Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine

Course Overview

The Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine will extend your knowledge required to manage the majority of all skin cancer cases through the application of dermoscopy, advanced histopathology, topical treatments, and electro-surgery. You will also learn how to manage immune-suppressed patients and manage rare and aggressive skin cancers. This course is delivered online in eight modules and is presented by the world's leading skin cancer experts including Professor Harald Kittler (Austria), Professor Richard Usatine (USA), Professor Iris Zalaudek (Austria), Professor Luc Thomas (France), Associate Professor Aimilios Lallas, and other thought leaders in this field.

This course is the third part of the three-part Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine. The education pathway is Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine and Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine. 

Entry Requirements and course requisites

The Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine is ideal for medical professionals who wish to gain the optimum knowledge required to manage primary care patients with a multitude of skin cancer concerns, including rare and complex cases. Participants can expect to acquire advanced knowledge in dermoscopy, histopathology, topical treatments and electro-surgery, making them a favourable referral option for their colleagues. This online course is suitable for medical doctors and International Medical Graduates who wish to subspecialise in the field. Participants must have completed the Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine (or a qualification deemed equivalent).

Participants do not have to pass an IELTS test but, as the courses are delivered in English, proficiency in listening, reading and writing English is assumed.

Participants will require access to a computer/laptop, an internet connection and a basic level of technology proficiency to access and navigate the online learning portal.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Professionally accredited qualifications and prior studies may be recognised for entry into this course. Please send an email to credit@healthcert.com for an individual assessment of your prior qualifications and experience. This email should contain information about your educational history and work experience that specifically pertain to the content and procedures covered in the Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine and Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine. Please include any applicable certificates and course outlines from previous education. The relevant Course Chair will make a determination on your application within two to three weeks.

Doctors who have completed The University of Queensland certificate courses in skin cancer medicine and therapeutics will gain credit into the professional diploma program, providing the relevant HealthCert assessment has been completed.

Doctors who have completed the Certificate in Primary Care Dermatology with the RACGP (modules 1-5) may complete the relevant HealthCert assessment for the Advanced Certificate in Skin Cancer Medicine and then progress to the Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine (please ask a HealthCert Education Advisor for the process). 

Course Contents

This course will focus on lesion and field directed treatments as well as skin imaging, drug therapy, special situations, treatment of rare/aggressive skin cancers, and studies of both melanoma and non-melanoma treatments. 

The theory sessions cover:

• Merkel cell carcinoma and rare/aggressive skin cancers
• Cutaneous cryosurgery and electrosurgery
• Lesion and field-directed treatments
• Chemoprevention
• Advanced histopathology
• Dermal imaging
• Factors influencing the choice of treatment
• Managing special cases and complications, including immuno-supressed patients

Course participants will:

• Receive unlimited and ongoing access to research/readings in the field, free alumni learning resources, video lectures and discussion forums, as well as invite-only events and special offers after completion of the course
• Receive ongoing support post-course through webinars and case review
• Have the opportunity to participate in optional clinical attachments at dedicated skin cancer clinics

Course Outline

Introduction – The importance of dermatopathology to clinical practice

This introduction lists the goals of dermatopathology and its relevance to clinicians. The dermatopathologist’s tasks and clinician’s role are outlined plus the steps of the pathology process once skin samples are received. Different techniques of margin assessment are shown before moving on to analysis and comparison of margins and includes risk ratios and histological clearance of margins. The relationship between surgical margins and recurrence rates is shown in a chart. The meaning of negative and positive histological margins is explained.

Module 1 –Topical and lesion-directed treatments

The module commences with the dermoscopy of solar (actinic) keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma. The reasons for treating solar keratosis are included depending on the history and lesion presence. A comparison is shown of lesion vs. field-directed treatments as well as a systematic review and meta-analysis, including suggestions for treatment. The liquid nitrogen cryotherapy technique, delivery methods and margin sizes are outlined including contra-indications and adverse effects. The process of curettage with/without electrodessication is described, listing limitations and side effects. The use of topical 5-fluorouracil 5% cream is explained, looking at long-term management, limitations and complications. Clinical images and graphs reinforce learning.

Module 2 – Field treatments

The module looks at the progression of solar keratosis into invasive squamous cell carcinoma and the role of immunosuppression, illustrated by clinical examples. Field treatment options including modes of action and clinical examples of progression of treatment for each modality are provided. Side effects and a table of expected local skin reactions is provided. The complexities when treating immunosuppressed patients are considered. The module concludes with a description of photodynamic therapy, including clinical examples.

Module 3 – Special situations in skin cancer medicine

The module begins with a description of special host and topography when applying skin cancer medicine to patients requiring special consideration, including patients having had organ transplants or suffering from HIV/aids. Another risk category are genetically predisposed patients who have an increased likelihood of developing a particular disease based on their genetic makeup. A range of rare disorders/disease syndromes are discussed. Clinical images and research articles are included throughout the module. Several studies of melanoma patients are included. The module concludes with an overview of infrequently self-examined areas and featureless melanomas.

