External summary

The Master of Surgery (ChM) two-year, part-time master’s programme in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery is taught entirely online. The course is designed and delivered as a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd). Both institutions have combined well previously to deliver the ChMs in General Surgery, Urology and Trauma & Orthopaedics that have launched since 2011 and attracted >100 students. The two organisations also deliver an award winning master’s programme to support early surgical training [MSc in Surgical Sciences/Edinburgh Surgical Sciences Qualification (ESSQ)], and continue to serve as a powerful brand in surgery.

Based on the proposed UK Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum, this vocational ChM programme provides the opportunity for advanced trainees in vascular surgery to gain additional expertise in the more complex areas of vascular and endovascular surgery, and supports learning for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) examinations. Trainees will be taught by experienced tutors, all leading clinicians in their field, and will have access to a large structured learning resource of educational material, including an unparalleled online library facility. Illustrative cases will cover technical skills and procedures as well as core knowledge and clinical skills.

The ChM (Vascular and Endovascular) aims to develop:

• Knowledge and understanding of applied surgical sciences
• Surgical management of vascular disease
• Clinical decision making and judgement skills as applied to surgical patients in the elective, urgent and emergency clinical setting
• Application of general principles of clinical study design, ethics, and statistics
• Critical evaluation of surgical research publications

Educational aims of programme

The Master of Surgery Programme is run jointly by the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. This programme aims to support the surgical trainee through the curriculum which leads to the intercollegiate FRCS (Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons) examination in Great Britain and Ireland. Both institutions have combined well previously to deliver an award-winning Master’s programme to support early surgical training (Edinburgh Surgical Sciences Qualification, ESSQ), and continue to serve as a powerful brand in surgery.

The ChM in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery aims to:

• Provide high standard, flexible advanced training for the next generation of surgeons linking an academic degree to the intercollegiate fellowship examination
• Develop the trainees academic portfolio and facilitate surgical research projects
• Enable established consultants to serve as e-tutors thereby accumulating credit for their continuing professional development (CPD)
• Facilitate the development of educational resource that could serve to support any CPD activity for consultant staff

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

Compulsory core modules cover the basic elements of the subsections of the vascular syllabus. These are taught and assessed using a clinical problem-based approach, supported by systems-based review of the course material.

Academic modules (core and specialist) explore research and teaching methodology, as well as develop skills which ensure an ability to analyse published evidence and explore interactive and written clinical communication skills. Students are required to complete an academic critique in an appropriate subspecialty area of work undertaken during the programme, such as that resulting from a publication in a peer reviewed journal.

The entire programme is taught through self-directed learning at a distance. It is delivered on an established e-learning platform which allows students easy access to internal and external coursework. Course material includes established texts available in electronic format. Matriculated students have the right to use the extensive electronic resources of the University of Edinburgh, including access to over 100 surgically related journals, which are regularly reviewed in order to provide the most appropriate and current electronic educational resource.  The learning style gives students the options of a problem-oriented entry and of systematic learning illustrated through subsequent problem solving. Each student is assigned an e-tutor during each course module, and all students have access to online discussion forums.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

Graduates of the University will be able to create new knowledge and opportunities for learning through the process of research and enquiry.  This may be demonstrated in terms of the following:

• be able to search for, evaluate, and use the best available evidence in order to manage the surgical patient
• apply a constant and integrated approach to critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas, information and issues
• recognise the relationship between evidence, audit and observed variation in clinical practice
• understand economic, legal, social, cultural and environmental issues in the use of information

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

Graduates of the University will be able to work independently and sustainably, in a way that is informed by openness, curiosity and a desire to meet new challenges.  This may be demonstrated in terms of the following:

• exercise a high level of autonomy and initiative in professional activities at a level of independent surgical practice
• be able to make clinical decisions based upon evidence and findings, taking into account ethical and professional issues
• be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking
• be independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning, and are committed to continuous reflection, self-evaluation and self-improvement

