Train the Trainers - Reports

The best proof of the importance of the messages delivered during "Train the Trainers" workshops is that I immediately started to use these modules to teach them in my University, sometimes to teachers with much more experience than me! I therefore do recommend any "trainer" to follow such a course and hope that WGO/OMED will continue to organize these meetings in the future.

Pierre Deprez, Belgium

I congratulate you for running such a successful and very educational program. Not only was the course material outstanding, all the invited educators are distinguished experts from many parts of the world and they have shared their experiences with us in a very cordial and friendly manner. Besides, I also noticed many of the participants are very well known endoscopists in their own country and I can see some future leaders among us. I have thoroughly enjoyed the three days' "seclusion" which looked like hard work, but was full of fun.

During the three days workshop, I have learned about the many ways of using endo-trainers and models for training endoscopists. I have found the method of teaching endoscopic procedure breaking it into well defined units very useful. The concept of positive critiquing was novel to me but now I find it key to encourage and support adult learners. The sessions on Evidence Based Medicine, the Cochrane Collaboration, the use of audio/visual tools, were all very useful to both clinicians and researchers, so was also the technique of critical appraisal of medical publications. The break-out sessions were very challenging and full of fun.

Jim, once again you did it, in a very grand and thoughtful way. Thank you.

David Taw, Hong Kong Sar, China

This course had a tremendous impact on myself and will definitly be a landmark in my professional life. The talks the faculty members gave us were very informative and will definitly change our way of thinking in many aspects. It was also a great chance for making friends from all over the world and the team spirit created in Crete will definitly last among all those who attended; faculty members as well as trainees. As a matter of fact, the course was so good that I felt sorry for my colleagues who did not have the opportunity to attend it. This was actually the driving force behind my initiative to host a satellite TTT-course in Egypt. I am very much impressed by the willingness of Jim Toouli and Eamonn Quigley and all the faculty members to help us in this task.

Abdel Meguid Kassem, Egypt

I had the great opportunity to attend this years TTT in Crete, and I have to admit that this was the best meeting I've ever attended so far. The faculty was excellent, the program was outstanding, and most important: I really had this very exciting feeling that there appears to be somewhat of an international scientific community.

The only disappointing feeling after having reflected the last months after coming home is that it can be very hard to integrate all these new experiences and ideas into daily work.

Alexander Meining, Germany

Personally, my expectations toward the Workshop included improving my skills as a teacher, particularly in the field of adult education, procedural teaching skills and interpersonal skills. The Workshop provided THE answer for me. All modules were well-thought-out, each of them being a comprehensive review of the topic selected. In addition to that, the Workshop gave a whole lot more. In the so-called "Breakout Sessions", we were divided up in smaller groups in order to develop a common position based upon compromise, a joint point of view on certain topics, .... It was amazing to observe the diversity among us. The international faculty did an excellent job, and even though it meant massive work for three days, the atmosphere was relaxed. I look forward to prepare more consciously for presentations, teaching or publishing. Apart from what we were taught we got a brilliant opportunity ..... When arriving, we were just a group of doctors coming from all over the world, but when we left, many of us were - and I hope remain - friends. Thank you for that.

Peter L. Lakatos, Hungary

I learned to think positively with regard to myself and the others(to do better),to be familiar more with EBM, to be honest in publishing, and to keep attention and clear termination in my presentations and dialogues.

Sepideh Haghazali,Iran

I believe that WGO - OMED objectives were successfully achieved. As it was written in Dr. Touli's handouts, we can state that the Train the Trainers Workshop was aligned with the Chinese proverb which says: "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I learn. Involve me and I remember."

The aim of the course was to introduce the participants to the concept of constructive critique and explore the most modern techniques of adult education and training. Interesting topics, involving teaching methodology, rapid pacing of the sessions always with adequate time left for discussion, critique and feedback by the attendees, great competence of the Faculty members who masterfully coordinated the different modules, were all the mixed ingredients that contributed to the success of the workshop.

I am sure to share the feeling of many if not all the partecipants in saying the this was an extraordinary human and professional experience. A broad vision of multinational friendship and cooperation as the framework for professional development was the key message.

I would strongly recommend participating to such a meeting to all those who work in the field of gastroenterology and GI surgery.

"Involve me and I learn" - the ultimate faith !

Gianluca Rotandano, Italy

The Train the Trainers Workshop....was an extraordinarily good experience for me. There were 40 trainees from 29 different countries. I believe that the purpose of this workshop was fully achieved at the advanced level.

Seigo Kitano, Japan

It is a 3 days family gathering , teaching each other of how to present a talk, write an article or to criticize and evaluate any knowledge coming between your hands.

You cannot (except you) <but> love all who manage that charming meeting.

Saleem Itani, Lebanon

Trainer the Trainers, April 2004 was an outstanding workshop. The modules tackled many important issues that were practical and up to the point. Many thanks to Prof. Toouli and his faculty members who really "did well" in this workshop and what they "could do better next time" is to allow more slots for interactive sessions.

Hiam Mohammed, Sudan

From the point of view of teaching and learning, it was a great experience since it is known that, commonly, there are not many educational activities which prepare doctors for teaching. This was a very good activity for participants to experience some teaching strategies.

Elena Fosman, Uruguay

"From my point of view, the scientific activity developed during this Workshop was of high scientific standards and of great impact on my career as a gastroenterologist. .... I would like to congratulate WGO and OMED for the wonderful organisation of the course, the high professionalism, the enthusiasm and permanent assistance of the coordinators to the participants. The implementation of the course and their creativity is a clear example of what the faculty's attitude should be towards the students to facilitate the learning process. This was reflected in the way the final evaluation was done, in a very original way, which helped us to refresh and reinforce the main concepts of the workshop while emphasising the group discussion. The written material was of enormous value, as well as the videotapes and DVDs... Long life to the "Train the Trainers" program."

Dr. Sergio Vazquez Bolon, Montevideo, Uruguay

"This was the best seminar in my life. .... a great idea and you must prolong it."

Juris Pokrotnieks, Riga, Latvia

"I strongly believe that this course has become a landmark for all of us, as it has provided valuable insight not only on our role as gastroenterologists but also as trainers. The course managed to cover a whole range of relevant topics which highlighted the importance of establishing a good rapport with our medical students, the need to instil critical thinking skills and also fostering involvement and responsibility on their part to acquire knowledge.

We should bear in mind that if there is one truth about modern man, it is that is lives in an environment which is continually changing. The goal of education if we are to survive, is the facilitation of change and learning. The only man who is educated is the man who has learned how to adapt and change; the man who has realised that no knowledge is secure; that only the process of seeking knowledge gives a basis for security. Therefore, our role as trainers should be to equip our students with the tools for undertaking their own learning process, we should act as mere facilitators, guides or counsellors.

I would like to congratulate the WGO and OMED organising committee for this enriching course, the faculty's high professionalism and their success to pose a serious challenge to accepted views on paternal education where the teacher is the unquestioned dispenser of knowledge and the student a passive, dependent recipient."

Daniel, Taullard, Montevideo, Uruguay

"Kalimera Kriti, meaning: Good Morning, Crete, is the name of the establishment where the WGO-OMED Train the Trainers Workshop 2002 was held. The location is close to ancient Knossos and the remnants of the Minoic culture. The name may be characteristic for the workshop - Kalimera! - we are in the dawn of a new day - a new era of clinical and scientific knowledge - an era involving new ways of gaining and consolidating medical knowledge.

... Information technology is developing in a runaway fashion. Depsite the help that this technology offers, the gastroenterologist may risk being flooded and drowned by the scientific information. All this calls for more intense teaching and training at the basal and postgraduate level.

Trainers in gastroenterology need updates to guide gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal surgeons into the growing light! This had been attended by the WGO-OMED Education Committee.

After these three days of active workshop we, trainers in gastroenterology, had a feeling of a growing light, a clearer insight and a stronger worldwide consensus of teaching doctors in taking better care of patients with gastrointestinal disease."

Kalimera! - growing light
- turns dawn to day
knowledge enhances sight
- the day will stay

Joar Svanvik, Sweden

"In one word, good topics and good speakers. In addition to the .... talks, the group discussion and one person five minute talks were the suitable way for training the participants. Obviously, everybody could benefit from it, knowing the weaknesses of the talk and how to overcome them."

Zhi Hua Ran, China

"I think this course has been very important for me in order to reorganise my attitudes and teaching concepts with students. I began to apply these new ideas as soon as I arrived (home), for instance, in a conference for students about inflammatory bowel disease just the afternoon of my arrival in Buenos Aires."

Angel Nadales, Argentina

"I think that it is very useful to hold the Train the Trainers workshop with the participation of specialists from different countries. As a young trainer, I am especially interested in new forms of interacting presentations and lectures during seminars."

Julia Krauchanka, Republic of Belarus

"... a large amount of important material was covered in a stimulating and challenging manner. ...We left the meeting having gained many useful skills and resources that we intend to share with our trainees and gastroenterologists in New Zealand. With the support of WGO and OMED we plan to organise a regional Train the Trainers Workshop and to implement aspects of the workshop in our training programs."

Michael Burt & Ian Wallace, New Zealand