Cardiorespiratory Medicine 2009
with Dr Nick Russell
February 2009
Do you have problems managing cardiac cases?
Do you want to develop an effective treatment plan for your patient?
This Distance Education course aims to expand your knowledge of cardiology and respiratory disease. These two areas are so closely linked that it is natural to study them jointly. In particular, the vexing question of whether a case is cardiac, or respiratory, or a combination of both, will be one of the major focuses for the year. Participants will first build a sound platform of clinical and diagnostic skills, and will then apply these to a full range of real clinical problems, from nasal and upper respiratory through to cardiac, pulmonary, pleural and mediastinal.
The course is aimed at practitioners with an interest in and a desire to upgrade their skills in cardiorespiratory medicine.
By participating in this course, you can expect to:
- learn how to obtain maximum information from clinical examinations, particularly in deciding: 'Which is it: cardiac or respiratory?'
- upgrade your skills in interpreting chest radiographs
- learn to interpret ECGs, particularly those troublesome arrhythmias
- improve your understanding of echocardiography and thoracic ultrasound, and experience its use in a wide variety of cardiac and respiratory disease processes
- gain experience in the selection and interpretation of respiratory diagnostic tests
- gain a clear overview of medical therapy of a full range of respiratory and cardiac diseases
- become confident in tackling difficult cases by doing monthly case studies, which are critically evaluated
Tutors
Dr Russell Mitten has authored and tutored this course since 1991. From 2009 the course material will be taught by Dr Nick Russell.
Dr Nick Russell
BVSc MVS FACVSc (Medicine) DipACVIM (Cardiology)
Dr Nick Russell graduated from The University of Sydney in 1998 and worked for four years as an Associate Veterinarian in Australia and the UK. In 2002, he became a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (ACVSc) and undertook a Residency in Small Animal Medicine at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, during which time he also completed a Master of Veterinary Studies (in small animal medicine & surgery). Nick then travelled to the USA in 2005 to undertake a three year Residency in Veterinary Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania. During this time he attained specialist qualifications in two fields. Firstly in 2007, Nick attained Fellowship of the ACVSc in canine medicine, and then in 2008 he achieved Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, in the specialty of cardiology.
Nick enjoys many aspects of small animal medicine, but cardiology is his passion. He is currently a Lecturer in Veterinary Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania, and will soon be relocating to referral practice in California, USA.
Enquiries
Please contact Karen Hewitt, course coordinator.
All DE participants are required to be members of the CVE.