Teaching Period:3rd Semester
Course Type: Diploma Thesis
Credits:10 ECTS

• Content

Each student prepares in the 3rd semester a postgraduate diploma thesis that is clearly of a research nature, on a topic related to one of the courses of the Program, which he defends publicly before a three-member examination committee (1 supervisor and 2 members) appointed by the Assembly of the Department of Medicine, following a relevant recommendation by the Director of the Postgraduate Program. The members of the Three-Member Examination Committee must have the same or a related scientific specialty as the subject of the Postgraduate Program.

The presentation of the Postgraduate Diploma Thesis is publicly defended, before the Three-Member Examination Committee, on a date and place determined by the Postgraduate Program Executive Committee, upon recommendation of the Postgraduate Program Director.
For the successful completion of the postgraduate student's obligations leading to the receipt of the Postgraduate Diploma, he/she must have received a passing grade in 15 (fifteen) courses and in his/her thesis.
The thesis must include a set of activities, which extend to all phases of the preparation and which can guarantee a successful outcome in every respect. The results of these activities are summarized in the text of the thesis which may include:
1. Description and analysis of the topic of the thesis, in a way that allows the reader to understand the subject of the thesis, the working assumptions and the dimensions of the solution space.
2. Analysis of the current situation in the related scientific subjects, presenting the basic concepts and requirements of the problem, the research or other results on which the work is based, and the objectives of the thesis in relation to international best practice.
3. Description of the assumptions and methodology for implementing the work.
4. Final conclusions of the thesis.
5. Analysis of the bibliography where all the books or articles that
used in the text or in footnotes or other supplementary
bibliography, sources, etc.
6.Appendices containing all the tools used.

• Learning outcomes

The Diploma Thesis constitutes an independent scientific and systematic approach to the analysis of a topic and the synthesis of a solution, while it is based on existing bibliography and/or research. The Diploma Thesis has a research, study, development or applied research nature and is prepared by each student individually.
With the guidance of the supervising faculty member, students are provided with the opportunity to gain significant experiences from the comprehensive study and in-depth investigation of a distinct topic of specialization and are invited to develop critical and combinatorial thinking, organization and analysis skills, applying a rigorous, systematic and scientific approach.
The purpose of the MDE is to complete the students' knowledge and develop their skills in benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum. It is the culmination of each student's effort and the final stage in the creation of a Surgeon and scientist and his integration into the labor market and society in general.
After successful completion of the Thesis, the student will be able to:
At the Knowledge level:
• To clearly recognize the boundaries of a problem to be solved and to fully recognize its basic and secondary aspects, focusing on the most essential points for its solution.
• Describe and document the basic knowledge related to the topic of the research being conducted
• To summarize existing scientific knowledge and expertise on the topic
At the Skills level:
• To use the available literature for a specific thematic area with a critical and synthetic spirit.
• To design a research plan and develop an appropriate methodology for approaching and investigating a topic under study and to organize a plan for its implementation
• To design, simulate and/or manufacture prototype hardware/software for the selected solution
• Write a complete scientific/technical essay
• Communicate clearly and effectively his/her conclusions, as well as the knowledge and reasoning on which they are based, by successfully making a comprehensive presentation via ICT before the three-member examination committee
At the level of Skills:
• Combine knowledge and utilize expertise to solve complex problems
• To select the appropriate techniques/approaches and adapt them to the problem being solved using original thinking
• To evaluate the proposed approach/solution, placing it in a comparative framework with similar ones in the Greek and international bibliography and to comment on its relative advantages and disadvantages, documenting his/her opinions and choices.
• Analyze results and draw conclusions

Teaching Period:3rd Semester
Course Type: Mandatory
Credits:10 ECTS

• Course content

The activities of the 3rd semester of the Master's Degree also include a two-day educational program-practical internship, in collaboration with the following centers-organizations based in Athens:
1. The non-profit organization NoDE Institute.
2. The ELPEN research-educational-experimental center in Pikermi, Attica.
The training is carried out on animal models (piglets) or fresh human cadaveric preparations and includes the performance of laparoscopic colon/rectum surgeries by the trainees under the supervision and guidance of experienced trainers, teachers in the Program.

Its duration is 2 days and the internship is divided as follows:
The first day includes practical training in Special Simulators. Students are divided into groups of 5 and 6 people and each group goes through the following training stations during the day:        

• Pelvic trainers: transanal techniques
• Laparoscopic right colectomy simulation
• Simulation of laparoscopic left colectomy

The skills achieved by students are:
o Basic Laparoscopic Skills
o Sense of depth of field
o Vision-motion synchronization
o Right-left hand cooperation
o Use of basic laparoscopic tools
o Two-dimensional perception of three-dimensional space
o Advanced Laparoscopic Skills
o Complex basic skills exercises
o Accuracy
o Economy of movements
o Laparoscopic suturing

The second day includes performing laparoscopic colectomies (right and left colectomy), laparoscopic enterectomy, low anterior resection and laparoscopic anastomosis in animal models (piglets) or - preferably - in human cadaveric models by the trainees under the guidance of experienced trainers.

• Learning outcomes

The purpose of the educational program and internship is the coordinated learning of the aforementioned techniques by the participating students of the Postgraduate Program, so that they are able to reproduce these procedures on patients under real conditions.
Upon successful completion of the internship, students will have been trained to perform the following procedures:
1. right colectomy
2. left colectomy
3. low anterior rectal resection
4. enterectomy
5. laparoscopic anastomosis
6. transanal techniques

Teaching Period:3rd Semester
Course Type: Mandatory
Credits:10 ECTS

• Course content

The course includes the implementation of real-time surgical procedures in cases involving both benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum. The surgical cases are related to the content of the MSc courses and concern both benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum. The specific surgeries are performed by the Director of the program, Professor of Surgery, and a team of specialized surgeons. Sometimes they are performed in person with small groups of students in the operating room or, when required by health conditions, they are broadcast online, with the simultaneous possibility of interaction and explanation of the progress of the surgery by the Professor, as well as the possibility of asking any questions about its course by the students.

• Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to perform surgical procedures involving both benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum. Students will acquire a strong scientific background, experience and expertise in contemporary issues in the treatment of these diseases.