Module 4 – Chemoprevention

This module looks at chemoprevention, its application and how it works in the fight against skin cancer. Primary, secondary and tertiary chemoprevention treatments are listed including chemoprevention options for melanoma, keratinocytic skin cancer and other types of skin cancer and the role of sunscreens. Research articles, clinical and dermoscopic images and data supports the learning. Different chemoprevention options including studies on other chemoprevention medications like statins and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are shown. The module continues with charts on the use of (systemic) retinoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nicotinamide in skin cancer prevention.

Module 5 – Factors influencing the choice of treatment

Choice of treatment options include surgical excision and considers tumour characteristics, the patient and treatment modalities. The module then looks at management options and guidelines for superficial/pigmented/non-pigmented BCC. Surgical excision is not always the best treatment option and these situations are discussed and management plans outlined. The module then looks at hedgehog pathway inhibitors for the treatment/prevention of advanced BCC. The management of keratinocyte skin cancer including clinical and dermoscopic grading and treatment options for solar keratosis are included. Invasive SCC including prognostic classification and characteristics/differentiation of keratocanthoma are included. The module concludes with lentigo maligna, one of the most difficult to recognise melanoma types.

Module 6 – Cryosurgery/electrosurgery in skin cancer medicine

This module describes cryosurgery and the mechanism of action, contra-indications, freezing methods, freeze time/thaw time plus variable factors that impact freeze time. Other considerations include halo diameter, patterns of freeze, type of BCC and number of freeze-thaw cycles. The module continues to premalignant actinic cheilitis, including a table of freeze time/freeze-thaw cycles/halo diameter. Cryosurgery can be a treatment option for malignant BCC and SCC in situ. The technique, statistics and images of curettage and cryosurgery are shown. Possible complications are listed as well as several clinical examples. The module then focusses on electrosurgery. Cautions/contraindications, recurrences and statistics are listed. Various clinical images of electrodessication and curettage reinforce learning.

Module 7 – Merkel cell carcinoma and rare/aggressive skin cancer

This module reviews a collection of more aggressive primary cutaneous malignancies and outlines management options for these tumours. These tumours are hallmarks for adverse outcomes. Many of these entities are relatively rare however some of these more aggressive tumours feature higher rates of mortality and morbidity and clinicians need to be aware of their presentation features and behaviour. The module lists the diagnostic entities and their specific symptoms, illustrated by various clinical images.

Module 8 – Skin imaging techniques

Skin imaging techniques for detecting melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are outlined starting with (digital) dermatoscopy, listing physical foundation, indications, evidence and target groups. Total body photography is described and illustrated by images. A summary is given of indications, evidence and target groups. The module looks at reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), explaining the concept of the method, in which cases it is used and clinical indications. A chart is shown of possible combination of digital dermatoscopy with RCM. A summary is given of indications, evidence and target groups. The module then discusses optical coherence tomography, high frequency ultrasound, electric impedance spectroscopy, multispectral analysis and raman spectroscopy listing physical foundation, indications, evidence and target group.

Conclusion: Metastic melanoma (MM)

The section provides further information on the management of metastic melanoma. Evidence is given that BRAF mutations are the most common driver mutation in metastatic melanoma and treatment options for BRAF-V600 mutant MM are listed. Results of studies in previously untreated patients with MM are given.. The effect of several drugs in patients with metastic melanomas is shown and supported by charts.

SPECIAL RATES AND PAYMENT OPTIONS

Course Delivery and Assessment

This final stage of the Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine is designed as a full online course. We offer a ‘start anytime online’ course structure which gives flexible start and completion times for studies, as well as exam extensions to fit in with busy schedules. Participants can enjoy the flexibility to study at their own pace, in their own time, within their home or office and on their favourite mobile device. The modules are set up in such a way that participants are not required to be online at specific times but can view and replay video lectures at their convenience. The two webinars scheduled half way through the course and prior to the exam period offer the opportunity to join, ask questions and interact with the presenters online in real-time, but can also be viewed later. There are no face-to-face requirements for exams which can be conveniently completed online within 12 months from the start of the course. With no travel, accommodation or out-of-office expenses incurred, participants can build critical skills and tailor their career while working in a busy practice or raising a family.

There are eight units in a HealthCert Professional Diploma program. The course is delivered over 15 weeks, with 12 weeks of teaching followed by the opening of the final examinations. The course includes online presentations from experts in the field followed by patient case discussions and decision-making.

A clinical audit is a mandatory element of this professional diploma. The clinical audit will guide you to reflect on your patient management, prior to and after, increasing your knowledge through your studies at HealthCert. You will need to submit your own cases as part of the audit. If you no longer see any cases in this field, the course offers an early exit point with the Complex Certificate.

The course includes: 

• All presentation slides available for download.
• Access to additional learning resources, reference materials and video lectures.
• Reading list with references to peer-reviewed journal articles to keep up-to-date with developments in the field.
• 12 month web-based support with the opportunity to ask the instructors questions while you implement your learning.

In order to meet the requirements of professional and academic learning, the course assessment includes professional requirements and two online examinations.

