Introduction

The clinical care of burn patients in the UK and Western healthcare services has developed significantly, particularly over the last decade based on: a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the burn wound and its systemic consequences, improvements in critical care, and advances in skin tissue engineering, burn rehabilitation and reconstruction. Early near-total burn wound excision is becoming the gold-standard approach to large burn injury and the choice between this and serial wound excision demands specific understanding, resources, and skills. Novel tissue engineered products improve the morbidity of small injuries, particularly in children, and have transformed burn scar reconstruction. These again require specific understanding and skills. There remains a vast range of practice around the World, and this innovative WebCT-based diploma fills a void in burn care education recognized by both the British Burn Association [BBA], and the International Society of Burn Injury [ISBI]. The Clinical Academic Unit of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery has established the Southeast of England Burn Injury Research Network [BIRN] bringing together basic scientists and physicians to improve burn care services, specifically including education. The overall aim is to provide the didactic skeleton for excellent burn care to physicians and surgeons practicing within the multidisciplinary burn team environment.

 

Who's who

Course Director - Mr Simon Myers PhD FRCS(Plast) (Clinical Senior Lecturer)

 

Course outline

The course is delivered on-line as eight, ten week modules over two years. This course material is supplemented with DVD material and limited clinical days [2 per annum].

The course covers:

•  the structure and function of skin, pathophysiology of the burn wound, inhalation injury, the systemic response to burn injury, wound healing and scarring,

•  medicolegal and psychiatric aspects of burn practice,

•  the principles of burn anaesthesia and burn critical care within a multidisciplinary team environment,

•  the science and use of dressings and tissue engineered products,

•  the prehospital, and acute care of burn patients,

•  burn reconstruction, scar management, and burn rehabilitation.

 

Assessment

Assessment is made by weekly essay or MCQ assignments, and a dissertation and exam within the final module.

 

Entry requirements

An MBBS or equivalent is required for entry to the diploma.

 

For further information, please contact:

Ms Sam Matthew
Centre for Cutaneous Research
Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
4 Newark Street
London E1 2AT
Tel: +44(0)20 7882 7173
Fax: +44(0)20 7882 7171
email: s.matthew@qmul.ac.uk

 

The course organiser, Mr. Simon Myers, may be contacted directly on

Email: simon.myers@qmul.ac.uk.