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WORLD GASTROENTEROLOGY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2019
Editorial | Expert Point of View | WCOG 2019 | WDHD News | WGO & WGOF News | WGO Global Guidelines | Calendar of Events
more interactive approaches. Each
various session included also “oldfashioned”
30 minute lectures on a
specific topic. While some of them
were inspiring enough they did pale
in comparison with the buzz and involvement
associated with some other
teaching modalities employed during
the TTT. Academic skills teaching
was addressed in sessions focusing
on critical paper appraisal and trial
design, and a small group teaching on
abstract preparation. Regarding these
workshops, the most notable was the
small group breakout session where
all groups had assignments on various
clinical research setup challenges.
This was a convenient way to point
out how to spot confounding factors
and trial design specifics, which have
a major impact on the interpretation
of trial results. Another specific entity
was professionalism, credentialing
and formal assessment of trainees. We
learned later that some of these were
new additions to the TTT program
based on previous participant feedback.
We endorse this addition, while
the single topic of professionalism
would be best addressed in an interactive
setting. Multiple choice question
preparation and trainee program development
were useful and important
sessions, as well as the quick dip into
interpersonal skills. With the acquired
new skills, one of us has already
created her first vodcast, as well as applied
the Pendleton’s rules of feedback
with great success!
Overall, the course was extremely
well-organized, with well-functioning
schedules (for us Finns very important…)
and arrangements. The Romanian
hosts provided for welcoming
and lively evenings with traditional
music and dancing – lots of dancing!
Team building events were very
efficient and helped the entire group
to feel more united and to befriend
colleagues from all around the globe.
The atmosphere between faculty and
participants was warm and casual.
We warmly endorse participating
in the TTT program for all WGO
members, regardless of their background
or whether coming from low-
or high-income countries. We have
made friendships all over the world,
have learned new methods to improve
our own practice of teaching medical
students and specialist trainees as well
as increased our understanding of the
entire process involved in growing and
nurturing a new generation of professionals.