PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The three-part Professional Diploma of Medicinal Cannabis program explores the therapeutic properties and uses of cannabis, equipping medical practitioners with the comprehensive knowledge required to safely prescribe and treat patients with medicinal cannabis in Australia.

You will learn the medical applications of cannabinoids in general practice as a tool to improve patient outcomes and take a holistic approach to their care. In addition, you will access published studies, peer reviewed research and various learning resources that will help debunk the misinformation and preconceived ideas about CBD and its uses in mainstream medicine.

Exploring the new generation of medicine, the online program will enable you to stay ahead of the curve in managing common conditions in primary care, including pain, anxiety, insomnia, cancer, autoimmune disorders, IBS, autism, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory conditions, skin conditions and many more.

This evidence-based, science-backed program teaches how and why medicinal cannabis works, enabling you to confidently take control of patient care. At the completion of the program, you will understand the science behind medicinal cannabis, the relevant indications and contraindications so you can make recommendations to the appropriate patients, and how to make the Special Access Scheme-B (SAS-B) application on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) online portal.

GPs working in Australia (except for in Tasmania) may prescribe Medicinal Cannabis, however, as part of the guidelines of the TGA SAS-B, you will need to indicate that you have the knowledge necessary to do so. This program will equip you with the knowledge required to manage and prescribe Medicinal Cannabis for various conditions and can serve as part of your documentation showing that you have undertaken education in this field when you decide to become an authorised prescriber. More information here.

The Professional Diploma of Medicinal Cannabis program in the media: Hospital Health, Eminetra, Daily Telegraph, Pondering Pot, Cannabiz, Top Shelf, ABC Radio

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Understand the endocannabinoid system and the properties of THC and CBD, exploring the routes of administration, side effects and contraindications of medicinal cannabis and drawing upon real patient cases and common ailments seen in general practice, including chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and cancer.

  • Introduction to the endocannabinoid system
  • Exploring THC and CBD
  • Routes of administration, side effects and contraindications
  • Patient cases and basic ailments
  • History of cannabis and medical acceptance
  • Chronic pain and medical cannabis
  • Anxiety, insomnia and depression
  • Cancer symptomatic treatment

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Explore the role of medicinal cannabis in managing common conditions in primary care, including multiple sclerosis, tremors, pain, migraines, IBS, ASD, diabetes, hypertension, and glaucoma, as well as autoimmune, respiratory, skin and women’s health conditions.

  • Multiple sclerosis, spasticity, tremor, dystonia
  • Treatment resistant pain, neuropathic pain, cluster headaches and migraines
  • Autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions
  • Inflammatory bowel disease: Chrons Disease and ulcerative colitis
  • ASD: Autism, ADHD, OCD, Tourettes
  • Diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension
  • Women's health, endometriosis, PMT, osteoporosis
  • COPD, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, skin conditions

PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Achieve subspecialist knowledge in the applications of medicinal cannabis in primary care for conditions including epilepsy, PTSD and cancer symptoms, as well as an advanced understanding of its applications in geriatric and palliative medicine and its uses in mental health and patients with chronic diseases.

  • Geriatric and palliative medicine
  • Epilepsy: Adult and child
  • PTSD: Treatment in clinical practice
  • Advanced mental health
  • Cancer: A curative approach - where to beyond symptom relief
  • Treatment resistant patients and patients with high cannabinoid needs
  • Endocannabinoid support: Advanced techniques for maximising ECS efficiency
  • Complex chronic disease

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE REQUISITES

The courses are suitable for physicians and degree-qualified medical professionals.

  • No previous formal training is required for the Professional Certificate course.
  • Participants of the Advanced Certificate course must have successfully completed the Professional Certificate course or have equivalent qualifications.
  • In order to qualify for the Professional Diploma, participants must complete both certificate courses in sequential order.
  • Participants do not have to pass an IELTS test but, as the courses are delivered in English, proficiency in listening, reading and writing English is assumed.
  • Participants will require access to a computer/laptop, an internet connection and a basic level of technology proficiency to access and navigate the online learning portal.

