Master of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Location:                 The Queen Elizabeth Hospital/University of Adelaide
Duration:                1 year (full-time only)
Degree/Award:        Masters by Coursework

Program Outline
The Master of Minimally Invasive Surgery provides a professional qualification for surgeons from a wide range of surgical subspecialties who wish to have minimally invasive surgery as a predominant part of their future surgical practice.  In particular, the aim is to provide surgeons with an understanding of the theory of minimally invasive surgical procedures combined with a thorough clinical practical grounding. 

The one year program comprises the following components: supervised clinical placement in either a government or non-government hospital; lectures and tutorials; teaching with low and high fidelity laparoscopic training devices; and the completion of a research project that will result in a publication which is deemed suitable for submission to a peer reviewed journal.

Applicants should have completed, or be within 1 year of completing, the FRACS (or equivalent) on application.  The applicant would have a fellowship training position or a post-fellowship position in a surgery subspecialty or gynaecology in Adelaide, or be in a position to attend weekly tutorials in Adelaide.  Applications are accepted from international and Australian students.

Program content

Semester 1:

Minimally Invasive Surgery – Theory 1
The course will provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the relevant anatomy for laparoscopic surgery and physiological changes of minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally Invasive Surgery – Research and Development 1
This course encourages students’ to carry out their own research into relevant topics within minimally invasive surgery.

Supervised Clinical Practice 1
The course will provide comprehensive clinical training to a high level of competency in the practice of minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Semester 2:

Minimally Invasive Surgery – Theory 2
The course will provide teaching on key issues in the application of minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally Invasive Surgery – Research and Development 2
This course will enable students to design a research project to produce an article in their chosen speciality (Upper GI, Colorectal, Renal Transplant Surgery, Gynaecology, Vascular or Urology) suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

Supervised Clinical Practice 2
With increasing experience students will, under supervision, perform minimally invasive surgical cases. At the end of Semester 2 students will have created an instructional DVD on a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

For more information:
Visit: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/programfinder/2009/mmis_mmininvsur.html

Contact: Professor Guy Maddern
Telephone: +61 8 8222 6756