Pathology education and communications
Structured educational program for Australian and New Zealand Anatomical Pathologists to help prepare candidates for the RCPA molecular pathology somatic and germline module certification and the role of designated person.
Course offerings
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Introductory bioinformatics - group learning, 5 weeks
Case - based learning - 125 cases, 1 on 1 live tutorials, 25 weeks
Clinical governance — group learning, 5 weeks
Mock exam - 6 weeks, 36 cases. -
Advanced bioinformatics - group learning, 10 weeks
Case based learning -100 cases 1 on 1 live tutorials 20 weeks
Clinical governance - group learning, 5 weeks
Mock exam- 6 weeks , 18 cases
Available places:
10 somatic
3 germline
Dates:
Course dates: Feb 8 to Nov 19 2027
Enrolment closing date for 2027 course: Nov 27 2026
2027 Timetable
Somatic
8 Feb to 12 Mar 2027
Group bioinformatics training — basic introductory
15 Mar to 3 Sep 2027
Case-based teaching and mentorship
6 Sep to 8 Oct 2027
Clinical governance program
11 Oct to 19 Nov 2027
Mock exams
Germline
8 Feb to 16 April 2027
Group bioinformatics training — advanced (WES, WGS)
19 April to 3 Sep 2027
Case-based teaching and mentorship
6 Sep to 8 Oct 2027
Clinical governance program
11 Oct to 19 Nov 2027
Mock exams
What the course offers:
One on one mentorship by an experienced molecular pathologist (1 hour / week)
Case-based learning to interpret, contextualise, report and communicate somatic and germline variants in cancer -associated genes
Comprehensive coverage of most tumour types, genes, mutation types and targeted treatment options
Access to a case bank of over 2500 de-identified TSO500 DNA/RNA tumour - only and paired blood and tumour WES cases previously reported by Australian Translational Genome Centre.
Access to an extensive library of relevant literature, standards and regulatory documents
Comprehensive education in clinical governance accountabilities
15 written case - based discussions
5 incident reports for CAPAs
RCPA - styled mock examination practice
AI -generated performance feedback
What the course does not offer:
Guarantee of acceptance into RPCA molecular pathology training program
Guarantee of success in RCPA molecular pathology examination
Completion of all RCPA portfolio requirements
Live case reporting
Live incident investigation
Training supervision
Molecular tumour board attendances or participation
Participation in Quality Assurance Programs
Wet - laboratory experience
Dry - laboratory (bioinformatics experience)
AI educational tools
About us
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Previous positions
Executive Director Translational Pathology, Astrazeneca, Cambridge UK
Sr Director Pathology and Diagnostics, Genentech, S. San Francisco, USA
Vice President, Medical Innovation, Roche Diagnostics, USA
Chair of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Australia
Director of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Chief Examiner, Molecular Pathology, RCPA
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Australian Genomic Research Facility (AGRF) Clinical
GenomiQa
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Paul Waring - anatomical and molecular pathologist
Benhur Amanuel - anatomical and molecular pathologist
Jennifer Borowski - anatomical and molecular pathologist
Sowmya Sharma - anatomical pathologist
Mags Strasuss - anatomical pathologist
Paul Leo PhD – clinical bioinformatician
Nicola Waddel PhD – clinical bioinformatician
Prof Ken O’Byrne – medical oncologist
Candidate selection criteria
Where demand exceeds capacity, candidates are selected on merit, commitment, career ambition, geographic access, lack of other supervised training opportunities and the strategic needs of their employer.
Selection does not depend on whether the candidate's current laboratory has molecular scope and is not restricted by the candidate's place of employment.
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Special arrangements (for candidates who are unable to arrange on site supervision or wet or dry laboratory experience)
AMPS – may offer remote supervision for candidates who do not have a qualified or trained on site supervisor
AGFR Clinical – may offer on - site wet and dry laboratory experience and participation in their QAPs in their Melbourne or Brisbane laboratories for NGS and WES testing.
GenomiQa - may offer dry laboratory clinical bioinformatics experience and participation in their QAPs in their Brisbane laboratory for WGS testing.
Course fees:
Tuitions fees (paid to Pathmedia Pty Ltd): AUD 300.00 per session
(1 hr contact time and 0.5 hr preparation time). GST not included
Laboratory visits to AGRF and GenomiQA: to be negotiated with the host laboratory.
Invoices will forwarded in arrears on the last day of each month.
All fees must be paid by either the candidate employer or from their Continuing Medical Education (CME) Allowance. No candidates are expected to pay from their own pocket.
Conditions
All one on one teaching sessions will be automatically recorded, transcribed and de-identified to allow AI generated feedback and training of AI agents to generate new educational materials.
Candidates can with draw from the course at any time with one months notice.
Certification
A certificate of satisfactory completion of training will be issued by AMPS to candidates who participate in all training activities and pass the mock examination. The certificate does not carry any CME credits and does not certify the Fellow to practice molecular pathology unsupervised in Australia.
Disclaimer
The RCPA has sole discretion in accepting candidates and supervisors for training, assessment of the fulfillment of the portfolio requirements, assessment of supervisor’s evaluation of the candidate’s readiness to sit the exam and assessment of the candidate’s performance in the examination.
Contact Us
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