PROGRAM CONTENTS

Professional Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis

  • Introduction to the endocannabinoid system
  • Exploring THC and CBD
  • Routes of administration, side effects and contraindications
  • Patient cases and basic ailments
  • History of cannabis and medical acceptance
  • Chronic pain and medical cannabis
  • Anxiety, insomnia and depression
  • Cancer symptomatic treatment

Advanced Certificate of Medicinal Cannabis

  • Multiple sclerosis, spasticity, tremor, dystonia
  • Treatment resistant pain, neuropathic pain, cluster headaches and migraines
  • Auto immune disorders and inflammatory conditions
  • Inflammatory bowel disease: Chrons Disease and ulcerative colitis
  • ASD: Autism, ADHD, OCD, Tourettes
  • Diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension
  • Women's health and endometriosis, PMT, osteoporosis
  • COPD, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, skin conditions

Professional Diploma of Medicinal Cannabis

  • Geriatric and palliative medicine
  • Epilepsy: Adult and child
  • PTSD: Treatment in clinical practice
  • Advanced mental health
  • Cancer: A curative approach - where to beyond symptom relief
  • Treatment resistant patients and patients with high cannabinoid needs
  • Endocannabinoid support: Advanced techniques for maximising ECS efficiency
  • Complex chronic disease

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Meet Your Instructors

Your instructors are noted specialists in Medicinal Cannabis.
Marco Falasca_circle-1

Prof Marco Falasca

Professor, Metabolism, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Australia

Professor Marco Falasca graduated in Pharmacy and then in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Camerino, Italy. His education further includes a Diploma of Specialisation in Applied Pharmacology at the University of Bari and a FORMEZ Research Award (PhD equivalent) at the Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Italy. After three years at the New York University Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology (Head Prof Joseph Schlessinger), Prof Falasca took up a position as Head of the Unit of Physiopathology of Cell Signalling within the Consorzio Mario Negri Sud in 1998.

In 2001 he moved to London where he was appointed as Principal Research Fellow, Senior Lecturer within the Department of Medicine at the University College London. In 2007 he was appointed as Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the Queen Mary University of London. He is currently Professor of Metabolism at Curtin University, Australia. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member for several international journals.

The focus of Prof Falasca’s research in the past 25 years has involved the investigation of signalling pathways regulating intracellular physiological and pathological processes. Prof Falasca’s current specific projects are dedicated to the investigation of the mechanisms involved in development and progression of pancreatic diseases.

Jonathon Arnold_circle

A/Prof Jonathon Arnold

Associate Professor Jonathon Arnold is a world leader in the science of cannabis and the cannabinoids. He is Deputy Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney, Australia. This is a cross faculty research initiative that specialises in the discovery and development of cannabis-based medicines. In 2018 he was one of four scientists selected to advise the World Health Organisation (WHO) on their historical review of cannabis and the cannabinoids.

A/Prof Arnold has over 20 years’ experience in cannabinoid pharmacology and has published extensively on the molecular, cellular, neurobiological and behavioural actions of the phytocannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since 2016 he and his team have conducted epilepsy research to improve the understanding of the anticonvulsant properties of the phytocannabinoids. He recently published a high-profile paper which shed new light on the mode of action of CBD in the treatment of childhood epilepsy (Altmetric 75). This paper received the Epilepsia Brain Science Prize honouring the most significant advance in knowledge in the field of epilepsy in 2019.

Vicki Kotsirilos_circle

A/Prof Vicki Kotsirilos

Expert Reviewer

AM, MBBS, FACNEM, FASLM, Awarded Honorary Fellowship of the RACGP
Adjunct Associate Professor, NICM Health Research Institute
Research Committee Member, NICM Health Research Institute

Associate Professor Vicki Kotsirilos AM is a respected general practitioner with over 30 years of clinical experience, integrating evidence-based holistic therapies such as acupuncture, nutritional and herbal medicine with mainstream healthcare.

A/Prof Kotsirilos keeps up to date with the research in these areas culminating in the development of the successful textbook A Guide to Evidence-Based Integrative and Complementary Medicine. She is also a regular writer for Medical Observer, publishing a monthly column on evidence-based Integrative Medicine and circulates research updates for Australian doctors.

A/Prof Kotsirilos holds adjunct associate professorial positions with NICM and La Trobe University's, Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, and formerly with Monash University. She was the founding Chair of the RACGP Integrative Medicine Working group, as well as the founder and Founding Past President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA).

A/Prof Kotsirilos served as an active board member on AIMA for 20 years, forging positive relations with government and peak medical bodies such as the AMA and RACGP. She has served on many state and federal government committees, such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Complementary Medicine Evaluation Committee (eight years) and as the GP member on the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (five years). In addition, A/Prof Kotsirilos served on the Victorian Council of the AMA and for several years worked closely with the Medical Panels, Victorian Workcover. She continues to work for regulatory federal government bodies such as AHPRA.

Orit Holtzman circle

Dr Orit Holtzman

Dr Orit Holtzman is a medical doctor with a special interest in functional medicine and medicinal cannabis. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from the University of Tel Aviv, a PhD in neuroscience from the University of NSW and an MBBS from the Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney.

