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The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine aims for excellence in the standard of training and practice of Occupational Medicine in Australasia. Occupational Physicians are consultants in the effects of work on health and health on work, and strive continually for acceptable working conditions in all facets of industry. |
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Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
145 Macquarie Street Sydney, NSW 2000
ph: (02) 9256 9603
afoem@racp.edu.au
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AFOEM eNewsletter 1 May 2009 |
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Welcome to this week's edition of the AFOEM eNews.
These ebulletins are best viewed in html. Simply click on the item of interest (left) and you will be taken straight to that item.
An archive of all previous Newsletters (since 2002) are available on the Faculty website.
As always, if you would like to contribute an item to the next eNewsletter please email a paragraph to afoem@racp.edu.au by Tuesday of the publishing week.
Contact us
Executive Officer AFOEM
Andy Messner
(02) 9256 9602
Andrew.Messner@racp.edu.au
Fascimile: (02) 9247 8082
Administrative Officer AFOEM
Daniel Cheung
(02) 9256 9603
Daniel.Cheung@racp.edu.au
CPD Administrator | AFOEM, AFPHM & AFRM
Natali Vlatko
(02) 9256 9608
Natali.Vlatko@racp.edu.au
Project Officer | RACP Faculties & Chapters
Neridah Callaghan
(02) 9256 9636
Neridah.Callaghan@racp.edu.au
Disclaimer
Although AFOEM takes all reasonable steps to ensure this email does not contain malicious software, AFOEM does not accept responsibility for the consequences if any person's computer inadvertently suffers any disruption to services, loss of information, harm or is infected with a virus, other malicious computer program or code that may occur as a consequence of receiving this email.
Unless stated otherwise, this email represents only the views of the sender and not the views of AFOEM.
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2009 Annual Training Meeting |
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Annual Training Meeting | Saturday 16 - Sunday 17 May, 2009
There are very limited numbers of registration spots left for the 2009 Annual Training Meeting.
If you are a trainee or educational supervisor, TODAY is your last chance to register before spots are made available to other Faculty members!
Faculty Fellows interested in attending the ATM may register via fascimile on Monday 4, May 2009. First in best dressed!
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2009 Faculty Dinner |
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2009 Faculty Dinner | Monday 18, May 2009
The 2009 Faculty Dinner will be held on Monday 18, May 2009 at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia (89 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000).
Please note that the Faculty Dinner is NOT the same as the RACP Physicians Week Dinner.
At the time of writing, registration for the Faculty Dinner has been disappointing - only half of the expected number of registrations have been received.
If you have not already registered for the Faculty Dinner, please do so (especially if you are already coming for Physicians Week or Annual Scientific Meeting). We look forward to seeing you there to catch up and enjoy a night of great food and entertainment.
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2009 AFOEM Demographics Study |
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And The Winner is...
A massive thank you to everyone who has participated in the online survey. With your help we were able to obtain a 74% response rate from the entire Faculty.
The Faculty along with the aid of the RACP Research & Evaluation unit will aim to provide preliminary findings at the Annual Members Meeting in May.
As promised the winners of Joseph LaDou's "Current Occupational & Environmental Medicine: Fourth Edition" are:
- Christoper Oates (NSW)
- Anthony Arklay (QLD)
- Penelope Gillett (WA)
Once again, thank you for making the effort to complete the survey and we are grateful to all of you who put up with constant reminders. With the 2009 Demographics Survey completed, we hope that your input will help shape the future of AFOEM (and pray that it will be another 5 years before another survey of this magnitude is required!).
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Physicians Week & AFOEM ASM 2009 |
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17-20 May 2009 | Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Don’t miss your chance to attend RACP Physicians Week! Register now to secure your place. Registrations can be made via the Physicians Week website.
With an extensive and exciting program on offer, Physicians Week will be an educational experience for you to expand your knowledge. Program information is regularly updated on the website so be sure to continue to visit the website in the lead up to Physicians Week.
The College Dinner is a night not to be missed. This evening is a chance for you to network with your colleagues and experience a night overlooking beautiful Sydney Harbour. For more information on this event, please visit the Physicians Week website.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sydney in May 2009!
Annual Scientific Meeting | 19-20 May, 2009
The 2009 ASM is held in conjunction with RACP Physicians Week. Registration for the ASM is only available through the Physicians Week.
