Overview

What you will learn

Become proficient in full-body anatomy beyond the GSSE requirements

Explore full-body anatomy and delve deeper into the anatomy of your preferred surgical sub-specialty.

Delve deeper into specialty-specific anatomy

As well as exploring full-body anatomy, you get to explore the anatomy relevant to one specialty in greater detail. The available specialties are: cardiothoracic surgery, ENT surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatric surgery, plastic surgery, urology, and vascular surgery.

The Neurosurgery stream contains an additional Neuroanatomy component and is recommended for those with an interest in pursuing a career in Radiology.

Unsurpassed opportunities to dissect and develop exemplary technical skills

Throughout the course, you will assist colleagues in their specialty dissections, as well as lead dissection in your own specialty area. The arrangement of multiple specialties working on one body donor ensures maximal use of their donation and fosters an ideal environment for observation, assisting, communication and teamwork. You will be supervised closely during class times and given detailed feedback regularly on your anatomical knowledge and technical skill. The dissection techniques taught align with those taught in the ASSET course, so this is a rare opportunity to gain extensive “instrument time” to build a foundation of technical excellence upon which the rest of your career can be built.

Explore radiologic anatomy in detail

Weekly radiologic anatomy sessions will reinforce radiologic anatomy content provided in the core lectures. Delivered as interactive tutorials, you will have excellent opportunities throughout the GDSA to test your radiologic anatomy knowledge and build confidence in describing anatomy radiologically.

Be trained and tested on teamwork, communication and technical ability

SET applications require evidence of excellent teamwork, communication and technical skills which are difficult to document and develop during a junior clinical job. The GDSA provides extensive opportunities, with formal feedback, to develop and document these areas. This will not only strengthen future SET applications but better prepare you for success in SET1 and beyond.

Undertake detailed body donor dissection

You will perform comprehensive dissection and surgical procedures on a body donor under the supervision of expert academic instructors. Become more confident and competent in the use of equipment that is essential for your clinical practice.

Develop confidence in your skills in preparation for SET admission

Regular feedback and in-class oral assessments will help prepare you for the final oral examination and for critical interviews early in your career. Our team of leading anatomists and clinicians bring decades of experience to help prepare you for exams, SET applications and your career as a surgeon.

Course structure

The Graduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy is a 100-point program. As a student, you must complete one subject, worth 100 credit points.

Workload

Tuition involves lecture, tutorials and practical sessions (including specimen workshops and body donor dissection). Subjects are delivered in either Semester 1 or Semester 2, on Campus on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6pm–10pm, on Saturday mornings from 9am-12pm. Lectures and other resources are also available online.

Secure lab access also provides the unsurpassed and invaluable opportunity for independent dissection with more than 1500 hours available. To maximise the impact of this unique course at least 100 hours of independent dissection is recommended.

Explore this course

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this diploma.