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Student working in a lab

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Detailed information about specialties

Anaesthetics

Students will begin by taking part in a short series of tutorials and workshops hosted by experienced members of University Faculty, as well as an opportunity to take part in a simulation session.   

Clinical experience will be gained in theatres across all Oxford sites of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with exposure to a wide variety of sub-speciality areas. Opportunities also exist to present interesting cases or data to colleagues.    

Students need to have covered at least two years of clinical training, but specific anaesthetic experience is not mandatory.  Electives run for four or eight weeks and Elective students will be expected to participate in sessions with Oxford students. 

  • The Elective placement will be divided between the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
  • Elective placements can take place over four or eight weeks.
  • Elective students must participate with Oxford students.
  • Elective students will spend time in theatre and on the wards.

Cardiology

See Cardiovascular Medicine

Cardiovascular Medicine

Elective placements are available in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The clinical department is a busy centre with all cardiology and cardiothoracic facilities available and the unit takes cardiology referrals from nearby district hospitals for invasive procedures, surgery or expert management. There are many opportunities for learning from patients within the unit, in addition to observing specific procedures such as cardiac catheterisation/stenting, trans-oesphageal echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, permanent pacing, electrophysiological testing and radiofrequency ablation, and cardiac nuclear imaging.

Oxford University medical students are present in the department at various times throughout the year, for a period of two weeks each. During these periods, there are tutorials for all students in addition to the clinical experience outlined above.

Due to the demand for places and the need to accommodate students, usually only one Elective student can be accepted at a time, for a maximum of two months. Elective students participate with the Oxford students and can be supervised. Research can be undertaken but this would require prior specific arrangement with the research team.

  • The Elective placement will take place at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • Elective placements run for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 weeks.
  • Elective students must participate with Oxford students and be supervised.
  • Elective students will spend time in theatre, outpatient clinics and on the wards.

Clinical Genetics

Clinical Genetics is a predominantly out-patient based speciality which deals with the investigation, diagnosis, management and counselling for genetic disorders. The Department of Clinical Genetics in Oxford has 4 NHS Consultants, 3 Academics (Professor, Senior Lecturer and Lecturer), several specialist Professorial advisors and both general and cancer genetic counsellors. Unlike many other medical specialities the clinic appointments tend to be an hour in length and several family members may be seen together.

Much of the work in Clinical Genetics involves preparation time for the clinics and meetings to discuss difficult cases. Some clinics are "general" and include a wide range of both paediatric and adult cases whilst other are specialist clinics including those for Huntington disease, Marfan's Syndrome, neurofibromatosis types I and II, and Breast and Bowel cancer clinics. Many of the clinics are held jointly with other specialities such as Neurology, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Immunology and Dermatology. There are also close links with the Prenatal and Neonatology units and occasional ward referrals. Most of the specialist and some of the general clinics are held in Oxford and the remainder are held in outlying regions.

The work is very varied and students will have an opportunity to see a very wide range of disorders as well as an opportunity to focus in depth on an area of their interest. Students usually give a short presentation at the end of their attachment on a case they have seen.

  • The Elective placement will be spent between the Oxford hospitals and surrounding hospitals.
  • The Elective period can run for four, six, eight or ten weeks.
  • Elective students can be supervised or possibly research can be arranged on an individual basis.
  • Elective students will spend time in the outpatient clinics and occasionally on the wards. The Medical Genetics labs might be able to accommodate visitors with prior agreement.

Clinical Geratology (Geriatric Medicine)

The Department is active in clinical work, teaching and research.   Students are very welcome and may be attached for periods of between four and ten weeks.

The work of the department is varied in terms of:

  1. acuity (acute, subacute, chronic)
  2. syndrome/presentation e.g. there are many specialist clinics (e.g. TIA, movement disorder, memory) and specialised inpatient settings e.g. Acute and Rehabilitation Stroke Units, Trauma/orthogeriatrics.
  3. location. Geriatricians work everywhere - from the Emergency Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) to Community Hospitals (of which there are nine in Oxfordshire).

Elective students will learn about the assessment of elderly patients with multiple pathology and non-specific presentation.   You will participate in setting goals for therapy and in multidisciplinary meetings both in a hospital and community setting.   You will also again experience in the management of acutely ill elderly patients on both the Acute Medicine service and within the Acute Geratology wards.   You will work with an assistant or specialist registrar and be supervised by a named consultant.

