Conditions for Participation

The Oxford Programme is suitable for physicians with post-graduate experience in any relevant clinical specialism. Interest in and enthusiasm for Sexual Medicine are the only essential qualifications; whilst previous experience in the clinical practice of Sexual Medicine is an advantage, the programme is also suitable for those starting out in this fascinating and rapidly developing area of medicine. Special skills in surgery or psychotherapy are not a requirement for participation.

Participants must enter the 2010 Oxford Programme at the two-week, residential “Oxford Course” in July 2010. This covers a wide range of Sexual Medicine topics and provides the essential background learning from which clinical experience can be developed.

A second, one-week course will be held in Malaga in November 2010, in conjunction with the ESSM Annual Scientific Congress, so that participants can attend both events. It is not possible to join the Programme mid-year, in Malaga.

All sessions during the programme will be conducted in the English language; participative learning techniques for skill development will be used, as well as didactic teaching. Working with simulated patients, there will be practical training in Sexual Medicine consultation techniques and history-taking, and in the basic use of sex therapy techniques in Sexual Medicine.

The academic programme will include:

• sexual development
• psychology and physiology of sexual desire, arousal and response impact of gender on sexuality
• ageing and sexuality
• sexual dysfunctions in men and women
• problematic sexual behaviour; gender identity disorders
• impact of medical treatments and other health problems on sexuality
• clinical management of sexual disorders; ethical and legal aspects of Sexual Medicine
• research methods related to Sexual Medicine
• the history of Sexual Medicine
• standards of care in Sexual Medicine

The course not only aims to add to your knowledge of Sexual Medicine but also to enable you to change your clinical practice with the acquisition of new skills to apply to providing services for patients and to have more confidence in assessing and helping men and women with common sexual concerns.

The two-week course is held at St Catherine’s College, a modern College offering high-quality accommodation for participants; it is within 10 minutes walk of Oxford city centre.

There will be an optional and very informal social programme run throughout the course. This is a friendly course and we hope that participants will make new friends, as well as learn about Sexual Medicine.

Because the number of participants is strictly limited to 28, there is plenty of opportunity to meet and talk informally with teaching faculty members; group members have the option of joining us for evenings together in Oxford after dinner at the College. Although two weeks may seem a long time to be away from home at a course, feedback from previous groups suggests that loneliness and boredom are not a problem. We are fortunate to be studying such an interesting subject!