CLINIMAG 721 : Mammographic Practice

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An in-depth understanding of mammographic imaging of breast anatomy and pathology, and the principles of mammographic technology and image quality. Addresses the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to demonstrate competence in clinical mammographic practice.

Course Overview

Provides students with an advanced understanding of breast anatomy and pathology, breast cancer aetiology, radiologic appearances, and specialised knowledge and understanding of the underlying scientific principles of mammographic technology. Clinical application of these principles is addressed through integration of image formation, technical parameters, ionising radiation safety, and image optimisation. Students will apply critical thinking to their mammographic practice through skills development. Core requirements of patient centred mammographic practice to ensure early detection of breast cancer through high quality imaging will be emphasised.

The course is delivered fully online by distance via the University of Auckland’s learning management system ‘Canvas’. It incorporates a range of learning approaches including videos, webpages, links to the library databases and resources, and utilising online technologies to promote shared learning opportunities. Academic learning is expected to inform clinical practice and enhance levels of clinical competency.

This course is a compulsory course within the PGCertHSc (Mammography) programme and only students in this programme are eligible to apply. Students must be employed in a clinical training position in a New Zealand mammography department.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Course Director
Catherine Lyman
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: c.lyman@auckland.ac.nz 
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/catherine-lyman

Course Coordinator
Heidi Bowmast
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: heidi.bowmast@auckland.ac.nz
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/heidi-bowmast

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain breast and chest wall anatomy, signs and symptoms of breast pathology, and normal and abnormal mammographic appearances (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  2. Analyse and integrate the principles of mammographic technology and equipment, image optimisation, and ionising radiation safety (Capability 2 and 3)
  3. Integrate principles of professionalism, cultural safety and diversity in the practice of mammography (Capability 1, 7 and 8)
  4. Critically analyse and reflect on practice required to achieve a high standard of reproducible positioning skills, whilst incorporating effective compression and excellent communication skills (Capability 2, 4 and 6)
  5. Critically evaluate quality control measures for mammographic image quality, suggesting and justifying possible modifications (Capability 2, 3 and 5)
  6. Demonstrate clinical competence for mammographic practice and image critique, informed by research and clinical-based knowledge to make reasoned decisions (Capability 5, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Portfolio: Mammographic Technology and Quality Control 45% Individual Coursework
Online Discussion: Quality of practice 25% Individual Coursework
Assignment: Mammographic Practice 30% Individual Coursework
Clinical Practice Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Portfolio: Mammographic Technology and Quality Control
Online Discussion: Quality of practice
Assignment: Mammographic Practice
Clinical Practice

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and represents approximately 300 hours of study. 

For this course, you can expect 80 hours of reading and thinking about the content, 30 hours on-line learning tasks, and 190 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation

Delivery Mode

Online

The course will not include live online events.

Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.

This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Mercer, C., Hogg, P., & Kelly, J. (2022). Digital mammography: A holistic approach. (2nd ed.). Springer.

Lillé, S., Marshall, W., & Andolina, V. (2019). Mammographic Imaging: A Practical Guide. (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. 

Students will not be expected to purchase these textbooks as they can be accessed online via the Philson Library catalogue.

Students will be directed to a large selection of readings and other resources that will be able to be accessed online via Canvas and the Philson Library databases. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Postgraduate courses do not have a class representative; instead, they have programme/specialisation representatives who can take feedback to the Medical Imaging Board of Studies.

The students who responded to the course SET evaluation in 2024 found the weekly course content easy to follow and translated well to clinical practice, covering a wide range of topics with high standards. They liked the powerpoint slides for review, reading lists and resources, and found responses to questions to be helpful. They also valued the communication by the teaching staff. Key aspects to be considered from student feedback is to introduce the course and Canvas navigation in an early zoom session, and to review the order and timing of assignments.

Other Information

Communication
All official communication to a student will be sent to the student’s current University email address (username@aucklanduni.ac.nz) and the student is responsible for ensuring that any desired forwarding to other addresses is in place and operating correctly. Staff will not be responsible for any consequences if students fail to read and respond to University correspondence in a timely manner.

Students are encouraged to use the course ‘Discussion’ forum on Canvas as much as possible for communication with staff and other students. Email may be used for more private matters. Email communication to University staff and supervisors must be sent from the student’s University email address.

As a general rule, students are advised to log-on at least twice a week. Logging on regularly allows regular checking of 'Announcements' as well as reading and responding to messages from peers on 'Discussions'.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to reference your work. Please refer to the following website for further information about academic referencing: www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/

The Student Academic Conduct Statute (2021) provides further advice on how to avoid plagiarism. More information can be found in the ‘Medical Imaging Programme Information’ on Canvas.

The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including losing some or all of the marks for the assignment. Major offences can be sent to the University’s Discipline Committee, where further penalties can be imposed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Contact details for the Medical Imaging Postgraduate Student Representatives may be found in the 'Medical Imaging Postgraduate Programme Information' on Canvas.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Fitness to practise (FTP)
As health professional students, in addition to meeting the University of Auckland graduate profile capabilities, students in the Medical Imaging postgraduate programmes are required to demonstrate their fitness to practise. This applies to students at all times, whether they are on campus, on placement or elsewhere.

Fitness to practise (FTP) is concerned primarily with patient and public safety. It also is concerned with upholding professional standards, including the relevant professional code of conduct, and contributing to the maintenance of the reputation of the profession and public confidence in the profession.

For further information visit FMHS Fitness to Practise Policy (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/the-university/how-university-works/policy-and-administration/teaching-and-learning/fmhs-code-of-fitness-to-practise/fmhs-fitness-to-practise-policy.html) 

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.