The Emergency Medicine Research Course

Explore the world of Emergency Medicine Research with our semester-long program. Join Monash University and The Alfred Emergency Academic Centre for advanced learning, completing a standalone certificate or a Master's unit.

Date

Semester 2 2025: Monday 21 July - Sunday 23 November 2025

Mode

Online

Format

Postgraduate Course

Registration

Registration 2

A STANDALONE CERTIFICATE COURSE OR 12 CREDIT POINTS TOWARDS A MASTERS PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

The Emergency Medicine Research Course is a semester-long program run conjointly by Monash University and The Alfred Emergency & Trauma Centre.

The course is made up of two postgraduate units Emergency Medicine Research Methods and Evidence Based Medicine (12 credit points):

Emergency Medicine Research Methods enables students to acquire the necessary practical skills to design and conduct a research project.
Evidence Based Medicine aims to equip students with the necessary skills to identify and incorporate the best available research evidence to their clinical training and clinical practice.

The program involves completion of self-directed weekly online study modules, four assignments and two sets of intensive days. It is delivered part time and requires a commitment of approximately 20-30 hours a week.

This course can either be completed as a standalone certificate, or as one unit towards the Master of Public Health with Monash University.

This course also satisfies completion of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) research requirement.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Advanced trainees in Emergency Medicine: successful completion satisfies the research requirement for ACEM.
Clinicians with an interest in emergency medicine research.

DATES

Semester	Dates	Intensive days	Delivery mode	Registration
Semester 2, 2025	21 July – 23 November 2025	Day 1 & 2: 28 – 29 July 2025 Day 3 & 4: 13 – 14 October 2025	Online delivery Intensive day 2 offered in-person & online	Sold out Email to join waitlist
Semester 1, 2026	2 March – 28 June 2026 (dates subject to change)	Day 1 & 2: 9 – 10 March 2026 Day 3 & 4: 25 – 26 May 2026	Online delivery only	Opening August 2025 Email to join mailing list
Semester 2, 2026	27 July – 22 November 2026 (dates subject to change)	Day 1 & 2: 3 – 4 August 2026 Day 3 & 4: 19 – 20 October 2026	Online delivery Intensive day 2 offered in-person & online	Opening February 2026 Email to join mailing list

Intensive day information

Intensive days are COMPULSORY.
Intensive days 1 & 3: Self-directed learning delivered through online presentations.
Intensive days 2 & 4: Live sessions conducted via Zoom/in-person (semester 2 only).

Semester 2 information:

Intensive day 2 will be available both in-person and online.
In-person location for Intensive day 2: 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
A networking dinner will follow Intensive day 2 in Melbourne.
Networking dinner cost covered by course.

Mailing/wait list: Please email med-emergency.education@monash.edu

FORMAT

The Emergency Medicine Research Course course is a semester long university program.

The content will be predominantly delivered online, with student materials consisting of written information, journal articles, audio files, online discussions and private study.

SUBJECTS

EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE

Content overview:

This unit aims to equip you with the necessary skills to both identify and incorporate the best available

research evidence relevant to your clinical training and clinical practice. Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)

provides clinicians with an exciting tool with which to improve patient care and maximize patient

outcomes. It is anticipated that upon completion of this program you will be able to appreciate the

benefit that such skills bring in the clinical environment.

This subject covers:

Formulating answerable clinical questions
Scientific literature searches
Critical appraisal of scientific literature and evidence based guidelines
Application of research to clinical practice
Barriers to changing practice
Content overview:Introduction to evidence based medicine
Asking an answerable question
Research designs
Searching the literature
P values and Confidence Intervals
Interpreting data
Data Quality and missing data
Bias and confounding
Critically appraising studies of therapy/harm/dignosis/prognosis
Understanding systematic reviews

RESEARCH METHODS

Content overview:

The aim of the Research Methods Unit is for students to develop an understanding and acquire the

necessary practical skills to design and conduct a research project. This unit is a general introduction to research methods. The components required for the performance of research will be introduced. The student will be asked to apply these principles by designing a research protocol; including defining the research question, performing a literature review, selection of type of study, defining a study population and sampling strategies and identifying important ethical issues related to this study. It is aimed to provide a practical introduction to this area.

This subject covers:

Introduction to PICO
Choosing a study design
Introduction to statistics for research
Subject selection
Measurement
Bias and confounding
Trials in critical care
Statistical issues
Data management & questionnaire design
Diagnostic tests
Research ethics
Funding
Qualitative methods

DROP IN SESSIONS

The faculty will be online (Zoom) throughout the semester on two separate occasions for any questions about content, discussion forums, assignments or project ideas.

TIMETABLE (subject to change)

Week	Module	EBM Content	RM Content
1	1	Introduction to EBM	Introduction: PICO
		ZOOM: Introduction to EMRC
2		Intensive Day 1 & 2 (No Online Tasks)	Intensive Day 1 & 2 (No Online Tasks)
3	2	Asking an answerable question	Choosing a study design
4	3	Research designs	Introduction to Statistics for Research
5	4	Searching the literature	Subject Selection
6	5	P values and Confidence Intervals	Measurement
7	6	Interpreting data	Bias and confounding
		ZOOM: Drop in Session 1
8	7	Data Quality and missing data	Trials in Critical Care
9	8	Bias and confounding	Statistical Issues
10		Assignment 1 due (No online tasks)	Assignment 1 Part B due (No online tasks)
11	9	Critically appraising studies of therapy	Data input & management
12	10	Critically appraising studies of harm (1)	Diagnostic Tests
13		Intensive Day 3 & 4 (No Online Tasks) MCQ Exam (Tues-Fri to compelte)	Intensive Day 3 & 4 (No Online Tasks)
			Assignment 2 Part A Due
14	11	Critically appraising studies of harm (2)	Research Ethics
15	12	Critically appraising studies of diagnosis	Funding (No Online Tasks)
16	13	Understanding systematic reviews	Qualitative methods
		ZOOM: Drop in Session 2
17	14	Critically appraising studies of prognosis	No Online Tasks
18		Assignment 2 Due	Assignment 2 Part B Due

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

The assessment for Research Methods and Evidence Based Medicine:

Each subject has online tasks due at the end of each week.
The online tasks are designed to encourage group learning.
The course includes four compulsory intensive days.
The course can only be successfully completed after concurrent completion of both subjects.
There is no scope for repeating one subject only.

