Pathophysiology and Diagnostics for Clinical Practice

Program Overview

Pathophysiology and Diagnostics for Clinical Practice

Overview

Develop your knowledge in the field of pathophysiology and diagnostics and your skills in the application of this knowledge in clinical reasoning and management of patients with core clinical conditions.

Full Description

On our short course you’ll gain core knowledge of basic medical sciences in the fields of anatomy, physiology, pathology/histology, microbiology and clinical medicine and develop your understanding of pathophysiological processes to support advanced clinical practice.

We’ll use clinical scenarios to integrate core knowledge of pathophysiology with clinical reasoning skills. You’ll use this learning to reflect on the presentation of a patient to a senior clinician, recognise abnormal pathophysiology, make a diagnosis and identify appropriate treatment options.

Assessment

Your learning will be evidenced through a clinical scenario and viva voce examination. The structured viva voce will assess your ability to analyse and interpret evidence presented to you as part of the assessment task.

Outline Content

• The anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the main human systems (respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, reproductive, endocrine, immunological, dermatological, haematological).
• Clinically appropriate biochemistry and the relation to normal physiology and pathophysiology (for example, renal function, thyroid function, glucose regulation and hormone function, hyperlipidaemia, and acid/base balance).
• Overview of the pathologic processes and how this relates to pathophysiology (cause, pathogenesis, morphology and clinical manifestation).
• The microbiology of pathogenic disease processes including the major microorganisms causing human disease; their distinguishing characteristics; basic mechanism through which they cause disease; and the general approaches to control, prevention and detection.
• Introduction to the impact of genetics on the pathophysiology of common diseases.
• The assessment and integration of pathophysiology into the diagnostic process and the identification of an appropriate clinical management plan.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of our module, you'll be expected to be able to:

• Recognise normal human physiology and be able to distinguish this from pathophysiology.
• Critically evaluate the key pathophysiological processes underlying diseases.
• Critically appraise the clinical science underpinning diagnostic tests and their interpretation.
• Critically discuss the assessment, management, treatment and prevention of common diseases
• Analyse and interpret evidence required for clinical reasoning.

Who Should Attend?

You'll be a registered, qualified professional working in a relevant clinical setting and keen to progress your career as an advanced practitioner.

Dates

• Trimester 2 – Cambridge and Chelmsford
  • Week 1, 23 January 2025 (face to face)
  • Week 2, 30 January (online)
  • Week 3, 6 February (online)
  • Week 4, 13 February (face to face)
  • Week 5, 20 February (online)
  • Week 6, 27 February (online)
  • Week 7, 6 March (face to face)
  • Week 8, 13 March (online)
  • Week 9, 20 March (online)
  • Week 10, 27 March (face to face)
  • Week 11, 3 April (online)
  • Week 12, 10 April (online)
• Trimester 3 – Cambridge and Chelmsford
  • Week 1, 15 May 2025 (face to face)
  • Week 2, 22 May (online)
  • Week 3, 29 May (online)
  • Week 4, 5 June (face to face)
  • Week 5, 12 June (online)
  • Week 6, 19 June (online)
  • Week 7, 26 June (face to face)
  • Week 8, 3 July (online)
  • Week 9, 10 July (online)
  • Week 10, 17 July (face to face)
  • Week 11, 24 July (online)
  • Week 12, 31 July (online)

Where You'll Study

Your Faculty

The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care at ARU is primed to meet the demand for healthcare professionals, doctors, scientists and social workers in the East of England.

We've been training undergraduates for professional roles for over 25 years, with a reputation for quality, dedication and ambition balanced with student satisfaction.

We know that our students want the very best experiential learning, and we've invested heavily in purpose-built simulated wards, science labs and skills spaces, to support your learning every step of the way.

Where Can I Study?

• Chelmsford
  • Our striking, modern campus sits by the riverside in Chelmsford's University and Innovation Quarter.
• Blended Learning
  • Study through a mix of face-to-face teaching and online sessions.
• Cambridge
  • Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• 30 credits (Level 7) for courses starting in 2024/25: £1,767
• 30 Credits (Level 7) for courses starting in 2025/26: £1,850

Funding for CPD

Please ask your manager or Education Lead about available funding before you apply.

Entry Requirements

You'll be a registered, qualified professional with an undergraduate degree, working in a relevant clinical setting.

Non-graduate applicants will be considered on an individual basis, taking into account experience and currency of knowledge and the ability to study at postgraduate level.

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