After working in the public hospital system, Dr Holtzman has begun exploring wholistic health solutions and become passionate about utilising medicinal cannabis as a therapeutic agent. She began prescribing cannabis in 2019 under the mentorship of Dr Teresa Towpik, when she joined Compass Lifestyle Clinics. She now has more than 200 patients that have been approved for medicinal cannabis for various indications under her care, and is an authorised prescriber for multiple conditions. She also works as a medical educator, teaching doctors about medicinal cannabis and the endocannabinoid system.

She lives in the beautiful Blue Mountains in NSW with her husband and three children.

Joe Kosterich_circle

Dr Joe Kosterich

MBBS

Doctor, speaker, author, media presenter and health industry consultant, Dr Joe Kosterich wants you to be healthy and get the most out of life.

Dr Kosterich writes for numerous medical and mainstream publications and is a regular on radio and television. He is often called to give opinions in medico legal cases, is clinical editor of Medical Forum Magazine, adjunct professor (teaching) at UWA and a lecturer at Curtin Medical School.

Medical Advisor to Medicinal Cannabis company Little Green Pharma and Chairman of Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association, Dr Kosterich has self-published two books: Dr Joe’s DIY Health and 60 Minutes To Better Health, and maintains a website and blog with health information and commentary.

Previously he held senior positions in the Australian Medical Association and sat on numerous industry and government boards. He has extensive corporate experience in the setting up and management of medical centres and in helping businesses maintain a healthy workforce.

Through all this he continues to see patients as a GP each week.

John Teh_circle

Dr John Teh

MBBS, Cannabinoid Clinician, Clinical Educator

Medical Director, PlantMed

Dr John Teh is the Medical Director of Plantmed Medical Cannabis Clinic, Australia. He has been working within the Medicinal Cannabis industry since the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use in Australia in February 2016.

Dr Teh is actively involved in Cannabis Medicine education, training medical practitioners and allied health professionals in all areas of cannabinoid therapeutics. He is a medical advisor to various cannabis producers and suppliers within Australia, and consulted the Thailand government prior their introduction of their medicinal cannabis program in 2019.

Dr Teh has vast experience treating a variety of patients with Medical Cannabis and integrates nutrition and plant based medicines which support cannabinoid treatment in his practice. His wealth of knowledge makes him sought after in all areas of cannabis medicine and education.

Shiksha Gallow_circle

Dr Shiksha Gallow

Dr Shiksha Gallow is the Medical Director and CEO of Biodata which is part of the JSE listed Labat Healthcare. She has vast academic qualifications in both the medical sector, public health and strategic management. Dr Gallow is registered with the HPCSA in Clinical Pathology as a Medical Scientist. She is also a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the SACNASP. Additionally, Dr Gallow is registered as an Ethnomedicine Medical Practioner with EPASA as well as an Ayurvedic Practioner and is also a registered Dr with the ANHA.

She holds a Masters Degree in Medical Science (MMedSci), a Masters in Medicine in Public Health Medicine (MMedMPH), Masters in Business Admin (MBA), and a PHD. She is currently completing a second PHD in the health profession with cannabinoids and prostate cancer. Furthermore, she completed her Clinical Pathology medical board exam Cum Laude (the most distinguished in South Africa at the time). She has also completed a Medical Cannabis accredited course for doctors with the University of Washington Medical School.

Dr Gallow has obtained degrees from Durban University, University of Roehampton UK, Open University UK, Milton Keynes University UK, University of Washington Medical School, and UNISA, and her MBA was affiliated with Harvard University. To add to her educational profile, Dr Gallow is also a qualified trainer, assessor and moderator with SETA and ETDP SAQA, as well as a Prince 2 Practitioner registered with APMG. Dr Gallow has also recently published two academic books internationally one in the field of Medicine and the other in Business Science.

Dr Gallow’s successes started in Clinical Pathology as the Regional Manager of Ampath Drs Du Buisson & Partners. Here her role was to advise clinicians on pathology results, interpretation and further diagnostic tests. She was responsible for the quality management and accreditation of the Ampath laboratories. She was then the Chief Operations Officer at Clinical Lab Services which is a division of the Wits University. Here, she was involved in many reputable clinical trials, such as the HIV vaccine study (IAVI), FACTS study, PreP study, IMPAACT, as well as the H3 Africa Biorepository study to name a few. She has been involved with and received funding from the NIH, USAID, PEPFAR, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the clinical trial research projects.

Dr Gallow has vast experience in ensuring a facility obtains and retains accreditation and certification and complies with required accreditation quality standards and legislation. She has been involved in ISO 17025 and 15189 standards, British Qualogy GCLP, FHI DAIDS, OHS Health and Safety, and FDA inspections. At Biodata, she is involved in the clinical trials and registration of cannabinoid medicine. She is involved in the formulation of these medicines and holds the IP of a range of treatment protocols.

COURSE FEES AND PAYMENT OPTIONS

UPFRONT PAYMENT

Single course

$1,795

Two-Course Bundle*

$3,410

Three-Course Bundle*

$4,840

*Special rates for upfront registrations for multiple courses within the same pathway.
DEFERRED PAYMENT

Single course 

$640 x 3 

Two-Course Bundle

$605 x 6

Three-Course Bundle

$645 x 8 

 Defer your payments over several months.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE PAYMENT OPTIONS

GP REGISTRARS: Doctors in training who are on a pathway to General Practice Registration through a recognised training provider receive a HealthCert Scholarship and save $500 on face-to-face certificate courses (two-day practical workshops) and $300 on online and hybrid certificate courses (one-day practical workshop with supporting online theory). This offer cannot be used in conjunction with the Early Bird special.

COURSE DELIVERY and ASSESSMENT

Each of the three levels of this course consists of eight modules which are delivered online and can be viewed and replayed at any time. All courses include:

  • All presentation slides available for download.
  • Access to additional learning resources, reference materials and video lectures.
  • Readings with references to peer-reviewed journal articles to keep up-to-date with developments in the field.
  • Web-based support with the opportunity to ask the instructors questions while you implement your learning.

There is a three-month exam period for the Professional and Advanced Certificates. In order to pass the assessment and progress to the next course, you must complete the assessment within three months of the exam opening date. Exam extensions of up to six months are available on a case by case basis.

Online activities for the Professional and Advanced Certificates include a pre-course activity, responding to interactive case discussions, knowledge- and scenario-based questions, two interactive webinars, and a post-course activity.

Online activities for the Professional Diploma level include a pre-course activity, literature review, responding to interactive case discussions, knowledge- and scenario-based questions, two interactive webinars, and a post-course activity. A clinical audit is also a module of the Professional Diploma designed to demonstrate your application of learning in clinical presentations. The clinical audit is separately accredited.

Online assessment

In order to meet the requirements of professional and academic learning, the course assessment includes professional requirements and two online examinations.

  • Develop a report/explanation of how the learning from this course will help you with your professional development. - All certificate levels
  • Complete a literature review of three articles nominated by the course chair. - Professional Diploma only
  • Complete a clinical audit (separately accredited) to demonstrate application of learning. - Professional Diploma only
  • There is a knowledge-based examination and an application-based examination which are both equally weighted. The pass mark for online examinations is 80 per cent. It is therefore not possible to pass this course on knowledge alone; knowledge must be successfully applied to patient cases in order to pass the course. - All certificate levels
  • Explanation of how the learning from this course has helped you with your professional development. - All certificate levels

HealthCert recommends completion of all requirements at your convenience within three months of the exam opening date for Professional and Advanced Certificates and nine months of the course commencement date for the Professional Diploma.

CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION

Professional Diploma of Medicinal CannabisUpon successful completion of the exam, course participants will receive the respective Certificates of Medicinal Cannabis and below points.

RACGP and ACRRM points pending. 

 

This program:

  • Is reviewed by Griffith University in compliance with RACGP/ACRRM standards.
  • Provides CPD points from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
  • Provides PDP points from the Australian Council of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
  • Is recognised by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP).
  • Is recognised by the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (HKCFP). The HKCFP recognises all courses endorsed by the RACGP. Points are calculated differently.
  • Is a self-submitted activity in Dubai. The number of CPD points must be stated on the certificate. Please contact PLD@dhcr.gov.ae for more information.
  • Is a self-submitted activity in the UK. CPD events overseas, applicable to a doctor’s scope of practice, may be submitted for revalidation. Please confirm with your Responsible Officer.
  • Is a self-submitted activity in Canada through the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Category 1 points are reported as certified and Category 2 points are reported as non-certified. Contact mainprocredits@cfpc.ca for more information.
  • Meets World Federation of Medical Education standards.

EDUCATION PATHWAYS

This online three-part program consists of the Professional Certificate, Advanced Certificate, and Professional Diploma of Medical Cannabis.

 

Certified clinical attachments pathway

Course graduates may continue their professional development by completing a clinical attachment, which are available on request. These will be on a 1:1 basis providing the opportunity to observe clinical nutrition consultation, planning and decision-making and ask questions of the expert. Clinical attachments are available in Australia.

 

Postgraduate pathway for Medical Cannabis

This pathway is suitable for medical practitioners who are mainly interested in clinical academic study. Medical professionals who successfully complete the HealthCert Professional Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Professional Diploma of Women’s Health will be eligible to apply for recognition of prior learning

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