TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Anaesthesia has an extensive involvement in teaching, with particular emphasis on the following groups: Undergraduate fifth and final year medical students; medical and surgical interns and senior house staff; postgraduate medical trainees in Anaesthesia; postgraduate Higher Diploma Nursing students in Intensive Care, Peri-operative Care and Emergency Care. 
The Department is centrally involved in public education initiatives such as: Ante-natal classes regarding Epidural analgesia for expectant Mothers and their partners; and co-ordinates both Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support training sessions for healthcare professionals and the general public.

POSTGRADUATE TEACHING PROGRAMME IN ANAESTHESIA

The Department of Anaesthesia is recognised as a regional training centre by the College of Anaesthetists, RCSI, for the purposes of Postgraduate Training in Anaesthesia for the purposes of Basic Specialist Training and Specialist Registrar Training. This Department is the base department for trainees on the Western Regional Anaesthetic Training Programme. In addition, this Department provides training for overseas section 7.6 Trainees.

STRUCTURE OF POSTGRADUATE CLINICAL TRAINING

Professional training in the specialty of Anaesthesia consists of a 2 year Basic Training Scheme, followed by a 5 year Specialist Registrar training scheme. Upon successful completion of this 7 year training program, provided yearly assessments of progress are satisfactory, and Parts I and II of the professional Examinations in Anaesthesia have been completed, the trainee is awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training by the College of Anaesthetists. This certificate entitles the holder to practice Anaesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine independent of supervision, and it [or an equivalent qualification] is a pre-requisite for Consultant practice in the European Union.

The Department is the Regional Centre for a Basic Training Programme in Anaesthesia – this is the ’Western Anaesthesia Training Scheme’. This is a two-year training programme, and provides training to medical graduates in principles and practice of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine to allow them to function at Registrar level within the specialty. Postgraduate trainees on this programme rotate through University College Hospital, Merlin Park University Hospital, and Mayo General Hospital during this training programme. After 18 months in this programme, trainees are eligible to sit the part I of the Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists RCSI [FCARCSI] examination.

Upon successful completion of the Basic Training Programme, trainees are eligible to compete for a place on the Specialist Registrar Training Programme in Anaesthesia. This programme is co-ordinated at a national level by the College of Anaesthetists. The Department participates in this training programme by providing training for Specialist Registrars at all levels within the programme. Trainees become eligible to sit the Part II FCARCSI after one year on the Specialist Registrar Training Scheme.

PRIMARY FCA TEACHING PROGRAMME

This teaching programme is a key priority of the Department. The part I fellowship teaching programme consists mainly of small group tutorial sessions and one to one teaching sessions in the clinical setting. A formal tutorial schedule is devised biannually, following consultation with trainees who are scheduled to sit the examination, and revised according to feedback and assessment of candidates progress. The tutorials cover a broad range of subjects, including the major areas of clinical anaesthesia, clinical measurement and applied physics, applied physiology and clinical pharmacology, which form the core of the examination syllabus. 
This teaching programme is centred on the needs of the particular trainee group undertaking the examination. Tutorials are scheduled on Monday and Tuesday mornings over a 15 week period beginning on January 1st and July 1st each year. Several consultant members of the Department act as Examiner for the College of Anaesthetists for the Part I examination. As the date of the examinations approach, mock examination and viva sessions are conducted with each candidate. Weaknesses in preparation are identified, and teaching sessions amended accordingly. 

FINAL FCA TEACHING PROGRAMME

The part II Fellowship teaching programme consists mainly of small one to one group tutorial sessions and one to one teaching sessions in the clinical setting. Part II candidates participate in the Part I tutorial sessions where appropriate. In addition, a formal tutorial schedule is devised biannually, following consultation with trainees who are scheduled to sit the examination, and revised according to feedback and assessment of candidate’s progress. The tutorials cover a broad range of subjects, including the major areas of Clinical Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, and Research Methodology that form the core of the examination syllabus. 
This teaching programme is centred on the needs of the particular trainee group undertaking the examination. Tutorials are scheduled for 5pm on one or two evenings per week over a 15 week period beginning on January 1st and July 1st each year. Consultant members of the Department act as Examiners for the College of Anaesthetists for the Part II examination. As the date of the examinations approach, mock examination and viva sessions are conducted with each candidate. Weaknesses in preparation are identified, and teaching sessions amended accordingly. 

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION TEACHING ACTIVITIES

All educational activity commences at 8am sharp!! PowerPoint presentations are mandatory.

Purpose of lectures: to update Departmental members on the latest developments in the clinical practice of General and Regional Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine; review and co-ordinate departmental clinical activities; analyse critical incidents and events leading to patient morbidity and mortality; and review of research activities in the Department.  

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH TRAINING

Doctor of Medicine (MD) Degree

The Department has an established track record in the supervision and examination of Research Theses for the MD degree programme, and in recent years several candidates have been awarded MD degrees through the Department. Please consult the section on Research Activities for further details on the research carried out within the Department. 
For further details, along with information on how to register, please click on the following link:http://www.nuigalway.ie/medicine/research.html

Master of Medical Science (MMSc) Degree

The Department has an established track record in the supervision and examination of candidates for the MMSc degree programme, and in recent years several candidates have been awarded MMSc degrees in collaboration with the Department. 
For further details, along with information on how to register for this course, please click on the following link:http://www.nuigalway.ie/medicine/postgrad.html

Master of Science (MSc) in Anaesthesia Degree

The College of Anaesthetists has established a two year part time course, at Masters level, for senior trainees and consultants in the specialty of Anaesthesia. This degree is awarded through the National University of Ireland. NUI Galway is a key contributing centre to this degree.

The course aims to equip medical graduates with the skills necessary for independent professional practice within our rapidly evolving healthcare environment. The educational objectives are to enhance the continuing education and professional development of senior trainees and consultants, with particular emphasis on developments in information technology, applied basic medical sciences, and on the legal and management aspects of medical practice in the acute hospital sector. 
For further details, along with information on how to register for this course, please click on the following link:http://www.anaesthesia.ie/