Collaborating for Innovation: CME's Role in Developing Dundee's First Online MCh Head & Neck Surgery Programme

TY - CONF

T1 - Collaborating for Innovation

T2 - University of Dundee Scholarship Conference 2025

AU - Ainul Haq, Muhammad

A2 - Smith, Julie

A2 - Duke-Williams, Emma

A2 - Holme, Richard

A2 - Srinivasan, Sundar

A2 - Spark, Gordon

A2 - Martindale, Linda

A2 - Kinnear, Susan

N1 - © 2025 The Author.

PY - 2025/10/6

Y1 - 2025/10/6

N2 - Modern medicine’s rapid pace and specialisation often outstrip the capabilities of traditional medical education models, particularly in complex fields like Head & Neck surgery. To address this, the Centre for Medical Education at the University of Dundee and the Head & Neck surgical team at NHS Tayside forged a groundbreaking collaboration, creating the Master of Chirurgiae (MCh) in Head & Neck Surgery. This innovative, online distance learning programme is the first of its kind, designed specifically to provide Head & Neck surgeons, ENT surgeons, and trainees with a flexible and robust platform for advanced professional development. The program's design dismantles the logistical and geographical barriers of traditional training, allowing busy surgeons worldwide to enrich their knowledge and enhance their skills without disrupting their clinical practice. At the core of the curriculum is a dynamic case-based learning (CBL) approach, which immerses students in authentic, real-world Head & Neck cases. This methodology cultivates essential higher-order skills such as critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving. Equally innovative is the program’s assessment strategy, which moves beyond conventional tests to employ a suite of tools that simulate real-life clinical scenarios. These assessments, including virtual patient cases and video-conferenced oral exams, evaluate a student's ability to apply knowledge and make sound judgments, ensuring they are not just knowledgeable but truly competent practitioners. By creating a scalable blueprint for specialised online surgical training, this collaborative effort not only solidifies its pioneers as leaders in medical education but, more importantly, contributes directly to enhanced patient outcomes and a higher standard of care globally.

AB - Modern medicine’s rapid pace and specialisation often outstrip the capabilities of traditional medical education models, particularly in complex fields like Head & Neck surgery. To address this, the Centre for Medical Education at the University of Dundee and the Head & Neck surgical team at NHS Tayside forged a groundbreaking collaboration, creating the Master of Chirurgiae (MCh) in Head & Neck Surgery. This innovative, online distance learning programme is the first of its kind, designed specifically to provide Head & Neck surgeons, ENT surgeons, and trainees with a flexible and robust platform for advanced professional development. The program's design dismantles the logistical and geographical barriers of traditional training, allowing busy surgeons worldwide to enrich their knowledge and enhance their skills without disrupting their clinical practice. At the core of the curriculum is a dynamic case-based learning (CBL) approach, which immerses students in authentic, real-world Head & Neck cases. This methodology cultivates essential higher-order skills such as critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving. Equally innovative is the program’s assessment strategy, which moves beyond conventional tests to employ a suite of tools that simulate real-life clinical scenarios. These assessments, including virtual patient cases and video-conferenced oral exams, evaluate a student's ability to apply knowledge and make sound judgments, ensuring they are not just knowledgeable but truly competent practitioners. By creating a scalable blueprint for specialised online surgical training, this collaborative effort not only solidifies its pioneers as leaders in medical education but, more importantly, contributes directly to enhanced patient outcomes and a higher standard of care globally.

U2 - 10.20933/100001456

DO - 10.20933/100001456

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 2 September 2025 through 3 September 2025

ER -