During this module you'll analyse and critically discuss breast physiology, anatomy and function in relation to normal variation, benign conditions and malignant breast disease. You’ll explore complex cases, evaluating the latest guidelines and evidence to examine key areas of clinical practice, including case selection, patient communication, multidisciplinary working and optimal management. You’ll also work alongside global peers within an online learning community, sharing insights and experiences to support your development.
You’ll critically evaluate the indications, applications and limitations of current breast-conserving surgery techniques within an online learning community. Through online case discussions, you’ll explore key principles such as communication, informed consent, patient selection, pre operative planning, technical approaches and post-operative management. This includes both volume displacement and volume replacement techniques used in breast conservation surgery. You’ll also analyse the impact of adjuvant therapies and patient factors, helping you optimise outcomes and apply your learning to your own clinical practice.
During this module you’ll explore and critically discuss the indications for mastectomy in therapeutic, risk-reducing and symmetrisation scenarios. You’ll review the roles of both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction in maintaining or recreating breast aesthetics, and consider the impact on patients’ quality of life. You’ll examine current reconstruction options, including implant-based and autologous techniques, with a focus on selecting appropriate patients, counselling and consent, and managing complications and medicolegal issues. Learning is supported through online forums where you’ll explore complex clinical cases linked to each topic, helping you apply your knowledge to your own clinical practice.
The success of each online module relies on your regular participation in forum discussions, where you’ll research and analyse the latest evidence and guidelines to support your clinical decision-making in a range of scenarios. Formative tasks will help you monitor your progress and compare your understanding with that of an expert panel, highlighting areas for further development. To complete each specialist clinical module, you’ll need to show evidence of your engagement in online learning activities and submit a short reflection on how the learning has supported your clinical practice. This runs alongside each clinical module and is a compulsory element to support your engagement and progression.
You’ll undertake a supervised research or quality improvement project within your clinical specialty. Building on your earlier Applied Clinical Research or Clinical Leadership and Management learning, you’ll apply key principles of research, ethics and project design. Your project will take place in your local clinical setting, giving you the opportunity to investigate or improve current practice and make a positive impact on patient and colleague experience. You’ll be supported by a named academic supervisor throughout, with opportunities to present your work and receive feedback at key stages as you develop your project.
The success of each online module relies on your regular participation in forum discussions, where you’ll research and analyse the latest evidence and guidelines to support your clinical decision-making in a range of scenarios. Formative tasks will help you monitor your progress and compare your understanding with that of an expert panel, highlighting areas for further development. To complete each specialist clinical module, you’ll need to show evidence of your engagement in online learning activities and submit a short reflection on how the learning has supported your clinical practice. This runs alongside each clinical module and is a compulsory element to support your engagement and progression.
You’ll develop your ability to analyse and critically evaluate research methods in the context of service improvement and evaluation. You’ll explore key topics such as research and ethics, before looking in more detail at the principles and practice of clinical research. This will support you in developing a research project within your own specialty, forming the foundation for your dissertation.
You’ll develop the tools and confidence to become an effective leader within your clinical specialty. You'll explore key topics such as research and ethics, alongside specialist areas in clinical leadership and management. This includes understanding your own leadership style, building team leadership skills, assessing patient safety and risk, and contributing to service evaluation and quality improvement.