Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the Diagnosic Imaging program. The Diagnostic Imaging course, a part of the PGF Distance Education program, provides veterinarians with the opportunity to extend their skills and knowledge in a variety of diagnostic imaging topics, with the flexibility of studying via coordinated external learning.

The majority of your study can be completed in your practice and at home, catering for the busy practitioner. This course is available to all veterinarians, regardless of their location, age or background, who have the desire to develop or refresh their knowledge in diagnostic imaging. In the past, veterinarians have chosen to study this course to challenge themselves, to gain important knowledge to help with preparations for membership exams to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, or to facilitate a high level of quality service to their clients. By completing this course, you can become a more confident and competent veterinarian.

Learning in this course comes from a number of sources. Each month, you will be expected to complete one module of course work. This will involve reading expertly prepared notes and references. This is supplemented with radiographs and other images. You will be expected to complete various exercises including case studies and assignments. Upon their return to the PGF, they will be assessed by your tutors and returned to you. This expert feedback provides you with a tremendously valuable learning experience.

Key Benefits:

At the completion of this course you can expect to have:

• Reviewed your entire radiographic set-up and made several technique charts for use in the practice.
• Received critical review of the radiographs that are taken during the course.
• Viewed over 1500 radiographic images depicting normal radiographic anatomy and radiographic pathology.
• Written over 90 reports on case studies.
• Completed at least 10 assignments.
• Provided 9 case studies using your own radiographs.

Methodology

• Course material will be posted to you reguarly, begininning in January. For your convenience, you will receive all course material on CD, ensuring that you do not have to 'log on' to access the material. The modules will contain most of the information required to complete the course. You may find it useful to consult the recommended reading list for any additional information required.
  
  
• The modules will contain notes and other material that you will work through. There will be regular assignments that you must complete online and others that you return to the PGF. Your tutors will assess these assignments and return them with valuable feedback. There are no traditional examinations or assessments for this subject.
  
  
• Some assignments are to be submitted via the mail, while others via our online course delivery system called WebCT. This is a user-friendly system that will give you access to course information as well as enabling you to communicate with the tutor and other course participants. You will be given an individual account once you register for this course and full assistance if you encounter any difficulties. Computer requirements for this subject are contained later in this document.
  
  
• It is anticipated that you will need to spend around 8-10 hours per week studying the course material. You must be able to dedicate this amount of time to get the most out of the program.
  
  
• There will be three live workshops held during the year at a location most suitable to all course participants. They will give you the opportunity to meet the tutors and other course participants and also to raise any questions that you have about the course content. These workshops are a valuable element of the course, however they are not compulsory.
  
  
• On completion of all ten modules, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Post Graduate Foundation that recognises your achievement.
  
  
• As a Member of the PGF you can access the key animal health databases, CAB Abstracts and MEDLINE, that may assist you throughout the year. Access is through the Post Graduate Foundation website.
  You will need to apply for a username and password to access the restricted pages of the website, and then you will need to contact Rhondda Hollis for the database password.

Timetable for Modules

All course material will be posted in December and, for your convenience, will also be available online. You will also receive course material on CD.

Remember, 30 November is the last day for the PGF to receive Distance Education material.

Radiographic Assignments

A radiographic assignment will be requested with each module. During the year you will be expected to submit each of the following radiographic studies to your tutors for evaluation. This list should help you to anticipate the need to accumulate and file these studies until they are required for submission during the program.

Module 1:
Radiographs used to create exposure chart exercises in module 1.

Module 2:
Comparative DV and VD thoracic radiographs of a dog. Comparative inspiratory and expiratory radiographs of a dog's thorax.

Module 3:
Righ and left recumbent and dorsoventral and ventrodorsal lateral thoracic radiographs of a dog. Radiographic study of an animal with pulmonary pathology.

Module 4:
A completed barium study of a normal feline oesophagus. A radiographic study of an animal with an oesophageal abnormality.

Module 5:
A complete gastrointestinal contrast study of an animal suspected of having a gastrointestinal problem. A radiographic case study of an animal with an interesting GIT problem.

Module 6:
A radiographic study of an interesting example of abdominal pathology.

Module 7:
A retrograde contrast study of the urethra and bladder of a dog or cat. A radiographic study of an interesting example of urinary tract disease in either a dog or cat.

Module 8:
A radiographic study of a dog's pelvis intended for submission for HD evaluation. A radiographic study of disturbed bone healing.

Module 9:
A series of skull radiographs to completely evaluate the nasal passages and sinuses. A radiographic study of an interesting case of a juvenile bone disease.

Module 10:
A complete radiographic study of a dog's elbow. A radiographic study of an interesting case of a joint disease. Review exercises: These are included as written exercises that are aimed to encourage you to conceptualise radiographic problems and solutions.

Quizzes:
At the completion of each module you will be expected to complete and submit a quiz covering the material included in the module.

Module Content

Reading List

Recommended Texts

1. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology
D E Thrall
W B Saunders Co. Philadelphia, 4th Edition, 2002

2. Manual of Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging
Robin Lee
British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2nd Edition 1995

Additional Reading - good for the bookshelf

1. An Atlas of Interpretive Radiographic Anatomy of the Dog and Cat
A Coulson and N Lewis
Blackwell Science, UK, 2002

2. Atlas of Radiographic Anatomy of the Dog and Cat
H Schebitz and H Wilkens
Pub. Paul Parey Scientific Publishers, Berlin and Hamburg.

3. Textbook of Diagnostic Ultrasound
Ed. TG Nyland and JS Mattoon
Pub. WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia, 1995

4. Radiography Issue
Ed. BJ Watrous, Veterinary Clinics of North America, March 2000 (Vol. 30, Number 2)
Pub. WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia, 2000

Technical requirements for online study WebCT is a software program developed in Canada which provides a platform and a set of web course teaching tools for online learning. As an introduction to the online learning environment The Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science is using this platform to give you access to your course online. This medium will allow you to access your course and participate in online discussions with other participants and your tutor via a computer, a modem and a web browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.

To optimise your use of WebCT for online learning we recommend the following specifications: http://www.pgf.edu.au/disted/index.cfm#technical

• Read your Online Course Requirements?
  
  
• Read the General Information page?
  
  
• Read the How Much Does it Cost page?
  
  
• Become a Member of the Post Graduate Foundation?