• Develop a report/explanation of how the learning from this course will help you with your professional development.
• Complete a literature review of three articles nominated by the course chair.
• Complete a clinical audit (separately accredited) to demonstrate application of learning.

Online assessment

• 120 knowledge multiple choice questions based on a scenario of a medical practitioner undertaking special interest training.
• 120 authentic scenario based questions based on cases of patient care at a clinic.
  • Example: A patient arrives at your clinic with this problem … What should you do?  Multiple choice images based on patient cases.

The pass mark for each exam is 80 per cent. It is therefore not possible to pass this course on knowledge alone. Knowledge must be successfully applied to patient cases in order to pass the course.

HealthCert recommends completion of all requirements at your convenience within 12 months of the commencement of the course. Exam extensions are available on a case by case basis.

CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION

This certificate course:

• Provides CPD points from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
• Provides PDP points from the Australian Council of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
• Is recognised by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP).
• Is recognised by the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (HKCFP). The HKCFP recognises all courses
  endorsed by the RACGP. Points are calculated differently.
• Is a self-submitted activity in Dubai. The number of CPD points must be stated on the certificate. Please contact PLD@dhcr.gov.ae for more information.
• Is a self-submitted activity in the UK. CPD events overseas, applicable to a doctor’s scope of practice, may be submitted for revalidation. Please confirm with your Responsible Officer.
• Is a self-submitted activity in Canada through the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Category 1 points are reported as certified and Category 2 points are reported as non-certified. Contact mainprocredits@cfpc.ca for more information.
• Meets World Federation of Medical Education standards.
• Is recognised by the Skin Cancer Institute (SCI) and may be used as part of an application for Membership or Fellowship.
• Has been collaboratively designed with, and is annually reviewed by, Professor David Wilkinson, Chief Medical Officer at National Skin Cancer Centres.
• Qualifies for a clinical attachment in France at the University of Lyon.
• Qualifies for a clinical attachment in Austria at the University of Vienna.
• Has been independently developed with subject specialists and does not receive education grants from any pharmaceutical company.

Australia-based course participants, please note that HealthCert certificates are not accredited by TEQSA or ASQA and do not fall within the Australian Qualification Framework. All HealthCert certificates are professional development awards, accredited by RACGP, ACRRM and RNZCGP.

EDUCATION PATHWAYS

It is recommended that this qualification be used as part of an application for Membership or Fellowship with the Skin Cancer Institute.

Postgraduate Pathways  

RPL with The University of Queensland

The Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine is guaranteed for RPL for the unit IMED7010, part of the Graduate Certificate of Medicine (Skin Cancer) which is the first step in the Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) at The University of Queensland. There are no further requirements for this RPL, it is automatic and guaranteed and provides a saving on fees.

View The University of Queensland, Master of Medicine (Skin Cancer) program here. 

RPL with Torrens University

This postgraduate pathway is for General Practitioners and degree-qualified medical practitioners who have successfully completed a HealthCert Professional Diploma (all three levels) in Skin Cancer Medicine, Skin Cancer Surgery or Dermoscopy. The following postgraduate course is offered entirely online through Torrens University: Master of Business Administration (MBA). Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available for two general electives for any HealthCert Professional Diploma. In cases where a HealthCert alumni has completed two Professional Diplomas, they will be able to apply for four general electives towards the MBA. You can find more information here. This will be helpful to further develop business, management and leadership capabilities.

Please apply directly to Torrens University through this link here. 

Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology

Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology studied through the Rila Institute of Health Sciences and awarded by the University of Plymouth (UK).

There are three modules in the Postgraduate Diploma. Medical professionals who successfully complete the HealthCert Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine and Professional Diploma of Skin Cancer Medicine will be eligible to apply for Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning (APCL) for module 3.

The Postgraduate Diploma is mainly delivered online. No practical workshops will be required due to the APCL from the HealthCert qualifications. Overall there will be a time saving of 40 per cent of the postgraduate program due to the APCL. Exams will be held in Perth, Western Australia.

When the Postgraduate Diploma has been successfully completed, medical professionals can apply for credit from the Postgraduate Diploma to the Master of Science in the specialism awarded by the University of Plymouth.

Certified Clinical Attachments Pathway

Clinical attachments are optional and available on a 1:1 or small group basis. These provide the opportunity to observe skin cancer medicine treatments and ask questions of the expert performing the treatments. In addition to clinical attachments in Australia, university teaching hospitals at the University of Lyon and the University of Vienna are available for clinical attachments. HealthCert certificates and university statements are awarded for participating in clinical attachments.

The Medical University of Vienna is the largest medical organisation in Austria, as well as one of the top-level research institutions in Europe and provides Europe's largest hospital, the Vienna General Hospital, with all of its medical staff. The Vienna General Hospital has about 100,000 patients treated as inpatients and 605,000 treated as outpatients each year.

The dominant areas of study covered by The Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 are science and medicine. Attached to the university are the "Hospices civils de Lyon" including the "Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud", which is the largest teaching hospital in the Rhône-Alpes region and second largest in France. Out of the 2,630 faculty, 700 are also medical practitioners at local teaching hospitals.