MD Discovery

Build your own Medical degree

The redesigned Doctor of Medicine (MD) program launched in 2022 and enables you to customise your medical degree through our MD Discovery subjects. Our MD Discovery subjects support you to explore  a wide range of topics, interests or domains of clinical practice.

Within MD Discovery, you complete Discovery subjects at each year of your MD journey. Each Discovery subject enables you to extend your knowledge and interests beyond the core MD curriculum, with a range of topics available.

Our team of Course Advisors are available at key decision points to support you in identifying your Discovery preferences and answering any questions about the program or our pathways.

Through our flexible pathway options, in the last two years of the program, you can choose either the Research Scholar or Clinical Scholar pathways to fulfill core research learning outcomes and extend skills and scholarship.

FIND OUT MORE

Find more details about your Discovery Flexible Pathway options here.

See below the intended learning outcomes for the discovery subjects at each year level:

  • Discovery 1: Foundation: Develop a foundation of knowledge and understanding in your topic of choice.
  • Discovery 2: Application: Apply your learning to the clinical setting.
  • Discovery Research Scholar Pathway
    • Discovery 3: Research scholar: Advance your knowledge and skills in the design and conduct of research.
    • Discovery 4:  Research scholar: Collect, analyse and interpret data and then present your findings in the form of a journal article-style report, conference poster and oral presentations.
  • Discovery Clinical Scholar Pathway
    • Discovery 3: Integration: Integrate multiple concepts into your practice of medicine.
    • Discovery 4: Clinical scholar: Utilise and apply your MD Discovery learning to create a new process, research paper or patient education package to name just a few ideas.

Read more about Discovery 1: Foundation

In the first year of the medical course, students can choose to study one topic within the Discovery - Foundation subject which will build the basis of knowledge for the following subjects. This subject is worth 12.5 credit points.

What will I achieve?

Students completing the subject MD Discovery – Foundation will be able to:

  • Identify the key concepts and knowledge bases underpinning their chosen topics
  • Relate their chosen topics to the medical practitioner’s role
  • Discuss how their chosen topics enhance their role as a health advocate
  • Describe how their chosen topics inform their future professional practice

What will I study?

Discovery offers you a range of exciting areas to choose from to extend your learning beyond our core MD curriculum. You can choose either a Discovery Topic or a Faculty Selective that is run by other Schools outside the Melbourne Medical School. All have been carefully selected to align with the graduate outcomes of the MD Redesign course.

The MD Discovery Foundation subject includes eight custom Discovery topics for you to choose from. These topics have been created by clinician experts across the Melbourne Medical School domain and are only available to our medical students. Close consideration has been given to what you are learning in your core subjects when topics are developed, and extending this learning appropriately in an area of interest.

Alongside the custom Discovery topics, the Doctor of Medicine has approved Faculty selective subjects as elective options that can be taken in place of Discovery 1.

How do I know what to choose?

To support you in navigating and choosing your flexible pathway each year, the Course Advice Program guides you through the process. Firstly, we ask you to review the Discovery topics and Faculty Selectives below and information via our Canvas pages. You are then asked to book your meeting and complete an online form that challenges you to identify your interests and goals, which will further assist you to identify your preferences. You then attend a one-on-one meeting with an experienced Melbourne Medical School academic to build your knowledge of the curriculum choices and pathways, and ensure your final preferences align with your interests and goals.

Discovery Topics

Click on the topic areas below to learn more about each one. When you meet with your Course Advisor you’ll be able to discuss your top preferences and where they might take you.

  • Death and Dying: Lifting the Lid

    You will explore a wide range of aspects of death and dying in contemporary Australia in this discovery topic. Read more.

  • Discover Cancer

    This topic explores the fundamentals of cancer sciences through a clinical approach. Read more.

  • Foundations in Translational Clinical Medicine

    The Translational Clinical Medicine Foundation topic will allow students to explore translational medicine - and learn how research translates into patient care and patient care can drive research discoveries. Read more.

  • Teaching and Learning in Medical Education

    The Teaching and Learning in Medicine topic will introduce you to essential skills in medical education. Read more.

  • Human Health in the Space Environment

    This topic will enable students to explore how human physiology responds to the space environment - how and why each body system adapts, and corresponding 'countermeasures'. Read more.

  • Rural Health – Foundations

    The Rural Health topic will provide an in-depth exploration of health care in the rural context. Read more.

