PAD Pituitary and adrenal diseases

The Master in Pituitary and Adrenal Diseases prepares students to recognize pituitary and adrenal diseases, and plan the correct diagnostic procedure for the patient, through the use of complex and innovative diagnostic instruments.

The skills provided help students achieve a high level of specialization in pituitary and adrenal diseases, and allow them to perform complex diagnoses, and choose between the different therapeutic approaches available, to manage patients with pituitary and adrenal diseases. 

The Master in Pituitary and Adrenal Diseases is addressed to doctors specialized in Endocrinology, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Otosurgery, Internal Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Imaging, Oncology and Radiotherapy. A degree in Medicine or Surgery is required to access the Master.

The main career paths of this course are in clinics specialized in the treatment of pituitary and adrenal diseases, or in a speciality clinic in local healthcare units or as private practice.

The Master in Pituitary and Adrenal Diseases provides detailed knowledge on two macro-modules:

Module 1 – Physiopathology of the Pituitary Gland 

Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of pituitary diseases, Medical genetics applied to pituitary and adrenal diseases, Neuroradiology – Specialist radiology, Skeletal pathology – Secondary osteoporosis and fractures, Neurosurgery of sellar injuries, pituitary oncology, oncological approach to aggressive pituitary adenomas, pathological anatomy of pituitary injuries.

Module 2 – Physiopathology of the Adrenal Gland

General surgery – Endocrine surgery, adrenal failure – Diagnosis and treatment of cortisol deficiency, specialist radiology, adrenal physiopathology – Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of adrenal diseases, Pathological anatomy of adrenal injuries, Oncological approach to malignant adrenal masses.

The two macro-modules are divided into the two-year period, containing the different topics, with the purpose of providing a broad speciality training, with leading lecturers of proven experience and medical excellence. 

The course spans over two years, with in-person lessons in dual mode, 1-2 times a year, for about 2 hours, usually on Tuesday or Thursday, from 12.30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Further insight modules may be implemented through a monthly afternoon lesson, usually held on Monday, from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. Concerning the internship, it will be carried out in person in our endocrinology clinic/unit, based on a calendar shared with students, for 1-2 days per month, and lasting approximately 3-4 hours. The internship will be held on Monday morning, from 9.30 am, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2.30 p.m. (with a probably summer break from the internship, between July and September). During the internship at the clinic, there will be one student for each tutor, to ensure a 1:1 relationship between trainer and trainee. Lessons will be held on Zoom, and their video registrations will be available on the DIMED (Medicine Department) Moodle platform, which can be accessed after enrolling in the course, with the relevant credentials and the @unipd.it account.

The general ranking of merit for the academic year 2024/25 will be published on the Italian page of this Master according to the timing provided in the Call.