Our Mission is to develop leaders, delivering high
quality education to health professionals

Postgraduate Diploma in Endocrinology

The Postgraduate Diploma in endocrinology from the University of Glamorgan is designed to be very practical and clinically focussed. The online course aims to help the student to become an important advocate in the delivery of care to people with endocrine-related problems. On completion of the diploma, students have:

  • a greater confidence and understanding of the management of patients with endocrine disorders through case studies and discussion.
  • improved critical analysis of published data and data interpretation.

Modules

The postgraduate diploma course is based on the Royal College of Physicians Specialty Training curriculum. The online course lasts one calendar year and is a part time distance learning course, with 6 modules per year, each of 6 weeks duration.

  • Module 1 - Disorders of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary
  • Module 2 - Disorders of the thyroid
  • Module 3 - Disorders of the adrenals
  • Module 4 - Disorders of parathyroids, calcium and bone
  • Module 5 - Reproductive endocrinology
  • Module 6 - Endocrine-related cancer

Teaching methods

Teaching begins with 2 days of introductory lectures. Students will attend these lectures in the UK (Glyntaff campus, Uni Glam ). This allows the students to meet with the tutors and their peers with whom they will become more familiar over the duration of the online course. Tutors introduce both the module content and the online learning environment to students.

For the continuing online course, candidates are split into groups of 10-15 students. Each group is supervised by a tutor who facilitates the group, monitors and assesses each student throughout the module. Students are assessed across the following components of the module:

  • Clinical case scenarios with case based discussion
  • Individual learning portfolio
  • Group/individual activity
  • Case based Examination

More about the modules:

Module 1 - Disorders of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Aims of the module:

  • To understand the physiological principles of the hypothalamic pituitary axes.
  • To understand the common disorders affecting the hypothalamus and pituitary.

    • Synopsis of module content:

    • Basic physiology of the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-end organ axes together with an understanding of the posterior pituitary.
    • Study of the various anterior and posterior pituitary hormones plus hypothalamic signals.
    • Hormonal signalling including intracrine, paracrine and endocrine effects together with second messenger effects.
    • Non-functional pituitary tumours - presentation, diagnosis, investigation and management including medical and surgical approaches. Surveillance of pituitary tumours.
    • Functional pituitary tumours - presentation, investigation and management including medical and surgical approaches
      • Acromegaly
      • Cushing's disease
      • Prolactinomas
      • TSHomas
      • Hypopituitarism
      • Congenital hypopituitarism and associated genetic disorders
      • Management including growth hormone replacement therapy
    • Endocrine investigations used in the assessment of these disorders including the oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, short synacthen test, water deprivation test and dexamethasone suppression testing.

    On completion of this module the student will be able to:

    1. To critically apply knowledge of the physiological principles involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary- end organ axis and patho-physiology to a range of endocrine disorders.
    2. Critically evaluate the presentation, diagnosis and management of patients presenting with disorders of the hypothalamus and pituitary.

    Module 2 - Disorders of the thyroid

    Aims of the module:

    To understand the physiology of the thyroid together with the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease.

    Synopsis of module content:

    • The physiology of the thyroid gland:
      • Basic control of hormonal secretion and the effects of thyroid hormones.
      • Thyroid function tests and interpretation.
      • Sick euthyroidism and non-thyroidal illness.
      • Thyroiditis including DeQuervain's thyroiditis.
    • Hypothyroidism:
      • Presentation, diagnosis and management.
      • Causes of hypothyroidism.
      • Principles of thyroid hormone replacement and merits of T4 and T3 replacement.
    • Hyperthyroidism:
      • Presentation, diagnosis and management.
      • Causes of thyrotoxicosis.
      • Graves' disease
      • Multinodular goitre and drugs.
      • Management of hyperthyroidism
      • Surgery, drugs and radio-iodine.
      • Preparation of the thyrotoxic patient for surgery.
    • Use of thionamides:
      • Side effects and management of thionamides.
      • Use of radio-iodine
      • Outcomes and contra-indications to its use.
      • Thyroidectomy, outcomes and potential risks of surgery.
      • Management of the patient presenting with a thyroid nodule.
      • Fine needle aspiration and classification of the aspirate.

    On completion of this module the student will be able to:

    1. Critically appraise disorders of the thyroid with reference to the underlying physiology.
    2. Demonstrate critical clinical decision-making skills relating to the diagnosis and management of patients with thyroid disorders.

    Module 3 - Disorders of the adrenals

    Aims of the module:

    An improved understanding of the physiology and patho-physiology of the adrenals.

    Synopsis of module content:

    • Adrenal medulla and cortex:
      • Physiology and pathophysiology
      • Hormonal secretion
      • Synthesis of the adrenal cortical hormones
      • Investigation of the adrenals
      • short synacthen testing
      • dexamethasone suppression testing
      • urinary catecholamine’s
      • plasma renin activity and aldosterone testing
      • Sensitivity/specificity of tests
    • Adrenal hypersecretion
      • Adrenal dependent Cushing's disease, diagnosis and management including medical and surgical
      • Hormonal secretion
      • Synthesis of the adrenal cortical hormones
      • Investigation of the adrenals
      • short synacthen testing
      • dexamethasone suppression testing
      • urinary catecholamine’s
      • plasma renin activity and aldosterone testing
      • Sensitivity/specificity of tests

    On completion of this module the student will be able to:

    1. Critically appraise disorders of the thyroid with reference to the underlying physiology.
    2. Demonstrate critical clinical decision-making skills relating to the diagnosis and management of patients with thyroid disorders.

