This summer the American Association of Neurological Surgeons held its first regional clinical education program in three years. The sold-out “Innovations in Spinal Fixation: An Advanced Course” was held July 27-28, 2002, at the Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) in Memphis, Tenn., with 26 neurosurgeons from across the country in attendance.
Course Directors Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, Regis W. Haid, Jr., MD, and J. Patrick Johnson, MD, in conjunction with the AANS Education and Practice Management Department, developed an educational event that presented the viewpoints and techniques of world-renowned neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons who constituted the program faculty. As course planning commenced, three areas were identified as critical for implementing a successful clinical training program: faculty recruitment and program content; commercial support; and location.
The involvement of Dr. Shaffrey and Dr. Haid was critical to the success of the program, especially in recruitment of both neurosurgeons and orthopedists for the course’s faculty. “We were extremely gratified to see the international leaders in orthopedic deformity surgery teaching at an AANS hands-on cadaveric course,” said Dr. Haid. “Only by cooperation between our disciplines can we continue to advance the field of spine care.” He noted, “The AANS has continued to assume a leadership role in promoting joint educational ventures with our colleagues.”
The program combined didactic with hands-on teaching methodologies. Each of the three sessions-Thoracic Instrumentation, Lumbar/Sacral/Pelvic Instrumentation and Occipitocervical Instrumentation-began with lectures on program content and ended with time in the lab to implement what had been learned. Eight stations, consisting of three or four attendees and one or two faculty members, allowed for a high faculty-to-participant ratio, ensuring individualized instruction.
Dr. Shaffrey pointed to the faculty and to the structure of the course, which allowed the faculty to discuss and demonstrate techniques on cadavers and then supervise participants performing the techniques, as key factors in creating an effective learning environment. “The course was a success because it was set up as a one-on-one mentoring experience rather than a traditional meeting,” he said. “Time and flexibility were built into the course, enabling participants to address the surgical techniques needed to overcome specific problems in their practices. I feel every participant learned several ‘pearls’ that can be used immediately to improve their patient care.”
Additionally, as AANS analyzed re-entering the clinical education market, keeping registration fees low for the membership was identified as being of the utmost importance to achieving success. In the interest of course affordability, AANS partnered with Medtronic Sofamor Danek and DePuy Acromed, which provided equal educational grants in support of the program and exhibited on-site. Without this support, a clinical education program would be cost-prohibitive for both course organizers and attendees.
The final piece of the clinical education puzzle fell into place with the identification of the MERI location. A state-of-the-art facility, MERI offers a unique instructional opportunity, using fresh, unembalmed anatomical material and the latest medical technology to provide a realistic operating room environment. With a large meeting room and auditorium in addition to the teaching laboratories, MERI was an ideal location, supporting the course flawlessly.
Next Course Planned for Late January
Moving forward in the development of future clinical course offerings, AANS has extended its relationship with MERI to implement a “master series” of courses. The courses will take advantage of MERI’s state-of-the-art equipment, instrumentation and research, coupled with the most knowledgeable experts in the field, courtesy of AANS. The AANS-MERI partnership takes important strides toward ffulfilling AANS’ mission of advancing the specialty of neurological surgery to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public.
The first course offering under this new arrangement, “Advanced Endoscopic Surgical Procedures,” is scheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2003, at MERI. Details of this course and others, as well as registration information are available at https://www.aans.org.
Jane M. Ries, MHA, is the AANS director of education and practice management.