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Lomonte C, Ibeas J, Kitrou P, Giusto A, Baratto M, Bocchibianchi V, Brunori G, Pirozzi N, Ponikvar R, Forneris G, Malik J, Katsanos K, Snoeijs M, Tozzi M, Gallieni M, Gesualdo L. Nephrology Partnership for Advancing Technology in Healthcare (N-PATH) Erasmus+ project: The Renal Expert in Vascular Access (REVAC) module. J Vasc Access 2024:11297298241265163. [PMID: 39097789 DOI: 10.1177/11297298241265163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The Renal Expert in Vascular Access (REVAC) is one of the four modules of the Nephrology Partnership for Advancing Technology in Healthcare (N-PATH) project, the first European-wide advanced training course in diagnostics and interventional nephrology, funded by Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliance, a European Commission program. The N-PATH primary goal was to train 40 young European nephrologists in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to interventional nephrology. The REVAC module focused on the crucial aspects of vascular access (VA) care in nephrology practice, as a complementary training path to the actual residency program. The aim was to provide nephrology fellows with comprehensive knowledge and skills related to VA management. The methodology was based on face-to-face meetings and online learning, modern facilities, experienced tutors, cutting edge simulators, augmented reality tools by means of a multidisciplinary international faculty and hands-on-courses. A feedback survey reported the experience of fellows who attended the REVAC module, confirming the positive impact on their ongoing nephrology training. We are confident that this project will revitalize their nephrology careers and will help training the next generation of nephrologists; they will be able to manage VA needs with the help of multi-disciplinary teams to safely optimize the care of hemodialysis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Lomonte
- Nephrology Unit, Miulli General Hospital, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy
| | - Jose Ibeas
- Nephrology Department, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT-CERCA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Panagiotis Kitrou
- Interventional Radiology Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Antonio Giusto
- Renal, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DIMEPRE-J), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Nicola Pirozzi
- Nephrology Unit, Nuova ITOR, Altamedica Healthcare Centers, Roma, Italy
| | - Rafael Ponikvar
- Nephrology Department, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Jan Malik
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Maarten Snoeijs
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Matteo Tozzi
- Department of Vascular Surgery and Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gallieni
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Loreto Gesualdo
- Renal, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DIMEPRE-J), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Carriere JJ, Davies NA, Cunningham MR, Wallace MJ, Seeley A. Co-created in vivo pharmacology practical classes using the novel organism Lumbriculus variegatus. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2023; 11:e01158. [PMID: 38063050 PMCID: PMC10704400 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.1158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-creation within higher education emphasizes learner empowerment to promote collaboration between the students and staff, enabling students to become active participants in their learning process and the construction of resources with academic staff. Concurrently, a diminishing number of higher education institutions offer in vivo practical classes, resulting in an in vivo skills shortage. To address this, and to actively engage students in their own learning, we describe the co-creation of a student-led drug trial using Lumbriculus variegatus. Under blinded conditions, final-year undergraduate biomedical science students, under the tutelage of academic staff and fellow students, were involved in the co-creation of an in vivo practical class to determine the effects of histamine and histamine receptor inverse agonists mepyramine and loratadine. Throughout this process, undergraduate- and masters-level students played key roles in every aspect of practical delivery and data analysis. Herein, students demonstrated the test compounds, both in isolation and in combination, resulted in reduced stereotypical movements of L. variegatus (p < .05, n ≥ 6). 15% of students in the class responded to a feedback survey (n = 8) after the class. Students reported the class provided "real life" insights into in vivo research and enabled the development of hands-on skills which would be useful in applying in their future careers. All students reported that they enjoyed the class with 25% (n = 2) reporting concerns about animal use in research, enabling useful discussions about animals in research. Moreover, these student-led in vivo trials add to the pharmacological knowledge of L. variegatus promoting education-led research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julanta J. Carriere
- Swansea Worm Integrative Research Laboratory (SWIRL)Swansea University Medical School, Swansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Nia A. Davies
- Swansea Worm Integrative Research Laboratory (SWIRL)Swansea University Medical School, Swansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Margaret R. Cunningham
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical SciencesUniversity of StrathclydeGlasgowUK
| | - Melisa J. Wallace
- Swansea Worm Integrative Research Laboratory (SWIRL)Swansea University Medical School, Swansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Aidan Seeley
- Swansea Worm Integrative Research Laboratory (SWIRL)Swansea University Medical School, Swansea UniversitySwanseaUK
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Jain N, Jersovs K, Safina T, Pilmane M, Jansone-Ratinika N, Grike I, Petersons A. Medical education in Latvia: an overview of current practices and systems. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1250138. [PMID: 37809335 PMCID: PMC10551541 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1250138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Located in northern Europe, Latvia is one of the three Baltic States with a population of 1.9 million. The country has a rich history of medical education spanning a century and is becoming an emerging global hub for medical education. Although the surge in international students has been beneficial for the development of educational and research infrastructure, increasing demands from local students, along with institutional capacity constraints, have overburdened the available resources. Substantial investments are being made to adapt to the rapidly changing geopolitical and techno-biomedical landscape. This perspective paper presents an overview of the country's medical education system, its challenges, and prospects from pre-university to doctoral level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nityanand Jain
- Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
- Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Kirils Jersovs
- Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Taira Safina
- Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Mara Pilmane
- Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Ieva Grike
- Faculty of Residency, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Aigars Petersons
- Faculty of Medicine, Riga Stradinš University, Riga, Latvia
- Children's Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
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Nicholls-Mindlin J, Chelchowska A, Mellers L. A Response to "In vivo Simulation-Based Learning for Undergraduate Medical Students: Teaching and Assessment" [Letter]. ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE 2021; 12:1185-1186. [PMID: 34675745 PMCID: PMC8517245 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s338895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lucy Mellers
- Medical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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