There will be ample opportunity to sample the breadth and depth of clinical services and the Elective can be tailored to some extent to reflect individual interest within the speciality.

Clinical Immunology

The Immunology service in Oxford consists of Clinical and Laboratory Immunology, together providing a comprehensive range of learning opportunities for the student.

Clinical Immunology is an outpatient service based on the John Radcliffe site where each of the three consultants holds weekly adult immunology clinics for patients with suspected or proven immunodeficiency, both primary and secondary (but not HIV infection). Two day-long nurse-lead immunoglobulin infusion clinics are held every week. These clinics treat patients with antibody deficiency as well as those with neurological disorders. The unit runs a large home immunoglobulin infusion programme. There are weekly multi-specialist vasculitis clinics, fortnightly joint paediatric infection and immunology clinics, fortnightly drug allergy clinics, fortnightly joint adult allergy clinics with dermatology and a weekly desensitisation clinic.

Although most of the activities will be in Clinical Immunology, the student will also be expected to spend some time in Laboratory Immunology (based on the Churchill Hospital site) where a comprehensive range of immunological tests for autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, lympho-proliferative diseases and allergy are undertaken.

  • The Elective placement will be divided between the John Radcliffe Hospital and the Churchill Hospital.
  • The Elective placement runs for four weeks.
  • Elective students will be supervised.
  • Elective students will spend time in the Laboratory and Outpatient clinics.

Clinical Neurology

A regional neurology referral centre with associated neurosurgery, neurophysiology, neuroradiology, neuropathology and neuropsychology departments in addition to general neurology clinics. A variety of services are provided including: Muscle, Peripheral Nerve, Motor Neurone Disease, Movement Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke and Epilepsy Clinics.

The University Department of clinical neurosciences (Head: Professor Christopher Kennard) contributes to a student teaching programme in Year 5 (2nd clinical year) of the Medical Student programme under the supervision of the Director of Neurology teaching: Dr G. DE Luca. Elective students can join the monthly medical student teaching programme. 

  • The Elective placement will take place at the West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • One Elective student only can be attached to the Department of Clinical Neurology for four to eight weeks, but not during the month of June, when no teaching takes place.
  • Elective students must participate in the same rotations/attachments as Oxford students.
  • Elective students will spend time in theatre, outpatient clinics and wards.

Emergency Medicine

Applicants must have a particular interest in Emergency Medicine.  All applicants are welcome but priority is given to students from a country in which Emergency Medicine is not a recognised specialty.

The electives take place in the John Radcliffe Hospital and are of a duration to suit the student.  Students are welcome within the Emergency Department and will also have the opportunity to attend Tutorials and other teaching sessions with the Oxford students.

Haematology

Students can spend time seeing inpatients and outpatients and attending the day unit. Blood transfusion and coagulation training is also provided. There are 3-4 organised teaching sessions per week, when there are also Oxford students present. Elective students are encouraged to join in with the Oxford students but separate arrangements can be made.  

  • The Haematology Department is based at the Churchill Hospital.
  • The Elective placement runs for four weeks.
  • Elective students can be attached to the same rotations/attachments as Oxford students or they can be individually supervised.
  • Elective students will spend time in outpatient clinics, wards and in the laboratory.

Infectious Diseases

The Infectious Diseases ward has 18 beds for community acquired infections and for secondary and tertiary referrals. There is a busy HIV outpatient service and an active home intravenous antibiotic service. There are about 1,200 annual admissions and 3,500 outpatient attendances.

  • The Department of Infectious Diseases is based at the Churchill Hospital.
  • The Elective placement runs for a maximum of four weeks.
  • Elective students can be supervised individually and may take part in the rotations/attachments attended by Oxford medical students.
  • Elective students will spend time in outpatient clinics and on the wards. They will also have the opportunity to spend time in the Microbiology Department.

Intensive Care Unit (for adults)

The Intensive Care Elective Programme offers the opportunity for students to learn about the management of critically unwell patients.   The Unit admits an average of over two critically unwell patients a day, creating a rapidly changing environment with extensive exposure to different presentations.   Students attend urgent calls to the Emergency Department and the wards, attend twice daily ward rounds, make case presentations and undertake special procedures under supervision.

