Pioneering e-learning course in breast surgery

The University of East Anglia is launching a pioneering new course in breast reconstruction surgery based on e-learning and local mentoring

The University of East Anglia is to launch a new e-learning masters degree in breast reconstruction surgery. It will be the first institute in the UK to formally qualify surgeons in this field.

Oncoplastic breast surgery combines the surgical removal of cancer with reconstruction of the breast, which is an extremely important part of the patient’s recovery and psychological wellbeing.

Professor Sam Leinster, who developed the course, says: ‘This is a very exciting and innovative course. It means that surgeons will be able to train without compromising work-time directives.’

The first two-year course, which starts later this month, will be attended by 15 surgeons from across the country and has been approved by the Royal College of Surgeons, the Association of Breast Surgery and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.

‘It’s delivery through a mix of e-learning and local mentoring means that we retain capability and capacity in front-line services, whilst training, assessing and qualifying the new generation of surgeons in this field to the very highest standard,’ says Prof Leinster.

Professor Jerome Periera, consultant breast surgeon at James Paget University Hospitals says: ‘At the moment the training of surgeons can be an ad hoc experience. Using this method, they will be receiving the highest quality of training in this field anywhere in the world.’

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