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

Graduates of the University will recognise and value communication as the tool for negotiating and creating new understanding, collaborating with others, and furthering their own learning.  This may be demonstrated in terms of the following:

• be able to present information clearly in written, visual and oral forms, and communicate ideas and arguments effectively
• use communication as a tool for explaining, and providing patients and others with adequate information
• be able to mediate and negotiate with patients, relatives/carers/partners, and colleagues
• be able to liaise with different sectors of the health care system to effectively manage the care of the patient
• be able to teach effectively and act as a mentor to others

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

Graduates of the University will be able to effect change and be responsive to the situations and environments in which they operate.  This may be demonstrated in terms of the following:

• acquire and express attitudes necessary for the achievement of high standards of surgical practice in relation to patient care and personal development 
• understand the professional, ethical and legal responsibilities of being a surgeon
• be able to manage risk while working within the limits of their responsibility and capability
• recognise the limitations of knowledge in medicine and the importance of professional judgement
• know of and respect different cultures, values, views and beliefs
• respect patient autonomy and avoid stigmatising any category of patient

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

N/A

Programme structure and features

Assessment of the attainment of learning outcomes for each module is undertaken through formal examination (MCQs and extended-matching questions), which follows the format of the exit intercollegiate fellowship examination (FRCS). Analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and problem solving skills are assessed through group-learning activity (discussion boards) (Y1&2), self-reflective portfolios (Y1), and the formal examination (Y2). An independent e-dissertation assesses research skills linked to specialist knowledge, understanding and practical skills (Y1).

Candidates who successfully complete 120 credit points (at level 12) of coursework within 24 months are eligible for the award of the Master of Surgery.  This requires successful completion of the core and advanced modules in Years 1 and 2.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Asynchronous discussion boards are the principle means of enhancing knowledge and understanding of key learning objectives. Each core module focuses on a specific subspecialty and utilises its own discussion board to develop knowledge of current guidelines and the most cutting edge research in this area. Complex case discussions are delivered by consultant level surgeons recognised to be experts in their field. Discussions are directly linked to the ISCP (intercollegiate surgical curriculum project) curriculum and allow the student to test their understanding of current best practise in relation to patient presentation. The interactive nature of the discussion allows constant tutor feedback and allows students to modify their thinking based upon the development of the discussion.

A compulsory 20 credit core academic activity module develops understanding of the general principles of clinical study design, statistics and critical review of medical literature. These core skills will provide a basic understanding of how to undertake and assess the quality of clinical research. These skills are then applied in the 30 credit research project spanning a full semester.

An online 'Reflective ePortfolio' is completed by the student during the core academic activity allowing the opportunity to critically reflect upon first hand experiences as well as medical texts to develop a critical, evidence-based approach to surgery.

Assessment methods and strategies

Core modules are assessed through discussion board contributions (25%). Tutors of the boards conduct the assessment regularly throughout the module and provide comments on performance both during the discussion and also with the final assessment mark. The core modules are further assessed via performance in an MCQ exam (75%).

The core academic module is assessed through discussion board contributions (25%) and a 5000 word Reflective ePortfolio (75%). The specialist academic is assessed through a project proposal and ePoster and a final 10,000 word project dissertation. Feedback is given at each stage to help guide the student towards a novel and achievable research project. The final dissertations are marked by research supervisors via the completion of a formal template that covers aspects of project design, implementation and critical analysis of the study and surrounding literature.

Career opportunities

The programme will offer an alternative to clinical / laboratory research training for those students who do not wish to take time out of surgical training. The course will develop the trainee's academic portfolio and facilitate surgical research projects essential to a research active career. 

The ChM programme is designed to follow the ISCP curriculum and prepare the advanced surgical trainee for their exit professional examinations allowing appointment as an independently practising surgeon.

The award of ChM will highlight the trainee's commitment to continual professional development and will ensure a competitive edge when applying for consultant positions.

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