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Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H)

Programme Outline
This programme is particularly useful for physicians who have trained in medicine in a developed country but intend to practise in the tropics. It is also useful for physicians already practising in developing countries who require an update on infectious, parasitic and other health problems and for doctors in developed countries who need to diagnose and manage imported infections. It is recognised as fulfilling part of the requirements for the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Certificate in Travel Medicine.

Overall, it's simply been a pleasure and quite a privilege to be taught by so many enthusiastic and experienced people. Thanks!

Programme Aims
Through participation in a highly intensive programme of formal lectures, practicals and seminars, students will be able to:

• Understand the importance of the social, cultural and economic setting of people and communities in the planning and implementation of health services and disease control.
• Diagnose and treat patients suffering from the major parasitic and communicable diseases of the tropics.
• Identify stages of parasites important in the diagnosis of tropical disease.
• Recognise the main genera of insect vectors of disease and understand their behaviour sufficiently to discuss control methods intelligently.
• Understand the principles of epidemiology and control as applied to a range of diseases highly prevalent in the tropics.
• Identify the health needs of a community and discuss ways of improving health at village and district level.

Overall, fantastic quality of lecturers and course topics covered, I've had a great time

Entry qualification
A recognised medical degree.

Scholarships 

In accordance with our Mission Statement, LSTM particularly encourages attendance on the DTM&H by clinicians working in academic and research institutions in developing countries  and offers a small number of scholarships to support such applicants.  Scholarship applicants must have accepted a conditional offer of a place and show evidence of additional funding in place. Scholarships are awarded competitively on the basis of academic merit and will not exceed 50% of the fee.  Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship should e-mail the Programme Administrator Eleanor Carr (e.carr@liv.ac.uk) to request an application form.

International students
Applications from international students are particularly welcomed. The programme is taught in English. Students whose first language is not English must provide evidence of an overall:

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5, or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least  570 paper based exam, or 88 iBT

Accreditation

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) has approved the curriculum of the DTM&H course as suitable for doctors training in clinical tropical medicine and travellers' health in the USA. Completion of an accredited course and examination is a required part of this training.

“The broad overview of clinical tropical medicine and wider perspective of public health and epidemiology was invaluable in my later work.” (Alumni Survey 2011)

Detailed Learning Outcomes for individual components:

Clinical Tropical Medicine and Child Health

Parasitology

Vector Biology

Public Health

Teaching Methods
A highly intensive course with lectures, practicals, tutorials and a range of seminars which provide opportunities for small group work. Much of the practical work in the Dagnall laboratory is hands-on, backed up with a range of demonstration materials, and facilitated by academic and technical staff.

Teaching was outstanding, nice to be taught by experts and with such enthusiasm for their subject!

ASSESSMENTS

In-course monitoring of progress
Student progress is monitored during the course through:

Formative assessment
Two MCQs and one practical session during the course provide students with an indication of their progress. The results of these assessments do not contribute to the final mark.

Regular revisions
In parasitology and vector biology contain a range of self-assessment exercises. Staff are available for immediate discussion with individual or small groups of students.

Summative Assessment
The award of Diploma is based on the results of examinations held at the end of the course. The overall pass mark is 50%. However, in order to pass the examination as a whole, a minimum of 40% is required in each of the three components of the examination, i.e. Paper 1 (Essays and Short Notes), Paper 2 (MCQs) and two Practical examinations.

The Greener DTM&H

The DTM&H is delivered primarily as a ‘paperless’ course. This allows us to keep our costs as low as possible and is in line with LSTM's commitment to the principles of education for sustainable development.  In addition to lectures, seminars and small group sessions, the course fee entitles you to the following:

• A data stick at the start of the course containing lecture handouts plus other teaching support material
• On-line access to all of the above material on our virtual learning environment, including in-course updates to reflect recent developments
• Hands-on laboratory sessions supported by a comprehensive hard-copy manual
• On-line access to our ‘Virtual Laboratory’ comprising laboratory material from our extensive and unique slide collection
• A copy of the core course textbook: Lecture notes n Tropical Medicine, 6^th Ed (2009). Gill G & Beeching N (Eds)

You are encouraged to consider following our paperless ethos by bringing a laptop computer with a good battery life on which to view teaching resources and annotate handouts if you wish - our lecture theatre is equipped with plugs for recharging.  If you prefer to print material, networked printing facilities are available in the School at a reasonable price.

Future Benefits

DTM&H alumni receive 20% discount against MSc fees if returning to LSTM within 3 years.