Basic medical training: Experience report by Marina Tobler, head of the course and director of the school - her students benefit from years of alternative medical experience and determine their own pace of learning
Tell us about your professional career.
My name is Marina Tobler and, in addition to my role as Head of School, I am also responsible for Medical Basics at Biomedica Zurich. After basic training in Western medicine, I switched to alternative medicine. Through my work as head of school, lecturer and therapist, I am very aware of the needs of our students. My involvement in various TCM committees, TCM development and with regard to the professional profile of TCM therapists clearly show me what the naturopathy sector requires in the area of basic medical principles.
What are the goals of the training provider Biomedica Zurich?
The primary goal of the Biomedica Zurich Training Institute is to train high-level therapists. Through basic medical training, we make a major contribution to the well-being of society. We train people to become therapists so that they can get the best out of Western medicine and the Far Eastern art of healing.
Which courses can be attended at the Biomedica Training Institute Zurich?
Biomedica Zurich offers courses in medical basics (700h/600h/350h/150h) as well as all the courses required to become a naturopath with a federal diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture/Tuina and Chinese medicines). We are accredited for this by the OdA AM (certificate from the Organization of the World of Work - OdA - as a provider of vocational training for professionals in alternative medicine - AM), as well as by the OdA KT (certificate for complementary therapy) for the Tronc Commun area. Other major further training courses include Western Medicines, Psychosomatic Process Support and Medical Qi Gong.
Who are the Medical Basics courses aimed at?
The Medical Basics M1 comprise 700 attendance hours. They are part of every major degree program in alternative medicine:
- TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
- TEN (Traditional European Naturopathy)
- Homeopathy
- Ayurveda
For the complementary therapy area, also at HFP level (higher professional examination), we offer the Tronc Commun. This includes 150 hours of medical basics. The Tronc Commun is required for various therapeutic professions, such as craniosacral therapy, kinesiology, etc. At health insurance level, we continue to offer the variants of 150, 350 and 600 hours of medical basics. All adults with an apprenticeship completed at SEK II level in the form of EBA or EFZ or with a Matura are eligible.
What opportunities do graduates have after completing the Medical Basics?
If you want to work as a therapist with health insurance approval, you always need basic medical training appropriate to the method. This can take place before or parallel to your studies. Thanks to our flexible modular system, our highly qualified team of lecturers and our experience, students from other disciplines and training providers also attend the conventional medical part of the course at Biomedica Zurich.
What do participants learn in the field of medical basics at Biomedica Zurich?
The learning content of Medical Basics in Western Medicine (conventional medicine) is:
- Anatomy / Physiology
- Anatomy in vivo (living anatomy)
- General pathology
- Differentiated pathology
- First aid / hygiene / development
- Conventional medicine in practice
- Differential diagnosis (red flags - clinical alarm signs)
The training content Medical Basics reflects the resources of OdA AM, OdA KT, EMR and ASCA (OdA = Organization of the Working World, AM = Alternative Medicine, KT = Complementary Therapy, EMR = Empirical Medicine Register, ASCA = Swiss Foundation for Complementary Medicine).
How much does the Medical Basics course cost?
The pace of basic medical training can be freely arranged using our rolling modular system. We recommend taking around two years for the medical basics. Depending on how many courses are completed in parallel. The Medical Basics generally comprise 700 attendance hours and cost CHF 15,580 including the exam. The M1 examination at the OdA AM (OdA = Organization of the Working World, AM = Alternative Medicine) is charged by the OdA AM and is not included. Shorter courses, e.g. 150 or 350 attendance hours, take less time and cost correspondingly less.
What makes the Glattbrugg training location particularly interesting for your course participants?
The training provider Biomedica Zurich is located in Glattbrugg near Zurich Airport (3 minutes by streetcar from the building). Various highway exits are nearby. Parking is available in the paid hotel garage next to the building. Another special feature of the Biomedica Zurich are the rooms furnished according to Feng Shui. The rooms are spacious and color-coded to suit the subject matter and create an optimal learning environment for basic medical students. Comfortable couches, tables, chairs, a cafeteria and cozy sofas for retreat or exchange make the stay in the high rooms pleasant.
Why should students interested in medical basics choose Biomedica Zurich?
At Biomedica Zurich, we focus on people and their needs and support them during their basic medical training. To give our students the greatest possible freedom, we offer a high degree of flexibility with our rolling modular system. For this reason, we do not offer long-term binding contracts. The training can be organized according to individual pace. Students can accelerate their basic medical training by attending several courses at the same time, or slow it down by taking a break between two courses. The school management and secretariat are happy to help students. Our course participants can benefit from our 40 years of experience in alternative medical education. The qualified team of lecturers imparts sound basic medical knowledge that can be easily applied in everyday professional life.
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