In order to register and pay for the AFOEM ASM, select the "Two Day Registration (19-20, May 2009)" option. Please note that unlike previous years, registration for the 2009 ASM can only be done online through the Physicians Weeks Congress Managers (Tour Hosts Pty Ltd).
2009 Ferguson-Glass Oration
The Ferguson-Glass Oration recognises two of AFOEM most illustrious members: Professors William (Bill) Glass from New Zealand and David Ferguson (1920 – 2002) from Australia. The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine is indebted to Professors Glass and Ferguson for their contribution to the Faculty's development.
This year we are delighted to advise that Professor Bill Glass will be attending the oration and the ASM during Physicians week, as well as the Faculty dinner.
The 2009 Ferguson-Glass Oration will be presented by Professor Kyle Steenland on 'Principles in Environmental Medicine as Demonstrated by a Community Study of Exposure to Perfluoro-octanoic Acid (PFOA)'.
Kyle Steenland is a Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Prior to his work at Emory he spent 20 years at NiOSH conducting occupational epidemiologic studies. His work at Emory is focused on the health effects of PFOA, a fluorinated hydrocarbon which is widespread in the environment.
Professor Steenland is also working on neurologic diseases such as AD and PD, via the Emory Alzheimer Disease Research Center, as well as training researchers in environmental health in Chile and Peru.
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Dates For Your Diary |
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For a complete Faculty calendar, please visit the Faculty website.
AFOEM 2009 ATM
RACP Physicians Week 2009
AFOEM New Curriculum Information & Consultation Session
- Monday 18, May 2009
- 2.00PM - 4.00PM
- Hunter Room, RACP, 145 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW
2009 Faculty Dinner
AFOEM 2009 ASM in Conjunction with RACP Physicians Week 2009
- Tuesday 19 - Wednesday 20 May, 2009
- Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, NSW
- Program details to date
- Register here
RACP College Ceremony
- Sunday, 17 May 2009
- Bayside Auditorium A, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney
- 4.00 - 6.00PM (Sydney local time)
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External Events |
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HFESA Professional Development Session
- Wednesday 6, May 2009
- 7.00PM start (Melbourne local time)
- 222 Exhibition St, Melbourne, Room 24-BCD
- Working as an Expert Witness - Mr Mark Dohrmann
- Registration and further details: Glen Smith or (03) 9641 1881
Teamwork For Better Health Conference 2009
Public Lecture by Don Nutbeam on Health Literacy
- Thursday 21, May 2009
- 4.00PM - 6.00PM
- Australian Graduate School of Management | UNSW | Randwick, Sydney
- Enter by Gate 11, Botany Rd
Rural & Regional Physicians/Trainees Videoconference
- Friday 29, May 2009
- 2.00PM - 3.00PM (Central Time)
- Funded by the Australian Government through the SSRS program of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges
- Coordinated by AFRM
- Guest speaker: Prof Shane Houston
- Chair: Dr Howard Flavell
- Connection enquiries to: GTH Events
- General enquries to: Jayne Lakeland
Monash Certificate in Clinical Occupational Medicine
- Monday 22, June - Friday 26, June 2009
- Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (MonCOEH)
- Limited numbers only
- Registration and further details
- Registration closes Friday 22, May 2009
Preventive Health Summit 2009
Practical Occupational Health Surveillance Course
- Thursday 25 - Friday 26 June, 2009
- UNSW Kensington Campus, Sydney NSW
- 2 day course | 5 MOPS/CPD points
- Contact: Dr Kelvin Wooller or (02) 9385 6099
Health Insurance Summit
The Disability & Age Discrimination Law Reform Summit
ANSZOM 2009 ASM
- Wednesday 12 - Saturday 15, August 2009
- Hyatt Coolum Resort, QLD
- RE: Fit to work
- View the Flyer
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EPO Report |
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Education Project Officer Report
Since last I wrote here in the eNewsletter I had two episodes of exercise-induced atrial fibrillation. Investigation revealed two narrowings in coronary branches which were stented. A week of tiredness followed the procedure but now I feel fine.
The RACP plans to introduce new curricula for many of the advanced training programs in 2011. Our Faculty plans to join this roll-out with our own new curriculum, a draft of which was available on the Faculty website last year (2008).