  • The Elective placement will take place at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • Elective students can attend the Intensive Care Department for four or eight weeks.
  • Elective students can participate with Oxford students in rotations and attachments and can be supervised.
  • Elective students will spend time in theatre, on the Intensive Care wards and in the outreach service.

Neuroradiology

The Department of Neuroradiology specialises in the imaging of the central nervous system. Imaging is used for both diagnosis and the treatment of neurological diseases. Most treatments are endovascular, using interventrical neuroradiological techniques.

The Department is staffed by eight consultants and two specialist trainees. It also trains general radiologists on the Oxford post-graduate training scheme and students studying for the MSc degree in International Neuroradiology.

Attached undergraduate Elective students will be encouraged to take part in the service and teaching activities of the whole Department and, if time permits, to undertake a supervised research project.

  • The Elective placement will take place at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • Elective students can be attached to the Department of Neuroradiology for a maximum of four weeks.
  • Elective students will spend time on the wards and imaging rooms.
  • Elective students do not necessarily have to participate with Oxford students, be supervised or take part in research.

Neurosurgery

The Neurosurgery Elective runs for four weeks and takes place in the West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital. Students can be supervised or possibly take part in research. Time will be spent in the theatre, in Outpatient Clinics and on the wards.

Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine

The Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine (NDM) is part of the Clinical School in the Medical Sciences Division of the University of Oxford.

Led by Professor Chris Conlon the Department contributes to the teaching of 320 medical students in the Clinical School and provides one third of the clinical support of acute general medicine in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Clinicians work in the John Radcliffe, the Churchill and Horton Hospitals. The Department also contributes to orthopaedic medicine at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

Students in Acute General Medicine will have the opportunity to study alongside Oxford clinical medical students in their first and final clinical years. This provides the chance to follow medical patients throughout their hospital stay from acute admission in the new Emergency Department, through the Emergency Assessment Unit to the wards and finally as outpatients. As a major teaching hospital a wide range of general and specialist input is provided as well as maintaining a strong scientific, evidence based approach to clinical medicine.

  • The Elective placement will take place at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • Elective students can be attached to the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine for a maximum of eight weeks.
  • Elective students will participate with Oxford students in rotations, seminar presentations and attachments.
  • Elective students will spend time in outpatient clinics and on the wards.

Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The course in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is spread over eight weeks. The first two weeks of the course include an introduction to obstetrics and gynaecology and approximately 30 lectures, presented in a variety of styles.

The next 5 weeks are spent obtaining clinical teaching and experience. This is provided in outpatient clinics, during theatre lists and while attending the wards and specialist outpatient sessions, including colposcopy, fertility, family planning, prenatal diagnosis and genito-urinary medicine. Teaching is provided at the "bedside", in the outpatient setting and using tutorials and online facilities. Apart from gaining knowledge in basic obstetrics and gynaecology and some of the specialist areas, the student will be taught the principles of bimanual pelvic examination including passing the Sims vaginal speculum and Cusco vaginal speculum, performing intrapartum vaginal examinations and conducting spontaneous vaginal deliveries under the guidance of a midwife.

The final week of the course is devoted to lectures, revision sessions and examination practice and the end-of-course clinical and written assessments.

To get the maximum benefit from the course it is advisable for Elective students to attend the whole course, integrating with the Oxford students. Completing the end-of-course assessment is not mandatory unless required by the student's medical school. Attendance on the first day to receive the introductory instructions is strongly urged.

  • Elective students are based in the Women's Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • The course runs for eight weeks.
  • Elective students will integrate and participate with the Oxford students.
  • Elective students will have the opportunity to gain a broad experience of UK practice in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

The Orthopaedic Department focusses on the diagnosis and management of non-inflammatory and malignant musculoskeletal disease; it also includes the Bone Infection Unit and Limb Reconstruction Services.   Elective students will be based at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.   Students will spend time on the wards and clinic at the NOC and spend time with Trauma/Emergency Department work at the John Radcliffe Hospital.   They will take part in the teaching activities provided for Oxford University Clinical Students.   Early contact with the Course Administrator is advised to ensure that proposed travel dates co-incide with the teaching programme timetable.

