Cooperative Learning in the Modern Era of PET/CT Imaging Education and Training: Philippine Experience TNB Pascual a, JFY Santiago b a Section of Nuclear Medicine, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines; Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine b PET Center, St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines

Aim/Background Identify and elaborate the different educational methods used for the promotion, learning and training of PET/CT Imaging in the modern era among nuclear medicine residents and physicians in the Philippine context. Discuss the participation of the different institutions and organizations in promoting PET/CT Imaging Education and Training in the country.

Methods and Materials Descriptive study consists the review and analysis of documents, interviews, surveys and brainstorming activities pertaining to the educational methodologies used for the promotion of PET/CT Education and Training Identification of strategies on how PET/CT Imaging Education is incorporated in the nuclear medicine residency training programs among different institutions and how each cooperates to achieve this goal.

Results Cooperative learning methods played a major role in learning the principles of PET/CT Imaging. Different local and international organizations collaborated in promoting PET/CT Imaging Education and

Discussion Since the introduction of the PET/CT Imaging Center of St. Lukes Medical Center last 2002, there has been collaborative efforts between different hospital institutions to incorporate PET/CT Imaging as a unit of instruction (i.e., rotations) in their Nuclear Medicine Residency Training Programs. Consortium provides the nuclear medicine residents with the opportunity to participate in cooperative learning activities together with PET/CT Imaging rotators from the host hospital.

Learning activities include interactive case discussions, peer-review of journals dedicated to PET/CT Imaging and case conferences coupled by post-rotation evaluation/feedback tools.

Several agencies played a role in promotion of PET/CT Imaging and Education in the country. – IAEA – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) – Asian Regional Cooperative Council on Nuclear Medicine (ARCCNM) – World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) – Other foreign funded grants on PET/CT Training has also been awarded to several nuclear medicine physicians

The Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine has emphasized the education and training of PET/CT Imaging applications will continue to evolve as dictated by the advances in this field to ensure a dynamic learning process for the residents and physicians

Conclusion The seven years of PET/CT facility existence in the Philippines have provided adequate cooperative learning and training between nuclear medicine residents and physicians in the principles of PET/CT imaging. Professional and government organizations have continued providing collaborative support, opportunities and training in this field which would make the awareness, education and training in PET/CT Imaging acceptable to international standards.

With the rapid development in PET/CT technology, more dynamic training and education opportunities are anticipated for the continued development, cooperative learning and awareness in PET/CT imaging.

Thank you Very Much

Call for Abstracts for Education and Training Issues September 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa