Monash medical students get interactive with AXM

Pictured are Ms Fiona Foley (AXM Project Manager), Mr Marcus Leonard (IT developer) and Associate Professor Rob Selzer (Project Lead). They have developed an interactive learning system, unique to Monash, which is now available for the University’s third year medical students. The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (FMNHS) developed AXM (Augmented eXperience Modules) to help students rapidly update their knowledge on a range of medical and surgical conditions. AXM was funded and supported by the Faculty. The official launch was 6 Oct 2014. See links:

• Photo gallery 
• Youtube video
• AXM web page
• Media release

Australian-first report shines spotlight on trauma care

The inaugural Australian Trauma Registry Report was released on Saturday 4 October 2014, at the Australian Trauma Society Conference. The collective effort of the nation’s 27 designated trauma centres has been revealed in the first report of the Australian Trauma Registry. The report quantifies the actual extent of the nation’s collective response to the 20,000 critically injured individuals who required treatment in an Australian trauma centre between 2010 and 2012. Australian Trauma Quality Improvement Program (AusTQIP) Co-Chair, Professor Russell Gruen, said the report offers us some vital national data for the first time. Download full report.  Also see media release and follow the hashtag #AusTrauma on Twitter.

Participants sought: High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Memory Enhancement

Photo: MAPrc

The Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc) is currently seeking healthy right-handed volunteers aged between 18 to 60 years to take part in a study using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to improve memory and brain plasticity. tDCS is a safe, painless and non-invasive means of stimulating nerve cells in the brain. Participation will involve attending the MAPrc for three separate 2-3 hour testing sessions.

Participants sought: HealthMap and prevention of heart disease in HIV

Photo: Living Positive Victoria

You are invited to participate in a research study to help people with HIV be healthier, HealthMap. The program includes:

• access to interactive health records at home as well as other resources,
• access to phone and online health coaching,
• access to anonymous online chat groups.

The HealthMap program is being launched as a one year study.  It is a randomised trial, and the study doctors will be randomised. Doctors and their patients randomised to the 'intervention' arm will receive immediate access to the HealthMap program. Doctors and their patients randomised to the 'control' arm will receive access to the HealthMap program after one year. See more about HealthMap and the research study.

Contact Ms Karen Klassen Ph: 1800 004 284 or email: karen.klassen@monash.edu

Mental Health Week: educating Victorians

In 2014, Mental Health Week will run from Sunday 5th to Saturday 11th October. World Mental Health Day is marked every year on the same date: 10th of October.

Mental Health Week aims to activate, educate and engage Victorians about mental health through a week of interactive events across the state including an official launch, community festivals, art exhibitions, music, theatre and seminars.

Click here for a list of Mental Health Week events in Victoria.

The psychology of the footy fan

Source: abc.net.au

With the end of the football season behind us, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre's A/Prof Steve Allen has written an article in The Conversation about the psychological journey of footy fans. 

Click here to read the full article

Bill Gates mentors Monash medical students

Medical students Jarrel Seah, left, and Jennifer Tang get advice on their app from Bill Gates as part of their Imagine Cup prize. Photo and caption: Australian Financial Review

Earlier this year two Monash medical students, Mr Jarrel Seah and Ms Jennifer Tang, won the Microsoft Imagine Cup for the development of an app, 'Eyenaemia'. Now, as part of their prize, they met with Bill Gates, Microsoft's founder, for advice about how to progress further development and commercialisation of the app. Jarrel, a Central Clinical School student, is adding to his MBBS experience by doing a Bachelor of Medical Science in Honours. See the AFR article for more detail.