Objectives
Access to the profession of medical doctor requires a master’s degree in Medicine and Surgery, which qualifies one to practise as a physician, subject to obtaining a pass in the practical-evaluative internship, pursuant to Article 102 of Decree-Law no. 18 of 17 March 2020, and registration with the professional register of the Order of Physicians and Dentists.
The single-cycle master’s degree programme in Medicine and Surgery (Class of Degrees in Medicine and Surgery, LM-41, attached to Ministerial Decree no. 1649 of 19-12-2023) aims to train “expert doctors” equipped with the scientific foundations, theoretical and practical preparation, and professional skills necessary to practise as medical doctors, enabling them to carry out their work in positions of responsibility in various professional roles and fields.
Graduates of this class, taking into account international standards in medical education and the qualifying learning outcomes of the Class of Degrees in Medicine and Surgery, must be able to:
- provide high-quality, safe care, in collaboration with the patient and in accordance with the fundamental values of the profession, correctly applying medical knowledge, skills, and clinical competencies independently;
- make clinical decisions and carry out preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions within their scope of practice, aware of the limits of their competence, and able to collect, interpret, and critically evaluate information and data relating to the health and illness of individuals, also in relation to environmental factors;
- develop sound decision-making processes, considering individual variability, specific circumstances, and patient preferences, in relation to resource availability, based on best practices from evidence-based medicine and, where appropriate, precision medicine;
- use scientific evidence and innovative technologies in an informed and continuously updated manner, integrating them for the benefit of patients in complex processes of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment;
- implement up-to-date, ethical, and efficient clinical practice based on teamwork and collaboration with patients, their families, other healthcare professionals, and the community;
- design and carry out their own continuing professional development to remain aligned with the latest scientific research, critically evaluating its results;
- apply the highest standards of professionalism, fully adhering to ethical principles and the Code of Ethics, and being aware of the behaviours and attitudes required of a physician;
- understand global health and equity needs of communities and populations (Global Health, One Health, eHealth), mobilise necessary resources for change, and contribute to improving community health, ensuring equitable access to appropriate quality care.
To practise their profession with full awareness of their role, graduates must have acquired