The specialist in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases must have gained theoretical, scientific and professional knowledge in the field of pathophysiology and clinical pathophysiology of diseases of the endocrine system, including neoplastic diseases. The areas of specific expertise are endocrine pathophysiology, functional and instrumental endocrine-metabolic semeiotics; clinical methodology and therapy in neuro-endocrinology, endocrinology, diabetology and andrology; the pathophysiology and clinical endocrine of human reproduction, growth, nutrition and motor activities; the pathophysiology and clinical metabolism of turnover with particular regard to obesity and carbohydrate, lipid and water-electrolyte metabolism.

Basic learning objectives: fundamental knowledge of anatomy-physiology, embryology of the endocrine and metabolic system, biochemistry of hormones and intermediate metabolism, genetics, the mechanisms that determine the development of endocrine, andrological and metabolic diseases and the pathogenesis of complications;

General training objectives: statistical approach and acquisition of the biological bases for learning laboratory methodology, clinical and endocrine therapy;

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE TYPE OF SCHOOL:

• the acquisition of fundamental theoretical and technical knowledge of the laboratory sectors applied to endocrinology, andrology and metabolic diseases, with particular regard to the clinical biochemistry aspects of hormonal assays and metabolites, cytohistology and diagnostic imaging; the evaluation of instrumental and functional examinations useful for the diagnosis of endocrine, andrological and metabolic pathology with the related organ and system complications.

• the acquisition of the fundamental theoretical and technical knowledge necessary for the epidemiological evaluation and for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the endocrine system (including endocrinology of childhood and puberty, neuroendocrine, endocrine and endocrine-dependent tumors, endocrine pathology of advanced age and endocrinology and pathophysiology of human reproduction), andrological diseases (including disorders of erectile function and sexuality, the prevention and treatment of couple infertility and techniques related to assisted fertilization) and metabolic diseases (including congenital dysmetabolic forms, childhood diabetes, prevention and treatment of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic pathology of bone and muscle);
• the acquisition of the theoretical knowledge and clinical practice necessary to prevent, recognize and treat the main pathologies that constitute endocrine and metabolic emergency conditions;
• the learning of knowledge relating to the possible applications to congenital endocrine diseases and acquired in clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic terms of the most recent biotechnological applications;
• the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical experience relating to the endocrine and metabolic aspects of childhood pathologies including congenital and neonatal dysendocrine and dysmetabolic forms of childhood and adolescence, the use of auxological parameters and suitable diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the evaluation of psychosocial aspects;
• the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical experience relating to the endocrine alterations responsible for male and female defects of reproductive activity including the infectious, dysendocrine, dysmetabolic aspects of couple infertility, the application of the related diagnostic techniques, multi-specialist treatments, including assisted fertilization and the psychosocial aspects of these conditions;
• the acquisition of knowledge relating to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tumor pathology of the endocrine glands and neuro-endocrine tumors and hormone-dependent tumors, including replacement therapies and those with hormone antagonists and the evaluation of the psychosocial and quality of life aspects of the cancer patient including gamete cryopreservation techniques in cancer patients;
• the learning of knowledge relating to the possible applications of congenital andrological diseases and acquired in clinical terms (preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic) of the most recent biotechnological acquisitions;
• the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical experience relating to congenital and acquired hormonal, vascular, neurological and psychogenic alterations of primary and secondary defects of erectile function and sexuality, including the application of the related diagnostic techniques and the various types of hormonal and pharmacological treatments useful for the sexual well-being of the couple;
• the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge related to the epidemiology, prevention, differential diagnostics, therapy, including education, of the different forms of obesity and thinness in various ages, including the interdisciplinary aspects of food and nutrition and the complications of eating disorders, to the psychosocial aspects of these patients; the learning of the knowledge relating to the possible applications in congenital metabolic diseases and acquired in clinical terms (preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic) of the most recent biotechnological acquisitions;
• the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge related to epidemiology and primary and secondary prevention, to the diagnosis and treatment of the various forms of diabetes mellitus including childhood diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy and to the diagnostic prevention and multidisciplinary treatment of risk factors for chronic complications of diabetes (ocular, nephrological, cardiovascular, etc.), including the psychosocial aspects of these patients;
• the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge relating to epidemiology, prevention, differential diagnostics and therapy of lipid metabolism pathology, risk factors and therapy of atherosclerosis and related diseases.
• knowledge of the main clinical pictures that characterize emergency conditions in the field of internal medicine, with particular regard to endocrine-metabolic evaluation.
• the skills for the evaluation of the evolution of knowledge in the field of Human Sciences and their implications with regard to medical-legal and social-health aspects.
• the acquisition of the main statistical, epidemiological, managerial and organisational models that characterise social and health activities.

