The appointment of A/Prof. Pablo Fernandez-Peñas to Skin Cancer Foundation Australia Westmead in 2008 brought with him an affiliation agreement between the Foundation and the University of Sydney.
Since then, the Foundation has been included in the Dermatology attachment program and medical students from the Sydney Medical School-Western have been attending clinics at Westead. Students from the University of Sydney also attend Prof Fernandez-Penas’ clinic at the Foundation for half a day each week.
The Skin & Cancer Foundation Westmead is also affiliated with the University of Western Sydney. Presently three students attend the Foundation each week and spend half a day completing online Dermatology modules. These are then tested and feedback is provided by Dr Daniel Hewitt to the University. The other half of their day is spent seeing patients in Dr Hewitt’s clinic.
At the start of each year the Foundation runs a day of lectures and surgical skills workshops at the University of Western Sydney.
Over the next several months the learning of these students will be further enhanced by the development of a more formalised Dermatology curriculum and examination process.
Other allied health professionals such as pharmacists and podiatrists request the Foundation to deliver dermatology teaching in these areas, which we are always pleased to participate in.
The Foundation also remains a popular facility for overseas medical students and other specialists to work as observers and familiarise themselves with the health care delivery in Australia.