    Module 4 - Disorders relating to the Parathyroids, Calcium and Bone

    Aims of the module:

    To link the understanding of physiology and patho-physiology with the clinical management of endocrine disorders of parathyroid, calcium and bone

    Synopsis of module content:

    • The parathyroid glands
      • anatomy
      • basic physiology and pathophysiology
    • Hypercalcaemia, investigation and management
    • Primary hyperparathyrodism
      • Presentation
      • Diagnosis
      • Management with reference to guidelines including when to refer for surgery and medical management
      • Calcium receptor mimetics
    • Secondary hyperparathyroidism
      • Vitamin D deficiency
      • Renal failure and replacement of vitamin D
    • Tertiary hyperparathyroidism
      • Investigation of bone mineralisation and interpretation of dual energy
      • absorptiometry – DEXA
    • Osteoporosis
      • Diagnosis and management
      • Drugs including mechanism of action and reference to guidance
      • Strontium Ranelate
      • SERMS
      • Vitamin D and Calcium
      • Bisphosphonates
      • Calcitonin

  • On completion of this module the student will be able to:

    1. Investigate disorders of calcium metabolism
    2. Critically apply knowledge and skills in the management of patients with disorders of calcium and parathyroid disorders
    3. Investigate and manage patients presenting with osteoporosis

    Module 5 - Reproductive Endocrinology

    Aims of the module:

    • To provide an overview of the physiology and pathophysiology of reproduction with reference to the endocrine system
    • To review the evidence base and apply strategies for the investigation, diagnosis and management of patients presenting with endocrine disorders of ovaries and testes
    • To provide an overview of the investigation, diagnosis and management of patients failing to conceive due to endocrinopathy

    Synopsis of module content:

    • Basic physiological principles of the ovaries and testes
      • Menstrual cycle
      • Semen formation
      • Sex Hormones and variations including SHBG, Testosterone, estradiols, 17OHP, androstenedione and DHEAS
    • Genetic disorders
      • Turner syndrome
      • Klinefelter syndrome
      • Kallmann syndrome
    • Polycystic ovarian Syndrome
      • Epidemiology
      • Investigations
      • Diagnostic criteria
      • Management of associated disorders – hirsutism, oligomennorrhoea and basic fertility treatments
      • Medical therapies including metformin, clomiphene, spironolactone. Oral contraceptives and HCG
    • Investigation of male and female infertility
    • Management of the endocrine aspects of male and female infertility
    • Referral criteria for fertility units
    • Female hypogonadism
      • Premature menopause/primary ovarian failure
      • Menopause
      • Treatments including Hormone replacement therapy and the OCP
      • Review of literature relating to HRT and safety
      • Treatments for associated flushing
      • Testosterone replacement in postmenopausal females
      • SERMs
    • Male hypogonadism
      • Primary and secondary hypogonadism
      • Investigations – free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone and total testosterone
    • testosterone
      • Causes including weight-related hypogonadism
      • Treatments
      • IM testosterone, testosterone implants, testosterone gels.
      • Emerging therapies – SARMs
      • Monitoring testosterone replacement
      • Treatment and investigation of erectile dysfunction
      • PDE-5 inhibitors, vacuum pumps and intracavernosal injections.

    On completion of this module the student will be able to:

    1. Demonstrate expertise in the recognition and management of the endocrine disorders of the gonads
    2. Critically apply the principles of investigating and managing endocrine related fertility issues

    Module 6 - Endocrine related Cancer

    Aims of the module:

    To gain an in-depth understanding of the presentation, investigation, diagnosis and management of endocrine-related cancers.

    Synopsis of module content:

    • Thyroid cancer including follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer
      • Epidemiology, understanding evidence based treatments
      • Principles of investigation and management.
      • Ablative radioiodine treatment
      • Surveillance of patients with thyroid cancer
      • Long term thyroid hormone replacement
    • Adrenal Cancer
      • Presentation, investigation and management
      • Adjunctive medical therapies
      • Basic principles of chemotherapies used in the treatment of adrenal cancer
    • Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs)
      • Classification of NETs
      • Investigation of NETs including chromogranin and somatostatin scintigraphy
      • Management of NETs; somatostatin analogues
      • Carcinoid syndrome – presentation, investigation and treatment.
      • NETs in genetic conditions such as MEN

    On completion of this module the student will be able to:

    1. Critically appraise the evidence relating to the management of patents with endocrine related cancers.
    2. Demonstrate expertise in the diagnosis and management of patients with endocrine related cancers
    3. Develop an improved approach to the investigation and management of patients with Neuroendocrine Tumours.

    More about the Teaching Methods:

    Online discussion and cases

    Each week the students are presented with two or three clinical cases which are designed to test knowledge of a specific clinical area. The student completes the questions and then discusses issues raised by the questions with the rest of their group and stimulated by their tutor.

    Group activity

    The group activity is designed to encourage group dynamics catering to the multi-disciplinary nature of diabetic care. This accounts for 20% of the module marks and is split into individual submission and contribution to group submission. The group is givena specific task to accomplish over the module e.g. Develop an appropriate screening method for your clinic. Or Develop a poster/patient information leaflet for endocrinology for your practice.

    Portfolio

    This accounts for 10% of assessment and is composed of a learning log designed to register the initial learning points the student may wish to obtain during the module and then to note these milestones as the module progresses. It is also a log of the incorporation of the activities of the student into their work.

    Case Based examination

    This accounts for 30% of the marks for the module and is composed of an exam of 30 questions. This assessment is undertaken at the end of each module and all questions are designed around the clinical aspects of the module and their discussion topics.