Emphasis is placed on the classical history taking technique of developing an orderly and chronological history in the patient's own words and the subsequent development of a more focussed history. It is intended that by the end of 4th year the students should be capable of systematic examination of all areas of a patients' presentation. It is intended students should have the ability to correlate history and physical signs in order to solve a patient's problem and to reach a diagnosis. The majority of surgical teaching is given by staff of the Monash University Department of Surgery supplemented by honorary teachers associated with the Department. Throughout the 3rd and 4th years clinical components a series of lectures on surgical topics are provided to which members of the Monash University Department of Surgery contribute.
Permanent tutors provide assessment of students in a continuos fashion throughout the year.
At the end of term 2 there is a multiple choice question examination which is contributed to by members of the Department of Surgery. At the end of term 3 a multi-disciplinary OSCA examination is held using the clinical teachers as assessors. Teaching Performance Assessment Regular monitoring of teaching performance is undertaken by a number of methods. First, each tutorial group has a representative who meets with the sub-Dean to discuss the progress of teaching programmes. Secondly, the tutorial teaching co-ordinator meets with the group representatives for unofficial discussion of the teaching programme.