Nuffield Department of Surgery

The Nuffield Department of Surgery incorporates General Surgery (consisting of Colorectal, Upper GI, Hepatobiliary, Breast and Endocrine), Vascular, Transplant Surgery, Urology and Cardiac Surgery.

  • Elective students will be based at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals.
  • The maximum number of weeks for an Elective placement is eight weeks.
  • Elective students must participate with Oxford students.
  • Elective students will spend time in the operating theatre, outpatient clinics and on ward based activities.

If you want to spend your Elective placement in Surgery please state on your application form which speciality you would like to be allocated to. However, it is not guaranteed you will be allocated to the particular speciality.

Oncology

The Oxford Cancer Centre provides treatment for patients with virtually all types of malignancy. The Centre is based at the Churchill Hospital in Headington, about 3 miles from the centre of Oxford. There are currently nine consultants in medical oncology and fifteen in clinical (radiation) oncology.

Inpatients are looked after in our dedicated oncology ward. A large number of tumour site-specific clinics run at the Churchill, together with a full range of Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings. The Cancer Centre also provides oncology services to five neighbouring hospitals, with visiting consultants and specialist registrars.

  • The Elective placement will take place at the Churchill Hospital.
  • Elective students are welcome to work out an attachment that meets their own individual requirements
  • Elective students can be attached to the Department of Oncology for a maximum of ten weeks.
  • Elective students will spend time in the outpatient clinics and on the wards.

Ophthalmology

The Oxford Eye Hospital is based in the West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital and is a busy academic unit that deals with general ophthalmic diseases, as well as sub-specialty services. There are eleven consultants, each with their own sub-speciality interest but there is a retinal bias within the department, with 7 retinal consultants. Both clinical and laboratory research are ongoing in the department.

There is an Ophthalmic A&E Department, Optometry Department and Orthoptic Department. The modern eye theatres have audiovisual facilities which allow detailed viewing of microscopic procedures. The retinal imaging department has state of the art equipment.

Most students are taught on an individual (one doctor: one student) basis. The Elective student timetable is flexible to allow individual students to pursue their goals. 

  • The Elective will take place in the West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • Elective students can be attached to the Oxford Eye Hospital for a maximum of ten weeks.
  • Elective students are taught on an individual basis.

Otolaryngology

This is a busy department covering all aspects of ENT with a large paediatric input. There are strong links with Plastic and Craniofacial Units. There is a major head and neck unit with a multidisciplinary approach. There is a full range of complex Rhinology and Otology including cochlea implantation and Bone Anchored Hearing Aid services.

  • The Elective will take place in the West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital.
  • Elective students can be attached to the Department of Otolaryngology for four weeks.
  • Elective students must take part in the same rotations/attachments as Oxford students.
  • It is possible to undertake a short clinical project.

Paediatrics

The Paediatric student teaching programme runs for eight weeks. Elective students must start on day one of the course, unless they have completed a paediatric clinical course at their own university. Students who have completed a paediatric clinical course must send full details and may indicate a sub-specialty interest. Time will be spent in teaching sessions, the emergency department, outpatient clinics and on the wards.

The paediatrics programme runs for a maximum of eight weeks. Elective students can participate with the Oxford students or be supervised.

The course structure for students participating in the Oxford programme is as follows:

The course is divided into 3 blocks.

In the first 2 weeks,  we will cover all the essential topics including:

  1. History taking and examination
  2. Growth module
  3. Development module
  4. Recognition of a sick child module
  5. New born module
  6. Child protection
  7. Basic life support

In the middle 4 weeks, this is an opportunity to see, clerk and examine as many children as possible to develop good clinical skills. It is important that you try and see as broad a range of problems as possible during this period. This will mean attending specialist outpatient clinics, community clinics and neonatal units, as well as doing acute hospital paediatrics. These activities are not specifically timetabled. The opportunities are there, however, and it is up to you to make the most of them.

Halfway through your clinical attachment you should have a mid-course appraisal with your tutor. This gives an opportunity for you to get some feedback on how you are getting on and to discuss the areas you feel you need more time to work on.

In the final 2 weeks,  the presentations and assessments take place. It is important not to simply disappear to the library, but continue to take the opportunity to fill any gaps in your experience, for example by attending outpatients, the neonatal unit or doing another on-call.