  • Sexual Health across Clinical Contexts

    This topic offers a clinical and practical discovery in Sexual Health Care. Read more.

  • Foundations of Point of Care Ultrasound

    The topic offers students with foundational learning to perform an ultrasound.  Read more.

Faculty Selectives

You can also choose from a range of subjects in other schools in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Some of these are core or elective subjects in the Master of Public Health (MPH) and some are subjects from other award programs, such as Master of Science (Epidemiology), Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics, Master of Epidemiology and the Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health. Your successful completion of selectives may provide credit towards another award.

The University of Melbourne handbook introduction to these subjects which you are provided links to, includes information and advice that is applicable to all students who are enrolling in the subject – for example those doing the MPH. As such, some of the information is relevant for students of other courses only and doesn’t apply to you as an MD student (for example information about whether the subject is core for another course or the ideal timing to undertake the subject).

Please note that Faculty Selectives are governed outside the Doctor of Medicine and as such the department, School or Faculty that are responsible for these subjects have full oversight of the curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment. These subjects will use their own assessment procedure and this may include assigning grades/marks. If a grade for a subject is awarded it will appear on your academic transcript.

Follow the links below to be taken to the handbook information for faculty selectives:

Please note: The information provided above about the Discovery Topics and Faculty Selectives is correct at the time of publishing, but late changes, including cancellation of a topic or selective, are possible due to unforeseen circumstances. In such an eventuality, students would be notified as soon as possible, and we would work with you to enroll in another available topic or selective.

Discovery 2: Application

Application is a second-year Discovery subject where students take their foundational knowledge and apply it to a workplace setting. This subject is worth 12.5 credit points.

What will I achieve?

Students completing MD Discovery – Application will be able to:

  • Appraise the key concepts and knowledge bases underpinning their topics
  • Apply these concepts to the medical practitioner’s role
  • Demonstrate how their chosen topics enhance their role as a health advocate
  • Demonstrate how their chosen topics inform their professional practice

What will I study?

You have a wide range of exciting areas to choose from to study. All have been carefully selected to reflect and align with the graduate outcomes of the MD Redesign course. You can choose either a Discovery Topic or a Faculty Selective that is run by other Schools in the Faculty of MDHS.

The MD Discovery  Application subject includes 9 bespoke Discovery topics for students to choose from.  These topics have been created by clinician experts across the Melbourne Medical School domain specifically for you. Close consideration has been given to what students are learning in their core subjects in the development of the topics and extending this learning appropriately in an area of interest.

Alongside the purpose-built new Discovery topics, the Doctor of Medicine has approved Faculty selective subjects as elective options that can be taken in place of MD Discovery  Application.

Discovery Topics

Click on the topic areas below to learn more about each one. When you meet with your Course Advisor you’ll be able to discuss your choice of topic selection and where it might take you.

  • Communicating with the Machine

    Learn about biomedical devices, their application in clinical settings and explaining them to patients. Read more.

  • Death and Dying: When is Dead Really Dead

    This topic builds off Death and Dying: Lifting the Lid, focusing on the clinical aspects of managing the dying process. Read more.

  • On Country for Health

    Explore First Nations Health to enhance your understanding of thriving First Nations communities to meaningfully impact your practice. Read more.

  • Hearing Impairment – the Hidden Barrier to Communication

    Gain a clinical understanding of hearing impairments, and the impacts on patients and their families. Read more.

  • Making Healthcare Work: From Home to Hospital and Back Again

    Explore care pathways and build an understanding of community and hospital-based care environments. Read more.

  • Cardiac Point of Care Ultrasound

    Develop your understanding of point of care ultrasound using an ultrasound simulator. Read more.

  • Narrative Medicine

    Narrative medicine is a new field in health humanities, designed to help health workers find nourishing meaning in their work. Read more.

  • Sexual Health Across the Clinical Contexts

    Extend your communication skills and knowledge in Sexual Health Care. Read more.

  • Translational Medicine

    This topic continues the theme of translation science, focusing on a case summary to grow your competency in clinical translation medicine. Read more.

Faculty Selectives

There are a wide range of selectives from other schools in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for you to choose from.

Some of these are core or elective subjects in the Master of Public Health (MPH) and some are subjects from other award programs, such as Master of Science (Epidemiology), Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics, Master of Epidemiology and the Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health.

Your successful completion of selectives may provide credit towards another award.