Substantial revisons have now been made. Contributions to this have come from several sources. These were comments from trainees and Fellows, review by the RACP (including AFOEM) by the AMC, and various educational developments within the RACP.
AFOEM now plans to form a review panel to make final comment on the revised curriculum within a limited time frame. This will include members of Faculty Education Committees, recent AFOEM Fellows, Fellows that have expressed keen interest in the educaitonal process and some external Fellows and organisations to the Faculty.
The review process will be launched by a meeting on Monday 18, May 2009, 2.00PM-4.00PM at the RACP (145 Macquaire St, Sydney, NSW). The content and purpose of the curriculum will be outlined and small groups formed to review parts of the curriculum.
This curriculum will then be posted on the Faculty website. It will be styled as "Curriculum 2011" to distinguish it from the interim curriculum posted to guide trainees for this year and next.
A final collation of comments will be made in July, from where the curriculum will be submitted tot he Education Deanery of the RACP and finally to the RACP College Education Committee for ratification.
Please realise that any trainee or Fellow would be most welcome to offer comment after May 18, 2009. Most of all, we want the final document to be an useful and accepted guide to our trainees and their educational supervisions.
I look forward to hearing from you.
David Goddard
david.goddard@med.monash.edu.au
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Question Time |
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Not the Boring Parliamentary Kind
Dr Chris Kelly has requested the following questions to be asked to the Faculty Fellow membership. He would appreciate responses to be made directly to Chris.Kelly@jobfit.com.au.
- What do colleagues do in relation to pre-employment medical records?
- Do colleagues keep a copy?
- If so, how long do they keep the record?
Many thanks in advance.
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Occupational Correspondent |
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Revalidation of Medical Registration in UK
Currently much of my time, and my partner’s guess work is going into working towards the first year of the proposed revalidation process in train with the UK medical registration body (called the General Medical Council or GMC). This is a valid area for us in Australia to think through, as our registration bodies will compare system outcome.
There are great reasons to improve quality of practice. But the reason for action has been the slow analysis, within the profession, the public, the judiciary and the politicians of how to prevent another Shipman. Shipman was the English solo GP that practiced mischief on his venerable elderly patients, and then produced the certificates to have them cremated. He is England’s most numerical serial killer. One of the many scandals was his odd behaviour was reported by the neighbouring practice, but then ignored by police.
The UK Faculty of OM has produced ‘Guidance on Ethics for Occupational Physicians’. These have gone beyond the doctor patient issues, to encompass topics such as relations with staff and fellow professionals, and business ethics. This should set some standard for behaviour.
Considerable effort on the members of the Society of Occupational Medicine has gone into developing their Annual Appraisal Pack for their Quality Assured Appraisal Scheme. (Trademarked in recognition of the members contribution to development). This goes well beyond maintaining an appropriate knowledge base, and into activities of auditing professional activities, the adequacy of written policies and procedures, health and probity, structured feedback from colleagues, patients, staff and employers. The buzz words are ‘360 degree appraisal’. Mixed into this is the process of clinic governance, where performance, in chosen areas, is measured and continuous improvement is sought. This appraisal is the likely requirement for GMC licence renewal for occupational physicians in ‘un-medically managed practice'.
Practically this means my receptionist gives 1/10 clients post interview questionnaires to appraise my performance, in such issues as being sufficiently explanatory in setting out the objectives for the meeting. The practice manager gets staff working with me to anonymously fill reviews. The clients who send me business are asked for structured appraisal. The quality of my letters, including time to completion, is reviewed, quarterly and I receive all this ongoing, to allow me to assess and improve my performance, both for business, and as part of this Appraisal Scheme.
The guess is the GMC remains undecided for marginal practitioners, such as occupational physicians, and will postpone introduction. The aging profession may find the process too onerous and bring forwards retirement. And whatever, would any of this have prevented such a unique case as Shipman?
So how do we rate in Oz and are we likely to match quality? Please feel free to follow by my email (phoneyman@gmail.com).
Dr Peter Honeyman
Occupational Correspondent
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Request For Comments |
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Work Disability Policy
The Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Policy and Advocacy Committee, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has recently developed its Work Disability - Using Evidence for Better Outcomes policy.
