Advanced Tropical, Travel and Expedition Medical Skills Course

Malaria is taught using a blended approach that combines classroom-based theoretical instruction with laboratory-based practical skills. Students first gain a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology and life cycle of Plasmodium species, with particular focus on P. falciparum due to its high morbidity and mortality in tropical regions. Classroom sessions cover the pathophysiology of malaria, its clinical presentation, and the global strategies for malaria control and elimination, including vector control measures, chemoprophylaxis, and community-based interventions. Case-based discussions are used to explore diagnostic challenges and management decisions, encouraging students to think critically about real-world scenarios in resource-limited environments. In the laboratory, students receive hands-on training in preparing, staining, and interpreting blood films for malaria diagnosis using both thick and thin smears, alongside the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Emphasis is placed on developing proficiency with these techniques under austere conditions, where access to advanced diagnostic equipment may be limited. The course also addresses the emergence of drug-resistant malaria, safe treatment protocols in different population groups such as pregnant women and children, and the importance of integrated public health strategies. By the end of this module, students are equipped not only to diagnose and manage malaria at the bedside but also to engage in broader community and public health efforts aimed at reducing the burden of this neglected tropical disease.

We use Giemsa stain as well as Field stain A and B. We discuss improvised methods for fixing and staining. We discuss conducting a complete blood count. 

In the classroom, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are taught through a combination of interactive lectures, case-based discussions, and laboratory demonstrations to ensure both theoretical understanding and practical application. Students examine the epidemiology, transmission cycles, and social determinants of diseases such as leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, chagas disease, and onchocerciasis, with an emphasis on their disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Teaching includes the identification of clinical signs through case studies and diagnostic images, alongside practical sessions that demonstrate low-cost diagnostic tools and strategies suitable for austere and resource-limited settings. Public health approaches, including mass drug administration, vector control, and community education, are integrated into the curriculum, encouraging students to link clinical care with population-level interventions. This comprehensive approach equips future practitioners to manage NTDs with both clinical competence and a strong understanding of their global health implications.

The College of Remote and Offshore Medicine incorporates PFC scenarios during this course. Delegates will be required to assess, manage and monitor their casualties for extended periods of time in resource-poor environments. understanding and practical application. Students examine the epidemiology, transmission cycles, and social determinants of diseases such as leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, chagas disease, and onchocerciasis, with an emphasis on their disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Teaching includes the identification of clinical signs through case studies and diagnostic images, alongside practical sessions that demonstrate low-cost diagnostic tools and strategies suitable for austere and resource-limited settings. Public health approaches, including mass drug administration, vector control, and community education, are integrated into the curriculum, encouraging students to link clinical care with population-level interventions. This comprehensive approach equips future practitioners to manage NTDs with both clinical competence and a strong understanding of their global health implications.

The AdvTTEMS course provides hands-on experience with live casualty scenarios, utilising our special effects makeup artists. You will need to have a set of clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty and red.

During the AdvTTEMS courses, we include opportunities for delegates to learn how to make medical equipment and practice improvised medicine. This can include improvised haematocrit, creating wound vacuums, and making casts from plaster of Paris.

We are adamant that we must provide best practice, evidence-based medicine, even whilst improvising.