Please note, the handbook listing includes information and advice that is applicable to all students who are enrolling in the subject – for example those doing the MPH. As such, some of the information is relevant for students from other programs  and doesn’t apply to you as a MD student (for example information about whether the subject is core for another course or the ideal timing to undertake the subject).

If you have completed a Faculty subject you may be eligible to undertake a broader range of Faculty Selectives. You should review the University handbook to determine what you may now be able to enrol in. Bring the subject information, confirm you have the pre-requisites completed and reference this information in your Course Advice form for discussion.

Please note that Faculty Selectives are governed outside the Doctor of Medicine and as such the department, School or Faculty that are responsible for these subjects have full oversight of the curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment. These subjects will use their own assessment procedure and this may include assigning grades/marks. If a grade for a subject is awarded it will appear on your academic transcript.

Follow the links below to be taken to the handbook information for faculty selectives:

Please note: The information provided above about the Discovery Topics and Faculty Selectives is correct at the time of publishing, but late changes, including cancellation of a topic or selective, are possible due to unforeseen circumstances. In such an eventuality, students would be notified as soon as possible, and we would work with you to enroll in another available topic or selective.

Discovery: Research Scholar

If you choose to advance your knowledge and skills in research scholarship, in the third year you will undertake Discovery 3: Research Scholar as your Discovery subject, and the following year Discovery 4: Research Scholar.

Discovery  3: Research scholar

Discovery 3: Research Scholar is the first subject dedicated to the Research Scholar pathway in the MD. This subject builds on the foundation level research methods knowledge and skills from prior studies in the MD.

Undertaken as a four-week intensive subject in the third year of the Discovery stream, you will commence work on a research project, under the supervision of an experienced researcher. This is the first step of the research project, which will be continued and completed in the following year in the Discovery 4: Research Scholar subject.

In this subject, prior to the four week intensive, you will work closely with your supervisor and research team to develop your research question. During the four week intensive you will conduct a literature review and propose a detailed research project plan.

The subject will allow you to develop research skills tailored to your project, preparing you to undertake your proposed project in Discovery 4: Research Scholar under the supervision of the same researcher. You will also work collaboratively with your supervisor and research group to establish professional working relationships as a clinician researcher.

Discovery  4: Research scholar

Discovery 4: Research Scholar is a semester long full-time subject, where you will continue to work with your supervisor and research team on the research project that was commenced in Discovery 3: Research Scholar.

In Discovery 4: Research Scholar, you will collect, analyse and interpret data and then present your findings in the form of a journal article-style report, conference poster and oral presentations.

This subject will enable you to establish professional working relationships and develop your own professional identity as an early career clinician-researcher.

This subject will be delivered in Semester 1 of the final year of your course, followed in Semester 2 by your clinical capstone subject, Transition to Practice.

FIND OUT MORE

Find out more about the Research Scholar pathway through the Discovery Flexible Pathways brochure  here.

Discovery: Clinical Scholar Pathway

If you choose to advance your knowledge and skills in clinical leadership, integrated clinical scholarship and health advocacy, in third year you will undertake Discovery 3: Integration and select from the topics offered, similar to Discovery 1: Foundation and Discovery 2: Application.

Discovery 3: Integration

Discovery 3: Integration will have a greater emphasis on clinical placement and experiential learning. You will select the clinical scholar pathway in line with your interest in clinical leadership, integrated clinical scholarship and health advocacy.

The topics in Discovery 3: Integration give you a choice of options to gain deeper insights into an area about which you are passionate and will potentially pursue in the following year.  Alternatively, the subjects can provide a stand-alone learning experience within the course.

Each of the learning options available within this subject is of high educational quality and is designed to enhance your personal and professional growth.

The subject will be delivered as a four-week intensive and employs blended delivery and integrated experiential learning experiences.

Discovery 3: Integration

Discovery 4: Clinical scholar

Discovery 4: Clinical Scholar will integrate clinical placement with a scholarly output. You will have the opportunity to preference placement disciplines across the University domain.

Within your clinical team, you will perform clinical tasks and demonstrate appropriate professional practice, highlighting the role of the medical practitioner. You will also create scholarly outputs appropriate to this context.

The level of scholarship demonstrated through core coursework and Discovery will meet all training requirements, and the course research learning outcomes, to begin a career as a clinical scholar.

Discovery 4: Clinical Scholar is a semester long full-time subject in your final year, with full immersion in clinical experiences.

FIND OUT MORE

Find out more about the Clinical Scholar pathway through the Discovery Flexible Pathways brochure here.