Palliative Care

The Palliative Medicine Department is based within Sir Michael Sobell House on the Churchill Hospital site, a specialist palliative care service for patients with progressive, life-limiting illnesses. The service incorporates an inpatient unit (18 beds), community outreach, hospital support team, day centre and outpatient clinics. Patients are referred for symptom management, psychological, emotional and spiritual care and support for their carers. The service is provided by an interprofessional team, working closely with colleagues in the community and acute hospitals.

Elective students will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the service as appropriate. You must have an adequate command of the English language in order to learn effectively from this Elective. You will have the opportunity to follow a number of patients through different parts of the service. You will be expected to undertake an in-depth study of at least one aspect of palliative care and to submit a written report of this at the end of your Elective. Elective students will be based at Michael Sobell House on the Churchill Hospital site.

  • The Elective runs for four weeks.
  • Elective students will be supervised and do not have to participate with Oxford students.
  • Elective students will spend time on the wards and in Outpatient Clinics (also home visits, day centre and hospital consultations).

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has a comprehensive range of current techniques and caseload, with the exception of major burn care which is transferred elsewhere. There are particularly strong interests in craniofacial and cleft lip/palate surgery, complex upper limb and hand reconstruction, major trauma (especially lower limbs) urogenital and head and neck cancer reconstruction. The department has an exceptionally good stock of journals and some interesting areas of library stock on site, enabling easy study and reference for teaching. There is access to on line journals.  There are active research programmes in several areas, although these are rarely suitable for short term Elective projects. However, teaching (albeit peripatetic) is frequent and offered by many of the staff; an active learning environment is fostered and is usually appreciated by visiting students.

We welcome Elective students warmly, but are particularly keen to encourage those undertaking true ‘Electives’ – usually far from base country and not as a substitute for absent teaching in basic aspects of surgery in their teaching institution. We do not run a specific Elective teaching programme, but rather welcome visiting students to the department to join in all aspects of patient care (within the usual constraints of student roles) and to develop an interest in one or other specific area. Individual interests will be nurtured, and we are always happy to give guidance on the development of an interest or project, even if it is best served by the student travelling outside the unit or collaborating with a basic science department within the University.

We see the Elective period as one of enormous potential value to the student, and welcome new ideas, and thoughts from visitors. If a student comes with enthusiasm and a willingness to offer help and interest, usually that student will be richly rewarded. This is not a department in which to ‘serve time’; we would rather have one keen and interested student than 10 who want to visit simply for the benefit of their CV. Plastic Surgery is creative, innovative and fun and we enjoy sharing our enthusiasm for the discipline with others who want to have a taste of that enjoyment.

We recommend that visiting students spend 4-6 weeks maximum unless they are very self motivated and able to demonstrate pursuit of an appropriate project without excessive demand on supervision. We do not have time to generate and support students in generating projects for their own CV gain; However, if keen students do observe work in the unit for a month and become interested in a specific area with identified project goals, we are keen to encourage further periods of study up to a total of 10 weeks.

  • The Elective placement will take place at the John Radcliffe, Churchill and NOC sites.
  • Elective students can spend between four to ten weeks in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
  • The Elective student does not have to take part in rotations/attachments with Oxford students unless they wish to.  There may be a possibility for a research project if the student arrives in Oxford with a strong idea or spends enough time to find a project which matches with an Oxford Consultant who would be willing to supervise.
  • Elective students will spend time in theatre, outpatient clinics and on the wards.

Psychiatry

Oxford medical students undertake an eight week course in Psychiatry in year 5 of their course. On Fridays, they participate in lectures and tutorials. During the remainder of the week they are based with community Mental Health Teams, usually in General Adult Psychiatry, but often also in Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Old Age Psychiatry. Elective students may participate in the whole eight week course, in the first four weeks, or in the final four weeks.

Clinical attachments in psychiatry are linked to an individual community mental health team. This team covers a specific geographical area in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Berkshire and its activities will include inpatient care, outpatient care and community assessments. Elective students will be attached in the same way as home students, but there may be opportunities for additional, more focused study.

