Year One Clinical Skills

The Department of General Practice (DGP) coordinates and administers the teaching of clinical skills (Theme 4) in Year One of the MBBS. These clinical skills are key to the safe and effective practice of medicine and are taught to students by clinicians drawn primarily from general practice.

DGP Members are responsible for the development, teaching, organization, assessment and evaluation of clinical skills in year one.

Dr Jan Coles coordinates first semester: communication skills, building rapport, taking a medical history, responding to emotion, giving explanations, planning and ending the medical interview. Practical sessions include: asepsis and infection prevention, first aid, and injecting. In addition, students visit general practices and hospitals.

Dr Les Segal coordinates second semester: mental state examination, muscular skeletal and peripheral nervous system history and examination. Practical sessions include eye and ear examination and suturing. Students visit a rehabilitation and geriatric facility.

Ms Claudette Gerryn is the clinical skills year 1 and 2 administrator. She assists with the preparation of learning materials and evaluation, organises students, tutors and tutorials, keeps records, liases with DGP staff, faculty staff and tutors, and is responsible for student site placements.