one diagnosis. We then go away and read up everything we can about that diagnosis for a few days. In the meantime, we have 6 lectures (2 a day on M, T, W) and 2 labs (M and W) on a related topic focused on chest pain (cardiology, lung diseases, anatomy of the thorax, etc.). Finally in our 3rd and final tutorial, we discuss and design a management plan to treat Mr Smith's condition. We have one test towards the 3/4 mark of our calendar - by that time, we've done about 55 cases. The exam doesn't count, but is administered formally, in order to give us an indication of how well we're retaining the information. The first test that 'counts' is our "barrier assessment" in the middle of our 2nd year. So basically, this year 'doesn't count' which means we should technically be learning for 'interest.' It's extremely easy to slide by without doing any reading or follow up, because the course is overwhelmingly "self-directed." However, assuming all of us worked hard and wanted to get into this course, I don't think 'slacking off' and 'cramming' will be a big problem. It's wonderful to be with a group of people that are equally as interested in a subject as you are. It feels so.... Satisfying.