ChM Clinical Ophthalmology

This two year part-time Masters programme in Clinical Ophthalmology taught entirely online, is offered by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh, and was developed with the support of NHS Education for Scotland (NES).

Based on the curricula of the FRCSEd (Ophth) and FRCOphth in the United Kingdom and Ireland, this vocational ChM programme provides the opportunity for advanced trainees in Ophthalmology to select those modules relevant to their declared subspecialty, and supports learning for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd) and Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) examinations.

This programme aims to provide high standard, flexible advanced training for the next generation of medical and surgical ophthalmologists approaching consultancy, linking an academic degree to the fellowship exams.  It also offers an alternative to clinical/laboratory research training for those students who do not wish to take time out of training.

Students will be taught by experienced tutors, all leading clinicians in their field, and will have access to a large structured learning resource of educational materials, including an unparalleled online library facility.

In the first year of the ChM programme, compulsory core modules cover the basic elements of subspecialist ophthalmology practice, modules will be taught and assessed using a clinical problem-based approach.

In the second year, students will have the opportunity to undertake a tailored academic module that reflects their subspecialty interest.

Academic modules will explore research and teaching methodology, as well as develop skills to ensure an ability to analyse published evidence and explore interactive and written communication skills.  Students will be required to complete an academic critique in an appropriate subspecialty area of work undertaken during the two year period such as that resulting from a publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

On completion of this programme, trainees will be able to:

• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of their chosen surgical subspecialty, and be able to apply this knowledge to the systematic assessment and management of surgical patients in the elective, urgent and emergency clinical setting;
• Recognise the leadership contribution and responsibilities of the surgeon in the multidisciplinary management of complex surgical disease;
• Critically reflect upon day-to-day surgical practice in the context of recent advances, and engage in critical dialogue with peers and experts in other sub-specialties;
• Apply the general principles of clinical study design, ethics, and statistics to critically evaluate the scientific literature in surgical research, and make informed judgements on new and emerging issues in surgery;
• Exercise a high level of autonomy and initiative in professional activities at a level of independent surgical practice