There are three components of assessment in each subject for this course. You must complete all assessment tasks in order to pass this unit. These include intensive day attendance and graded assessment tasks.

Attendance: Attendance is compulsory for the intensive days of this unit.
Graded Assessment: see below.
Overall pass: To pass the course, you need to pass each subject and in addition, Assignment 2 of each subject.

Evidence Based Medicine:

Intensive day attendance (worth Pass/Fail)
Assignment 1 (worth 30%)
Assignment 2 (worth 50%)
Multiple Choice Questions (worth 20%)
Online exercises – 100% participation and content (worthPass/Fail)

Research Methods:

Intensive day attendance (worth Pass/Fail)
Assignment 1 (Part A & B - worth 30%)
Assignment 2 (Part A & B - worth 50%)
Multiple Choice Questions (worth 20%)
Online exercises – 100% participation and content (worthPass/Fail)

GRADING

Your final grade for the subject will be reported according to the following grades:

HD – High Distinction ≥80%

D – Distinction 70-79%

C – Credit 60-69%

P – Pass 50-59%

N – Fail <50%

COURSE COMPLETION

On completion of this course students will receive certification from Monash University. This certificate will indicate competency in the learning objectives described in the course overview. A credit towards Masters programs can be obtained.

INTENSIVE DAYS

The program involves completion of two complulsory sets of intensive days.

REGISTRATION FEES

$4,950.00 per person
Course fee includes all required learning resources.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In very rare cases, due to clinical demand or other unforeseen, unavoidable reasons, courses may need to be cancelled. In this instance registrants will be advised urgently and will receive a full refund for registration fees.
If you are no longer able to attend this course you may transfer the fees to the next available date.
If you are no longer able to attend this course you may transfer course fees to another person without penalty.
All transfer requests must be made in writing.

REFUND POLICY

Cancellation more than 30 days before the event: 70% refund.
Cancellation less than 30 days: no refund.
Cancellation must be in writing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I complete one unit each semester? i.e Evidence Based Medicine in semester 1 and Research Methods in semester 2.

No, both units need to be completed in the same semester in order to successfully complete the course.

I am trying to sign up to the course however I notice “0 available” on the website, does this mean I am unable to register for this course?

Yes, it means all the places have been filled. You can email us (med-emergency.education@monash.edu) to be placed on the waiting list and you will notified if a place becomes available or when the next course opens for registration.

Can I pay for the course in instalments?

No, the course needs to be paid in full at the time of purchasing.

Is there any pre-reading or pre-course material I can start prior to commencing the course?

No, as much as we admire the motivation to get started early, unfortunately there is no pre-reading for this course.

For more information about this course, please contact the Course Coordinator.

Jessica Currie

Alfred Emergency Academic Centre

Telephone: 03 9076 8423

Email: etc@alfred.org.au

Faculty

Prof Peter Cameron

Professor Peter Cameron serves as the Academic Director of Alfred Emergency Academic Centre and holds the position of Professor of Emergency Medicine at Monash University. He has previously served as the President of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine. With a global focus, Peter has provided consultation and published extensively on trauma and emergency system development. His impressive research portfolio includes over 700 peer-reviewed publications. In his role, Peter leads teaching, research at Alfred Health, aligning with the organisation's strategic priorities and values.

Prof Dev Mitra

Professor Dev Mitra is a Consultant Emergency Physician and director of Emergency Medicine Research at Alfred Health. Following completion of his Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Melbourne, he completed a Masters in Health Services Management (Monash University) and PhD on acute traumatic coagulopathy (Monash University). Prof. Mitra is a member of the Clinical and Consumer Reference Group for The National Blood Authority, Australia and a member of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood advisory committee.

Prof Gerard O'Reilly

Prof Gerard O’Reilly is a senior Emergency Physician and Head of Global Programs at the Alfred Emergency & Trauma Centre, Head of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the National Trauma Research Institute, and Associate Professor at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Adjunct A/Prof Paul Jennings

Adjunct A/Prof Paul Jennings is a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedic with Ambulance Victoria (AV) and is currently the Regional Improvement Lead for the Barwon South West Region. He holds an adjunct Associate Professor appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and the Department of Paramedicine, Monash University. Paul is currently a Clinical Advisor and Authorised Panel Member to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s Board of Paramedicine.

Dr Cristina Roman

Dr Cristina Roman is the Lead Pharmacist at The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre with over 10 years of clinical experience in emergency medicine. She manages a team of pharmacists that provide comprehensive clinical services to the Emergency and Trauma Centre across extended hours. Current services include daily Emergency Short Stay ward round involvement, Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting in collaboration with the medical officer, involvement in Stroke Callouts, Stroke Alerts, Sepsis Alerts, Trauma Callouts and Code STEMI.

Dr Elyssia Bourke

Elyssia is an Emergency Physician working at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Grampians Health in Ballarat. She is also the Director of Emergency Medical Research at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She is the current chair of the ACEM Clinical Trials Network and also sits on the executive of the PREDICT network and the Department of Critical Care at the University of Melbourne. Her particular research interest is in clinical trials to develop the evidence base for best management for common presentations in the ED setting.