Projects & Activities

From time-to-time Medical Deans publishes guidelines to assist medical schools with matters which are common to all programs and where a consistent perspective is appropriate.   These guidelines provide a framework for each medical school to tailor the principles to their own context.

Infectious Diseases

In 2001 Medical Deans brought together experts of infectious diseases from each medical school to develop and publish a set of guidelines for medical schools. The resultant Guidelines for Infectious Diseases Policies and Programs for Medical Students provides direction to medical schools in the development, implementation and review of infectious diseases policies and programs. This document is a best practice standards which allows medical schools the flexibility to adapt or implement the guidelines in accordance with existing policies and programs, and in the development of new programs.

The National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Medical Students’ Association have developed a series of broad policies regarding the screening, immunisation and management of infectious diseases and blood-borne viruses. The Medical Deans’ guidelines are in accordance with these policies but are targeted specifically to medical students. The Australian Medical Council has endorsed the Medical Deans infectious diseases guidelines for assessment and accreditation of medical schools.

Overseas Electives

In 2003, Medical Deans has developed a framework for overseas electives.  The general principles include:

• Encouraging information sharing and communication amongst medical schools at a national level
• Collecting and maintaining accurate and up-to-date resources at an institutional level, thereby facilitating informed decision-making and the maintenance of the highest standards of cultural respect
• Ensuring national and international placements are intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching