European urology under the African Sun An EUSP-sponsored clinical visit in Tenerife Dr. Saskia Morgenstern, FEBU University College London Hospitals Dept. of Urology London (UK)
s_c_m@gmx.net Winter 2015 I had the great opportunity to experience a “clinical visit” at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands in Tenerife as a scholar of the European Urology Scholarship Programme (EUSP), a project of the EAU which supports knowledge exchange among European urology departments. As a person who is on the one hand a urologist from her deepest conviction and on the other hand strongly interested in people from different backgrounds and cultures, the EUSP perfectly helped me to broaden my horizons in both aspects. The EUSP offers clinical and laboratory work programmes ranging from six weeks to one or two-year periods where urologists under the age of 40 can apply for the most preferred option that matches their career plans.
Practising my skills at the simulator European Urological Scholarship Programme Office
I chose a three-month clinical visit to deepen my education in Functional Urology, a urology specialty which is not usually offered in the urological department where I work. Besides widening my expertise in this particular area, I was also curious to see how familiar urological treatments were carried out in unfamiliar settings. I was invited to observe Prof. Castro Diaz, a world-leading expert in functional urology who had immense expertise in both clinical and surgical practice.
"...I assisted in many other urological procedures including cadaver and live kidney transplantations performed by exand implantation teams..." I attended all the activities of the Urological Department including daily clinical briefings, weekly multidisciplinary meetings, regular journal club sessions, out-patient clinic, daily operating theatre as well as kidney transplantation programme activities. Prof. Castro Diaz also scheduled a number of functional procedures during my stay, where I assisted in the implantation of different male and female sling systems and artificial sphincters, pelvic organ prolapse surgery, submucosal botox injections and sacral neuromodulation. I attended the activities of the Pelvic Floor Unit, which also included video-urodynamics, consultations and the after-care of patients who have had neuromodulation. Besides the functional urology activities, I assisted in many other urological procedures including cadaver and live kidney transplantations performed by ex- and implantation teams and exiting advanced multidisciplinary tumour surgery where plastic surgeons or gynaecologists also participated. In addition to this wide range of clinical activities, I participated in international meetings such as a two-day congress and neuro-urology workshop of the Sociedad Iberoamericana de Neurourología y Uro Giencología (SINUG) on mainland Spain. Furthermore, I deepened my skills with high-level laparoscopic simulator training at the neighbouring
Prof. D. Castro Díaz and me in front of the facilities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
island of Gran Canaria and took part in a publication regarding overactive bladder, which was published during my stay. Prof. Castro Diaz and his colleagues (in particular the outstanding urologist Dr. Barbara Padilla) introduced me to the Spanish lifestyle. Both are great hosts who quickly made me feel at home. I was invited to many dinners where I enjoyed the extraordinary Canarian food and the most spectacular wines I have ever tasted. We went out for traditional sport and music events in the evenings and we met nearly every week to play the traditional sport Padel. Finally, we had a sailing trip together where dolphins and even a whale followed our boat. Assisting in a surgical procedure
My stay was a fantastic experience and I returned to my home clinic professionally and personally enriched. And now I have another reason to look forward to every Annual EAU Congress as I can reunite with my former short-term colleague and newfound friends.
EUSP scholarship boosts laparoscopic skills Spanish resident benefits from comprehensive training in Heilbronn Dr. Antonio Tienza University Hospital son Espases Urology Service Palma de Mallorca (ES)
drtienza@gmail.com Last winter I participated in a fellowship sponsored by the European Urology Scholarship Programme (EUSP) at the SLK-Kliniken in Heilbronn, Germany. I spent three months in Heilbronn to improve my laparoscopic skills and participate in research.
As part of the fellowship, everyone should complete a laparoscopic programme which aims to improve the skills needed for urological surgery by using conventional material, 3D camera, 7-degrees of freedom instruments or Da Vinci System.
Prof. Dr. Jens Rassweiler is the medical director of the Department of Urology in SLK-Kliniken and leads the teaching of laparoscopic surgery to urologists from all over the world. I applied for the scholarship programme a year ago after reviewing the conditions and requirements which include prior publications and recommendations from senior urologists.
March/May 2016
Taking a break with Dr. A. Gözen and Dr. R. Rosini
I recommend applying for a EUSP fellowship. I am also thankful to Prof. Rassweiler and Dr. Gözen, Dr. Robles, Dr. Pascual and all the staff from Pamplona. With this experience, I successfully defended several months later my PhD work regarding functional outcome after surgical treatment. Certainly, opportunities such as scholarships will benefit and enrich the young careers of many urologists.
European Urological Scholarship Programme (EUSP)
The Department of Urology at Heilbronn has a strong focus on oncological pathology and is equipped with the latest technology. I had some experience in laparoscopic oncological surgery, but to train in a high-volume centre has given a boost to my career. Since in my hospital back home laparoscopic surgeries are performed almost all transperitoneally, in Heilbronn every case is done retroperitoneally, an approach that is considered “more urological.”
European Urological Scholarship Programme Office
With the scholarship I was also invited to attend to the 30th Annual EAU Congress in Madrid, one of the most important events of the year, where I could learn a lot from many experts in urology, stay up-to-date with the latest developments and participate in the E-BLUS exam.
Dr. Ali Gözen is the physician in charge of the fellows, patiently guiding all trainees in all basic procedures such as how to prepare the patient, the surgical site, how to put the trocars and create an appropriate space to work. All the work has to be done with precision and as efficient as possible. But despite that he provided useful commentary and some tips and tricks. We also collect all the data regarding the patient and surgery to create a database, which enables us to properly monitor the patient’s status and our work.
Do not forget to submit your online applications for Short Visit, Clinical Visit, Clinical and Lab Scholarship, and Visiting Professor Programme, before the next deadline of 1 September 2016! For more information and application, please contact the EUSP Office – eusp@uroweb.org or check our website http://www.uroweb.org/education/scholarship/ The front view of the SLK Kliniken in Heilbronn
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