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1st SEA-UREP commences in Manila EUREP inspires new residents’ programme in Asia Dr. Samuel Vincent G. Yrastorza President, Philippine Urological Association (PUA) East Avenue Medical Center Quezon (PH) samuelyrastorza@ yahoo.com Back in 2017, Dr. Juvido Agatep Jr. and I were fortunate to take part in the European Urology Residents Education Programme (EUREP), which took place in Prague, thanks to Prof. Dr. Ali Serdar Gözen’s invitation.
Impressed with EUREP’s set up, we expressed our interest to send some of our Filipino residents to attend the next EUREP to Prof. Joan Palou, Chair of the European School of Urology (ESU). This request was immediately granted by Prof. Palou and the Board but only two slots were made available as EUREP is incredibly popular and in-demand. This started the quest to recreate this great programme in the Philippines, open it up to more Filipino and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) urology residents. A formal project proposal was then made and presented to Prof. Palou that called for an initial one-day programme modelled after EUREP, and to which the European School of Urology (ESU) Board subsequently approved.
On 27 November 2019, the first South East Asia Urology Residents Education Program (SEA-UREP) was successfully held at the F1 Hotel located in the bustling Bonifacio Global City in Manila. SEA-UREP was attended by 80 urology residents from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. The lecturers included EAU Secretary General Prof. Christopher Chapple, Prof. Gözen, Prof. Evangelos Liatsikos, Prof. Palou, and Prof. Manfred Wirth from the EAU side; and from the PUA side, Prof. Dennis Serrano and Dr. Michael Macalalag. The programme on basic laparoscopy skills was also complemented with the E-BLUS (European training in basic laparoscopic urological skills) examination and certification.
The number of participants have exceeded our expectations. The feedback from the participants was truly encouraging. They were grateful that this programme was brought within the reach of ASEAN urology residents. This motivates us to continue with our collaboration with the ESU and the EAU by offering the programme on a yearly basis. Rest assured, the coverage of the SEA-UREP lectures and long-term plans will expand, and involvement of more ASEAN lecturers will grow. Thank you to the ESU, the EAU and the Federation of ASEAN Urological Association (FAUA) for their strong support for the programme. I look forward to welcoming residents from within and beyond the Southeast Asian region to the second edition of SEA-UREP. See you all in Manila!
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PUA 2019 unveils the “Best of EAU” A pioneering urological endeavour in Southeast Asia By Dr. Samuel Vincent G. Yrastorza, FPUA Most Filipino urologists strive to attend the annual congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU) to meet the world-renowned faculty up close, listen to them, and learn from them. Despite best efforts, only 5 to 10 % of these Filipino urologists are able to do so because of the distance and costs. This rings true for the rest of Southeast Asia and likely, for most of Asia as a whole. If this continues, it would be increasingly difficult for urologists in the region to receive vital urology updates. And so the idea of bringing the EAU to the Philippines and Southeast Asia was actualized. The first “Best of EAU” in the Philippines finally became a reality. The programme was held from 27 to 30 November 2019 during the 62nd Annual Convention of the Philippine Urological Association (PUA 2019) at the new Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manila.
Led by EAU Secretary General Prof. Christopher Chapple, a total of nine speakers from the EAU delivered state-of-the-art lectures: Prof. Ali Serdar Gözen, Prof. Rainer Kuntz, Prof. Evangelos Liatsikos, Dr. Francisco Martins, ESU Chair Prof. Joan Palou, Prof. Jens Rassweiler, Prof. Kemal Sarica, Prof. Nikolaos Sofikitis, and Prof. Manfred Wirth. These experts, together with 50 regional speakers from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, make up the programme’s faculty.
streamed real-time. Dr. Guido Giusti performed ECIRS (Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery) from Italy, and Dr. Geert De Naeyer demonstrated robot-assisted partial nephrectomy from Belgium, in addition to the live surgeries done at the local government hospital, East Avenue Medical Center. The “Best of EAU” programme was indeed a truly successful collaboration between PUA and the EAU. From 2020 onwards, PUA’s annual convention will dedicate half a day to the “Best of EAU” sessions and every three years, the three to four-day “Best of EAU” programme will take place.
The attendance was beyond our expectations. A total of 580 delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam to as far as Bahrain, Switzerland and Ukraine I personally would like to thank the EAU, especially Prof. Chapple for his trust, confidence and support for participated. this pioneering endeavour which has brought the EAU The programme was extensive and highly informative closer to Southeast Asia. comprised of plenary sessions, masterclasses, I would also like to express my gratitude to Prof. workshops and live surgeries. The latter were
With esteemed EAU experts
Rassweiler, my mentor and adviser in the PUA-EAU collaboration. This close relation will continue to grow and strengthen. A special thanks goes to all the speakers who have dedicated their time, effort and expertise to make the programme possible. From mentors to partners and now, special friends whom the Philippines and the PUA hold dear.
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ESU course imparts PCa & BCa essentials in Uzbekistan Course addresses clinical challenges, offers region-tailored updates Dr. Bekhzod Ayubov Consulting Urologist Republic Specialized Center of Urology Tashkent, Uzbekistan
bekzod.ayubov@ gmail.com Since 2007, it had become our tradition to have esteemed experts from the European Association of Urology (EAU) share the latest urological news and innovations with colleagues from Uzbekistan through European School of Urology (ESU) courses every two years. Topics and themes of ESU courses are based on the urological needs of a country and/or region: From its current challenges in clinical practice, to treatment modalities and technologies that would benefit its patients the most. When we planned the ESU course “Prostate and bladder cancer; Insight into research and lecturing” which took place on 11 November of 2019 in Tashkent, we invited our honoured guest, ESU and Course Chair Prof. Joan Palou, to come to Uzbekistan earlier, to organise additional lectures together not only for urologists, but for students and young doctors of medical academies and institutions. Within the framework of the planned visit, he delivered 24
European Urology Today
wonderful lectures at the Tashkent Medical Academy (TMA) and at the TMA branch in Khorezm Medical Institute. This was organised in collaboration with the Scientific Society of Urology of Uzbekistan (NOUU). In the early morning of 06 November, Prof. Palou arrived in Tashkent and an hour later, presented his lecture "How to become good specialist” at the TMA. The students, undergraduates and young doctors posed their questions and received answers from Prof. Palou. More than 50 participants enjoyed his outstanding lecture and engaging teaching skills. Late in the evening on the same day, Prof. Palou was on flight to the Khorezm region to continue the education and share with his knowledge. On 7 November, we went to the Urgench branch of the medical academy after a quick sightseeing in the ancient city of Khiva. Prof. Palou shared his expert insights in his lectures based on the theme "The modern innovations in urology". The topic sparked great interest among the audience and encouraged a lot of questions from young specialists. More than 250 students, residents and young specialists of the Khorezm region participated. After the lectures, Director of the Urgench branch of the medical academy, Prof. Ruzibaev presented Prof. Palou with the recognition of Honorary Professor of the Urgench branch. On 8 November, Prof. Palou conducted a lecture at the Bukhara Medical Institution, which resulted to lively
Eager and enthusiastic faculty members and delegates
discussions and fruitful deliberations with young urologists of the region.
re-TUR in the treatment of bladder cancer; exploring multiparametric MRI as the standard in treating prostate cancer; biopsy of the prostate, and more.
On 11 November, the full-day ESU course for the urologists in Uzbekistan and in neighbouring countries commenced. Prof. Palou and Prof. Caroline Moore delivered six high-level lectures which comprised of interactive discussions of interesting patient cases.
More than 250 delegates-urologists from Tashkent, from various regions of Uzbekistan, and neighbouring countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan participated and enjoyed the ESU course.
The ESU course constituted of detailed and highlyinformative explanations of diagnostic and surgical procedures. The internationally-known speakers addressed numerous inquiries on varied topics of interest during the ESU course.
This event has proved once again the importance and necessity of having the ESU courses in Uzbekistan to improve the knowledge and skills of local urologists, who cannot travel to Europe and procure new scientific information.
Some of the topics covered included EAU Guideline recommendations on prostate and bladder cancer; tips and tricks in transurethral resection (TUR) and
On behalf of the NOUU, we express our appreciation to the EAU, the ESU, the renowned speakers at the ESU course and its organisers. January/February 2020
