WGO Training Center in Santiago, Chile
Latin-American Advanced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Training Center
Santiago, Chile
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Overview
The Latin-American WGO endorsed training center for advanced endoscopic techniques was founded in Santiago, Chile in 1997 and endorsed by WGO on July 23, 2004.
To date (1997 – 2007), 334 trainees from 23 different countries including Chile have been trained at this center. There is no fee for training and important facilities for meals and accommodation are also provided, enabled by sponsorship from Wilson Cook.
At present, there is a 24 month waiting list of applicants wishing to enter the programme. Approximately 7500 patients have participated and benefited from the training programme since March 2004 and all teaching by local and guest faculty is provided on a pro bono basis. Courses are also run for anesthesiologists and nurses practicing in the field of gastroenterology.
The Santiago center provides a unique and substantial philanthropic contribution to the region by performing 2500 therapeutic endoscopic procedures free-of-charge to patients from 52 hospitals and institutions and an annual basis. This represents an enormous economic contribution towards the annual budget of the National Ministry of Health. These patients are, in turn, available for hands-on teaching procedures including dilatation, stenting, APC, mucosectomy, EMR, ESD, magnification, chromoendoscopy, NBI, ERCP and stone retrieval, PEG, removal of large colonic polyps etc. An “open door” outreach policy provides consultancy services to assist in the treatment of difficult cases as required by gastroenterologists in the region.
The Santiago center collaborates in numerous other projects e.g. editorial committees, publishing of books, development of guidelines and training protocols etc.
Trainees and guests participate in the special endorsement of the WGO Training Center for Advanced Endoscopy Training in Santiago, Chile.
Dr. C. Navarrete (left), Dr. R. Kozarek (center) and Dr. J. DiSario (right)
Inauguration of the Hospital Eva Perón Outreach Program. Drs. DiSario and Sáenz