1. Continuum of Global Surgical Education for Women’s Health
Adrian Balica, MD and Rebecca Barnett, MD
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ
PURPOSE
International education is critical to the development of advanced surgical techniques, including laparoscopic and minimally invasive procedures
The principal author has established a partnership with gynecologic surgeons from Romania to advance education in Romania
These advances in technologic methods are vital in the health care field
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
In many countries of the world, surgery is done through large incisions since laparoscopic equipment is not available
As medical centers across the globe obtain these types of surgical equipment, programs such as the one described will be critical to their implementation
It was obvious that the team of surgeons from the US and Brazil, who had a great deal of experience in using these advanced technologies were able to not only share important key points, but also answer subtleties that come with surgical experience.
METHODS
Our group was an international team of gynecologic surgeons from both of the US coasts and Brazil who traveled to Romania to provide education to health care teams there on minimally invasive gynecologic techniques
The team met at two sites: Timisoara and Arad
At each site the teams provided lectures, hand on training with simulators and mentorship to learners and attendings
Over 600 attendees benefited from the teaching and educational programs provided by this team
BACKGROUND
Minimally Invasive Surgery benefits patients and contributes substantially to health care savings
To do this most effectively, it is important that this knowledge be shared among the global medical community
One of the global health care missions of this educational program involved hands on teaching and training in Romania to surgeons and learners there as well as identifying problems and addressing research questions
RESULTS
At both sites, templates of surgical care were updated such that more advanced procedures would be available to female patients
Simulation also helped many of the surgeons at those sites review or learn proper surgical techniques to perform minimally invasive surgery
The team will continue to provide this type of education and support to Romanian physicians and the next medical trip will be in 2016
REFERENCES
Reznick RK, MacRae H. Teaching Surgical Skills — Changes in the Wind, N Engl J Med 2006; 355: December 21, 2006DOI: /NEJMra054785
Einarsson JI, Matteson KA, Schulkin J, Chavan NR, Sangi-Haghpeykar H. Minimally Invasive Hysterectomies—A Survey on Attitudes and Barriers among Practicing Gynecologists. J Min Invasive Gynecol 2010;17 (2):