On June 5–6, 2021, in Boston, USA, an international training course for teachers of medical institutions – "Advanced teaching skills" was held on the development and implementation of innovative teaching methods for students of medical universities in the educational process. It was a large-scale project, an online training course that brought together hundreds of participants from 22 countries around the world and 30 US states.
From our university this course was attended by a member of the Association of Postgraduate Medical Education of Harvard University, Professor Evgeni Kolesnikov MD, PhD, an employee of the Department of General and Emergency Surgery (Head of the Department Professor V. Kryzhevsky). Completing the course earn 14.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Scientific and pedagogical relations of the Department of General and Emergency Surgery with Harvard University have been going on for 14 years. During this period, five clinical training courses were completed by professsor Evgeni Kolesnikov: "Postgraduate Course in General Surgery"; "Practical Approaches to the treatment of obesity"; Advances in Cancer management for the Surgeon; Breast Cancer: New Horizons, Current Controversies; "Advanced teaching Skills".
The knowledge gained during these courses, printed and video materials were constantly used and are currently used by the staff of the department in training interns, clinical residents, graduate students and doctors during thematic improvement programs at the department.
This innovative course was designed for medical educators who would like to explore methods of increasing student engagement in the subject learning process and keeping students interested in the topics discussed. The course presented a method of considering various clinical cases and situations using the “Listening – Questions – Answers” teaching method. This method has been demonstrated by professors at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Medical School. Participants learned how to write a memorable lecture, how to maintain an interactive morning shift report of doctors, assess clinical situations and give feedback, and work with real patient volunteers who provide immediate feedback on communication skills. Course participants had several breakout sessions to choose from, including: applying teaching principles during clinical rounds, interactive and quality teaching for fourth-year medical students, designing and creating interactive learning modules, exploring the keys to success in small
group learning, clear and good communication with the media, participation in an interdisciplinary laboratory for simulating clinical situations in trauma, development of a highly effective set of interactive methods for small groups, co-education of nurses and doctors on a specific medical institution: services for patients, examination design, patient as a participant in the discussion at the patient's bed. Each training exercise was demonstrated virtually, allowing the course participants to become familiar with these techniques and methods.
The goal of the organizers of the Advanced Teaching Skills course was to prepare educators from around the world so that, upon completion of the course, participants would be able to: develop a wider range of topics for discussion, both pathophysiological and clinical. diagnostic and treatment problems. create memorable lectures based on the use of a method of constructing a lecture with a single priority goal using effective visual effects, video materials and Internet resources. Use an active learning strategy to involve students in their own learning, increase their interest in the topic of the lecture, preparation of materials (presentations, reports, research). Use patient volunteers as "co-teachers" to improve the communication skills of doctors and students. Model the tactics of an interdisciplinary and highly effective consultation with other experienced doctors to solve a clinical problem in severe cases. Develop a collaborative training program for nurses and doctors to enhance communication and collaboration for the benefit of the patient. Communicate with patients with greater confidence, knowledge and skills.
Experienced teachers from Harvard University and its clinical sites were involved in the course: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital – Helen M. Shields, MD, Thomas DeLong MD, PhD, Jeffrey Drazen, MD and others.
The information obtained during the course will be used by the staff of the department in the teaching process.