The Faculty now invites you to give feedback on this important draft policy.
Specifically, comments are welcome on:
- What you consider are the most positive aspects of the document;
- What you consider are the least positive aspects of the document; and
- What aspects of the document you recommend changing.
Please take this opportunity to send in your own comments by email, letter or fax.
Please email your comments to: afoem@racp.edu.au. Alternatively, you can fax: +612 9247 8082, or post to:Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 145 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000
All submissions are due by Friday, 22 May 2009.
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HFESA Professional Development Session |
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Wednesday 6, May 2009
A reminder that Mark Dohrmann, Melbourne ergonomist and engineer, will be speaking on “Expert Evidence” at the VWA, 222 Exhibition St Melbourne, on Wednesday 6 May at 7:00 pm. The session is part of the HFESA (Vic Branch) 2009 PD program. Please meet in the foyer by 6:30 pm to enable us to escort you as a group to Room 24 BCD for refreshments. The session runs from 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm.
Mark has asked for prior input from those considering coming along, so his session can be better tailored to your needs and interests. There is a short survey form available at here. Please give Mark three minutes there.
Subject to your input, Mark will cover:
- Why lawyers need an “expert”; evidence, negligence and the expert
- How to identify one’s expertise and boundaries
- The Expert Code
- Interviewing
- Inspections and their problems
- Report requirements
- Preparing for court
- Giving evidence at court and how to do a good job there
- Standard tactics barristers may employ to attack an expert
- Getting paid
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SSRS Program Management Committee |
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Support Scheme for Rural Specialists
The SSRS was initiated at the end of 2002 to:
- provide professional support to medical specialists practising in rural and remote areas of Australia, including through CPD and peer support; and
- identify future training and capacity building practices for specialist medical services in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Now in its eighth round of funding, the SSRS has been able to support a range of innovative CPD projects which have provided rural specialists with valuable CPD and professional support opportunities.
The CPMC is currently seeking nominations to fill a vacancy for a College Fellow with particular expertise / experience in the provision of specialist medical services in rural and remote environments on the SSRS Program Management Committee (PMC). The PMC advises CPMC in regard to
- developing an understanding of unique CPD issues for rural specialists;
- analysis and strategic planning for future SSRS development;
- the development and monitoring of the application of funding guidelines;
- project plans submitted by Colleges seeking funding of CPD activities for rural specialists; and
- financial management oversight to ensure efficient and effective use of project funds.
The PMC meets by teleconference as required, generally some four occasions each year.
Please forward your written nomination, accompanied by a brief statement of each nominee’s relevant qualifications, experience and / or special interests, to Melinda Keresztes by May 15, 2009.
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Expression of Interest |
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Phase Two of the Opioid Prescribing Policy Working Group Until December 2009
In 2006 the College undertook the development of a policy on “Prescription Opioids” the fourth policy in a suite of policies on addiction medicine. This policy on “Prescription Opioids” has now been signed off by four Colleges; Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FPMANZCA), and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The policy document is now in its second phase of development that is the implementation and dissemination phase. Consequently the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine (AChAM) through the College Policy and Advocacy Committee (CPAC) are seeking nominations from members of the College to assist in the implementation and dissemination of the recommendations.
Members who have an area of expertise articulated in the policy are urged to apply. The working group will be time limited until December 2009 and most of the work will be conducted via teleconferences, videoconferencing and by email.
Draft Terms of reference for the Phase Two of the Opioid Prescribing Policy working group until December 2009
- To develop an implementation or action strategy using the recommendations from the policy document
- To monitor the recommendations from the April 2009 policy document on “Prescription Opioids”
- To report on activities and progress to the College Policy & Advocacy Committee (CPAC)
The working group will:
- Work with the formal position of the four Colleges on “Prescription Opioids”
- Provide a basis for any RACP public statements on “Prescription Opioids”
- Guide internal RACP policies and practices on “Prescription Opioids”
Click here to view the policy document
Please send your expression of interest to Mary Osborn by Sunday 17, May 2009.
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Request For Comments |
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Work Disability Policy
The Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Policy and Advocacy Committee, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has recently developed its Work Disability - Using Evidence for Better Outcomes policy.
The Faculty now invites you to give feedback on this important draft policy.
Specifically, comments are welcome on:
- What you consider are the most positive aspects of the document;
- What you consider are the least positive aspects of the document; and
- What aspects of the document you recommend changing.
Please take this opportunity to send in your own comments by email, letter or fax.
Please email your comments to: afoem@racp.edu.au. Alternatively, you can fax: +612 9247 8082, or post to:Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 145 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000
All submissions are due by Friday, 22 May 2009.
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Return to Work |
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The Resource for Return to Work Professionals
Mary Wyatt and Anna Kelsey-Sugg have been putting together a draft Code of Ethics for Return to Work Coordinators. They would really appreciate feedback from AFOEM members (ideas, suggestions and critque).
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Research & Education Foundation Awards & Scholarships |
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Research Entry Scholarships
The Research Entry Awards are designed to assist Advanced Trainees or younger Fellows gain experience in clinical, epidemiological or basic research.
Applications close Monday 4 May, 2009.
Before submitting your application, please ensure you have read the ‘How to Apply’ section on page 6 of the 2010 College Awards Booklet.
Click for further details
Ruth Gledhill Grant 2009
Purpose: To further research into the ethical aspects of medicine, in particular CVD
Value: AUD $10,000
Eligibility: Fellows or Trainees
Applications close Monday 4 May, 2009.
Click for further details
Research Grants to Improve Rural Health
The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation in Queensland is calling for applications to compete for two seeding grants of $5,000 each to support health-related research relevant to practice and policy in Australia.
The closing date for applications is Thursday 30, April 2009.
Click here for further details
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Expressions of Interest |
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AFOEM Trainee Representative for the Policy & Advocacy Committee
Expressions of interest are requested for the position of Trainee Representative for the Policy & Advocacy Committee of AFOEM.
Please send a brief email outlining what you would bring to the position to Andy Messner. The Trainee Representative will be appointed by the Chair of the Policy & Advocacy Committee, Dr Mary Wyatt.
Outline of the position:
- Attend Faculty P&A Committee meetings (3-4 per year, predominately by teleconference)
- Provide advice to the Chair and other members of the Faculty P&A Committee
- Assist in establishing and further developing the policies of the Faculty
- The Trainee representative will be a current Trainee
The position is for a two year term.
For further information on this position, please contact:
Andrew Messner
andrew.messner@racp.edu.au
Executive Officer, AFOEM
Dr Mary Wyatt
mywatt@ozemail.com.au
Chair, Policy & Advocacy Committee of AFOEM
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Practical Occupational Health Surveillance Course |
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Thursday 25 - Friday 26 June, 2009 | UNSW Kensington Campus, Sydney NSW
This is a core course (SESC9630 Occupational Medicine) in the graduate programs in occupational medicine at The University of New South Wales: Graduate Certificate in Occupational Rehabilitation, Graduate Diploma and Masters in Science and Technology in Occupational Medicine.
Dr Kelvin Wooller, Occupational Physician, Senior Lecturer, School of Risk and Safety Sciences, UNSW will conduct the course at the Kensington campus, Sydney. This 2-day course is eligible for 5 MOPS points and is particularly suitable for occupational physician trainees or anyone wishing to update on a range of current occupational medicine issues or conduct occupational health surveillance. Medical practitioners who have successfully completed this course may apply to WorkCover NSW for authorisation to conduct statutory medical examinations.
Course topics:
- Information resources in Occupational Health Surveillance
- Principles of Occupational Health Surveillance
- Special issues in Occupational Health Surveillance (dermatitis, cancer, respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal conditions, noise and audiometry)
- Health surveillance in industry and pitfalls to avoid
Dr Wooller also lectures in the Basic Curriculum Course of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He will attempt to give an international perspective to the local and national issues discussed in the course. Other lecturers in the course will also contribute according to their particular areas of expertise.
For further information contact Dr Kelvin Wooller on (+61) 02 9385 6099 or alternatively K.Wooller@unsw.edu.au.
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Graduate Programs in Medical Education |
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Faculty of Medicine | Master of Medical Education | USYD
The Master of Medical Education is aimed at those who have an interest in medical teaching and learning or have an interest in educational research. It has been designed to meet the needs of working healthcare professionals within a professional community.
Click for further information
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ANZSOM ASM 2009 |
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