The following are compulsory professionalizing activities for the achievement of the educational purposes of the Type:

• have personally followed no less than 120 patients in the inpatient ward, Day Hospital, Day Service or outpatient clinic, of which:
• no less than 50 patients with endocrinological, andrological and sexological pathologies
• no less than 50 patients with metabolic pathologies (diabetes mellitus, musculoskeletal metabolic pathologies, obesity, dyslipidemia, saline water balance disorders, etc.) personally taking care of the clinical, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic setting, the therapeutic phase and that of short and medium-term checks;
• have personally followed, including the phase of assessing the needs of execution, discussion and interpretation of the results
  • 50 clinical, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic examinations of the endocrine glands
  • 50 clinical, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic tests for diabetes mellitus and its complications and metabolic diseases
  • 50 clinical, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic tests for andrological and sexological pathologies.
• have carried out activities in the Inpatient Ward, Day Hospital, Day Service and Outpatient Clinic in the areas of Endocrinology for not less than (240 hours), Andrology for not less than (200 hours), Diabetology and Metabolism for not less than (200 hours). Other additional hours of activities will be provided, in order to acquire specific and advanced knowledge in the field of specialization in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, with particular reference to endocrine oncology, endocrine-metabolic emergencies, neuroendocrine diseases, growth and puberty disorders, pathophysiology of male and female reproduction and gonadal function including menopause, to rare endocrine-metabolic diseases.

Integrated training objectives (i.e. common trunk): the student must have acquired satisfactory theoretical knowledge and professional competence in the clinical and instrumental diagnosis and treatment, even in emergency-urgency conditions, of the most common internal pathologies. The student must acquire the fundamental knowledge of the pathophysiology of the various organs and systems, the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for the recognition of diseases affecting the different systems of the body, the theoretical and practical knowledge of the main sectors of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics related to the aforementioned diseases, the acquisition of the ability to evaluate internal and specialist connections and influences. He must therefore be able to recognize the symptoms and clinical-functional signs with which diseases of various organs and systems manifest themselves, having acquired the fundamental diagnostic, therapeutic, psychological and ethical knowledge necessary for a global vision of the patient. To this end, the ability to clinically frame the patient on the basis of the anamnesis and physical examination must mature; develop critical and analytical diagnostic skills; become familiar with the main diagnostic procedures and laboratory-instrumental investigations; recognise and be able to deal with major medical emergencies; familiarize themselves with therapeutic resources in order to plan their optimal use and recognize their indications and contraindications, as well as the effects of interaction and possible iatrogenic accidents; acquire the fundamental notions relating to clinical research methodologies and pharmacological trials; know the fundamental problems related to prevention, public health and social medicine. The resident must have acquired satisfactory theoretical knowledge and professional competence in the recognition and treatment, in emergency-urgency conditions, of the most common pathologies. Finally, the resident must also know, from a clinical and therapeutic point of view, the most common pathologies of competence of the other types of the class.

The student will be able to compete for the diploma after completing the professionalizing activities.

As part of the training course, the student will have to learn the scientific bases of the type of School in order to achieve full maturity and professional competence that includes an adequate ability to interpret scientific innovations and critical knowledge that allows him to consciously manage both assistance and his own updating; In this context, participation in meetings, congresses and the production of scientific publications and periods of attendance in qualified Italian and foreign institutions useful for his/her training may be envisaged.