MSc Medical Ultrasound  MSc Medical Ultrasound University of Leeds ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1566809530University-of-Leeds-1.jpg

The Master of Science, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Ultrasound are well-established programmes with a national reputation for excellence. The School has offered postgraduate programmes in medical ultrasound since 1993. The programmes are designed for healthcare professionals, who wish to develop or enhance their knowledge and skills in order to practice sonography competently. The programme recruits from a diverse range of healthcare professionals including radiographers, midwives, nurse specialists, doctors, cardiac and vascular physiologists. The programmes are discrete but interrelated and are regarded as awards to be achieved in their own right. Some modules may be studied on a free-standing basis for continuing professional development purposes. New modules have been introduced to programme, such as Musculoskeletal ultrasound and Image Guided Interventional Procedures. The University of Leeds Medical Ultrasound Programme has achieved national recognition for its high standards and attracts a large number of students onto each programme, from within the area covered by the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (YHSHA) and beyond. The Programme is constantly evolving in order to keep up-to-date with developments in ultrasound service requirements and current Department of Health initiatives, for example, the National Screening Committee ultrasound screening programmes. These changes to the delivery and content of the programme were implemented in 2009, when the programme was successfully revalidated by the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE). The CASE panel was particularly impressed with and wished to commend the Team on the following areas of good practice: The diversity of the team membership. The excellent support given to students. The students had spoken very positively of their experiences on the programme and of the support they were given by the team. This, no doubt, contributes significantly to the low attrition rates. The close relationship that have been forged with clinical colleagues. It was apparent that service personnel were proactively involved in the development and delivery of both the current and proposed programmes. Engagement of the Strategic Health Authority in funding of full-time students onto the Postgraduate Diploma programme. This was extremely impressive and unique in the UK. The national and international work with which the team is involved, the subsequent emerging research strategy and its evident link with learning and teaching. The focus of the programme is on developing sonographers who are able to function at advanced practitioner level by encouraging student directed learning and reflective practice the development of lifelong learning and continued professional development skills interprofessional learning and teaching. These skills will enable graduates to be effective within the wider healthcare setting and to cross traditional professional boundaries into advanced practice. A variety of teaching and learning strategies are used in the delivery of the programme, supported by the use of information technology, such as remote access to library services, electronic databases and the virtual learning environment. In order to support clinical learning, clinical training facilities available within the School are being utilised. These include the use of a clinical skills room and by the addition of the following resources:- 1. A new portable diagnostic ultrasound machine 2. An ultrasound test object 3. Two ultrasound lecturer practitioners, whose purpose is to provide support for clinical departments through teaching visits, monitoring progress and formative assessment. 4. Ultrasound machine which has been donated by a local NHS Trust. The programme team has established effective links with clinical colleagues in ultrasound departments throughout the region and beyond. The value and importance of these links cannot b