  • Elective placements will take place at the Warneford and Littlemore Hospitals, but travel within an area of Oxfordshire covered by the specific team will be required.
  • Elective students can spend four or eight weeks in the Department of Psychiatry.
  • Elective students must take part in the same rotations/attachments as Oxford students except by separate negotiation.
  • Elective students will spend time in outpatient clinics, on the wards, and on community visits.
  • Oxford medical students undertake an eight week course in Psychiatry in Year 5 of their course.   On Fridays, they participate in lectures and tutorials.   During the remainder of the week they are based with community Mental Health Teams, usually in General Adult Psychiatry, but often also in Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Old Age Psychiatry.  Elective students may participate in the whole eight week course, in the first four weeks, or in the final four weeks.   Elective attachments must be for the same dates/four week periods as Oxford home student attachments.

POPULATION Health

The Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH) is based at the Old Road Campus, Headington, near the Churchill, Warneford and Nuffield Hospitals. The Department provides a strong environment of multi-disciplinary research and teaching and includes the following distinguished groups and units: 

  • British Heart Foundation (BHF) Centre on Population Approaches for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Prevention
  • Cancer Epidemiology Unit
  • Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies
  • Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit
  • Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group
  • Ethox Centre
  • Health Economics Research Centre
  • Health Services Research Unit
  • National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit
  • Unit of Health-Care Epidemiology

The NDPH conducts internationally renowned research into the factors affecting population health worldwide and into the prevention and treatment of disease.   In addition to a wide range of research activities, the Department is responsible for teaching medical students and the supervision of postgraduate students (Masters and Doctorates).

Elective students will be based in the Department of Population Health. They may be able to attend teaching sessions at the John Radcliffe Hospital held once a week with the Oxford University clinical students (arranged by the Medical School).  The other four days will be tailored to the individual student's educational needs and interests.   All students will be expected to complete a written project, the scope of which will depend on the length of the Elective period and the complexity of the health issue addressed.

  • Elective students will be based in the Department of Population Health on the Old Road Campus.
  • Elective students can spend four, eight or ten weeks in Department.
  • Elective students are supervised.

Renal Medicine

The Oxford Kidney Unit is a busy regional centre providing Nephrology services to a population of about 2 million people. We are responsible for 550 dialysis patients (1/3 Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD); 2/3 Haemodialysis) and 900 long-term transplant patients as well as patients with acute renal failure and general nephrological problems.

Elective students would be expected to shadow the junior medical staff on the ward and in clinic (with an opportunity to join the teaching sessions) thereby getting exposure to a wide range of nephrological and general medical cases and procedures, X-ray conferences, biopsy, multidisciplinary and academic meetings.

  • Elective students will be based at the Churchill Hospital.
  • Elective students can spend four weeks on the Renal Unit.
  • Elective students may overlap with the Oxford student rotations/attachments but we would aim to avoid Elective students competing for the same role as Oxford students. 
  • Research can be undertaken only by special arrangement if the Elective student has the appropriate background.
  • Elective students will spend the majority of their time on the wards and in outpatient clinics; they may be able to spend some time in operating theatres by making special arrangements with the Transplant surgeons.

Rheumatology

The Rheumatology Department focusses on the diagnosis and management of inflammatory musculoskeletal disease and has a extensive research profile due to the presence of the Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology and the NIHR Clinical Trials Unit. Attached elective students will spend time on the wards and clinic while also taking part in the teaching activities provided for Oxford University clinical students at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. Early contact with the course administrator is advised to ensure that proposed travel dates coincide with the teaching programme timetable.
  • Students can be attached to the Department of Rheumatology for four to eight weeks.
  • Elective students will be based at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC).

Surgery see Nuffield Department of Surgery

Urology

A placement in the Department of Urology would offer a student the opportunity to be involved with all aspects of patient care in a busy surgical unit. There are ten consultants with sub-specialist interests spanning the breadth of urological disease (including prostate, bladder and renal cancers, robotic and laparoscopic surgery, stone disease and the urological problems associated with spinal injuries.

An Elective programme would be arranged with any student on arrival in the department and could be tailored to an individual’s interests and the duration of the Elective.

  • Elective students will be based at the Churchill Hospital.
  • Elective students can be attached to the Department of Urology for four weeks.
  • Elective students can take part in the same rotations/attachments as Oxford medical students
  • Elective students will spend time in the theatre, day surgery, outpatient clinics and on the ward.