The Surgical Science and Practice Programme
Advanced, part-time modular study, particularly suited to those in full-time employment. The Programme is designed to prepare more senior surgical trainees for life as an independent specialist by providing skills and knowledge essential for modern practice, but which are not fully represented or are omitted from most postgraduate training curricula.
Study options:
- A two-year part-time MSc in Surgical Science and Practice
- A range of Short Courses in Surgical Science and Practice
MSc in Surgical Science and Practice
The overarching aim of the Surgical Science and Practice Programme is to provide the next generation of surgeons with the tools to build and lead successful surgical units delivering safe, high-quality, high-reliability care. This course provides a foundation in some of the most important additional skills which the future leaders of the profession will need to acquire.
The MSc in Surgical Science and Practice is a part-time course designed to be completed in two to three years by full-time surgical trainees. It comprises six intensive week-long modules taught in Oxford during two years, and a dissertation. Access to Oxford’s electronic resources and a virtual learning environment (VLE) provide between-module support.
During the second year, a work-based research project, which builds on material studied in the taught modules, is undertaken and the associated dissertation forms an integral part of the work assessed for the award of the MSc.
Short Courses in Surgical Science and Practice
Each one-week module from the Surgical Science and Practice Programme may also be taken individually as a stand-alone short course.
Modules
The Programme consists of the following six week-long modules (Modules may be subject to periodic change reflecting developments in the field.):
- The Practice of Evidence-Based Health Care (Surgery)
- Quality Improvement Science and Systems Analysis
- Human Factors, Teamwork and Communication
- Introduction to Surgical Management and Leadership
- Becoming a Medical Educator
- Surgical Technology and Robotics
These taught modules will include group work, discussions, guest lectures, and interaction and feedback with tutors and lecturers.
Some activities will be classroom-based, whereas others will utilise specialist facilities within the University, including surgical simulators and operating theatres on one of Oxford’s hospital sites.
Surgical Science and Practice in Oxford
The Oxford Surgical Science and Practice Programme results from a close collaboration between the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and the Department for Continuing Education.
The Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences is one of largest and most successful academic departments of surgery in the United Kingdom. It has a long tradition of research excellence, and is currently developing a major focus on surgical oncology and robotic surgery under the Head of Department, Professor Freddie Hamdy. Over the last five years the QRSTU (Quality Reliability, Safety and Teamwork Unit) within the Department has developed internationally recognised expertise in research on the mechanisms for achieving excellence in surgical practice.
The Department for Continuing Education has a long and successful record of providing part-time professional development designed to meet the needs of industry in the health and medical sciences as well as many other subject areas.
The Surgical Science and Practice Programme
Course Director: Mr Peter McCulloch
Mr Peter McCulloch is Reader in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford and Honorary Consultant in Upper GI Surgery at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust.
He is Director of the Quality, Reliability, Safety and Teamwork Unit, a research group working on safety and quality in surgery, and co-ordinator of IDEAL, an international network dedicated to improving the scientific evaluation of surgery and interventional therapies.
Contact details
Surgical Science and Practice Programme
University of Oxford
Department for Continuing Education
CPD Centre
Littlegate House
16/17 St Ebbes Street
Oxford, OX1 1PT,
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 286954
Fax: +44 (0) 1865 286934
Email: SSP@conted.ox.ac.uk