UCL Eastman Dental Institute

What will I learn?

Syllabus

• A programme of lectures, seminars and clinico-pathological conferences reviewing clinical and scientific aspects of relevant disease
• Attendance at supervised clinics in all aspects of Oral Medicine and logbook of clinical experience
• A research investigation leading to a dissertation.

Module structure

Programme specification

An outline of the structure of the MSc in Oral Medicine and its assessment is available in the Programme Specification (MS Word).

Aims & Objectives

The aim of the MSc programme is to extend the knowledge and skills in Oral Medicine beyond that obtained as an undergraduate to allow the candidate to become a competent practitioner in the field of Oral Medicine within and outside the United Kingdom. The programme will also provide supervised and assessed clinical training that may be used by graduates applying for specialty training in Oral Medicine in UK towards allowance granting for past training and experience in relation to the length of training, as per General Dental Council guidance.

In particular, the MSc in Oral Medicine aims to provide:

• An understanding of the aetiology, epidemiology and clinical presentation of well-characterised disorders of the oral mucosa and salivary glands, and disorders of sensation of the mouth (pain and abnormalities of taste)
• An understanding of the relevant investigation and management of such disease
• An understanding of the process of learning and the dissemination of clinical knowledge

The objectives of the MSc in Oral Medicine are to ensure that following completion of this course, the dentally-qualified postgraduate:

• Has an understanding of the epidemiology of relevant orofacial disease
• Is able to recognise the clinical features of most common relevant orofacial disorders
• Is able to undertake a detailed clinical history and relevant clinical examination
• Is able to undertake relevant clinical investigations (phlebotomy, sialometry, biopsy, cranial nerve assessment)
• Is able to arrange the necessary relevant special investigations
• Is able to interpret and be aware of the significance of the result of relevant special investigations
• Is able to provide effective long-term care of patients with relevant orofacial disease and be aware of the limitations of such therapies
• Be able to arrange necessary referral of patients to relevant specialists
• Be able to provide relevant preventative advice both at a local and national level
• Be able to interpret and assess the significance of current published work
• Have the necessary Information Technology skills to write appropriate clinical reports
• Be aware of general principals of clinical and laboratory-based research, and be able to independently undertake relevant, simple research, including clinical audit
• Be aware of emerging health trends to be able to appropriately adapt clinical and academic practice

Assessment

Summative Assessment

The programme follows a modularised structure. The modules have a credit weighting and are separately assessed. This includes an assessed research project (dissertation) and other forms of assessment such as written papers (MCQ, MSA, essays) and practical/clinical/oral examinations including VIVA and clinical logbook review.

Formative assessment

Clinical, practical and academic skills are assessed throughout each graduate's time at the Eastman. Some of this assessment is “formative” i.e it does not contribute to the final degree result but does aid the learning experience. The following formative assessments are employed:

• Monthly essays
• 2-3 multiple choice/multiple short answer question papers on all aspects of Oral Medicine
• Assessment of clinical competence via Case-based discussion (CbD), Consultation observation tool (COT), Clinical Evaluation Exercise (CEX), Multi-Source Feedback (MSF), Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ), Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS), Clinical Supervisors Report (CSR)
  
• In addition graduates general performance is assessed by the Programme Committee

Teaching methods

Timetabling

Normal working hours are 09.00 – 17.00, Monday – Friday however on occasions (usually on Mondays for Oral Medicine lectures) some activities may take place outside these core hours.

Programme director: Dr Sefano Fedele
Dr Alison Boulter
Dr Shahid Chaudhry
Ms Joanna Christou
Dr Roger Davies
Dr Tim Hodgson
Dr Sabine Jurge
Dr Navdeep Kumar
Dr Roddy McMillan
Ms Aviva Petrie
Prof Stephen Porter
Dr Vehid Salih