MD Discovery 3: Integration (MEDS90041)

This subject, “MD Discovery 3: Integration” is taken in the third year of the Melbourne MD and gives students a choice of options to gain deeper insights into an area about which they are passionate and that may be developed further the following year if desired. Or, the subject can provide a stand-alone learning experience within this year of the course. Students may choose to build on learning they gained in the subjects “MD Discovery 1: Foundation” in the first year of their Doctor of Medicine course and/or “MD Discovery 2: Application” in the second year, or they can choose to explore completely different topics of interest. Whether following a particular theme or sampling more widely, reflective assessment activities will allow students to demonstrate how their MD Discovery 3 subject has added to their professional development as a medical practitioner. Each of the learning options available within this subject is of high educational quality and is designed to enhance the student’s personal and professional growth. Students are encouraged to choose options that broaden and deepen their learning, rather than revisiting content with which they are already familiar. Advanced research skills are an important attribute of the Melbourne medical graduate. There are two main tracks for students to follow during the second half of the Melbourne MD: the “Research Scholar” track and the “Clinician Scholar” track. The Research Scholar track leads towards a full research project in the final year (Year 4) of the Doctor of Medicine course and students are encouraged to make MD Discovery choices in Year 3 that will help them prepare for this project. The Clinician Scholar track leads students towards a more clinically-engaged project in Year 4. Regardless of which track a student follows, the level of scholarship demonstrated through core coursework and Discovery subjects will meet all training requirements to begin a career as a medical clinician-researcher.