WGO Mexico City Training Center

Director: Dr. Miguel Valdovinos

Introduction:

The WGO Mexico City Training Center was inaugurated in Mexico City on July 28, 2008 and is directed by Dr. Miguel A. Valdovinos.

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Aims/Mission:

The following are objectives of the Mexico City Training Center:

• To provide theoretical and practical training in advanced techniques of gastroenterology, hepatology, gastrointestinal motility, and endoscopy
• To improve the learning process through effective teaching activities: conferences, discussions, workshops with animal models and electronic simulators, live demonstrations with patients, tutorials and interactive video, and computer programs
• To promote interaction between regional and international experts and gastroenterology and endoscopy associations
• To diffuse knowledge of advanced techniques in gastroenterology in the geographical region, with the multiplier effect achieved when the trained student returns to his or her place of origin

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Facilities:

The Mexico City Training Center is located at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutricíon. Fundamental to the Center are the medical and paramedical personnel and infrastructure of the departments of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Imageology and the Medical Skills Development Center (Centro de Desarrollo de Destrezas Médicas, CEDDEM).

The Training Center is composed of the Departments of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, the GI Motility and GI molecular labs, as well as the Medical and Surgical Skills Center.

• The motility lab is fully equipped with Medtronics and Sandhill working stations to perform manometries and pH studies
• The Digestive Endoscopy Unit consists of 5 endoscopy rooms; 2 for gastroscopes, 1 for colonoscopy, 1 for enteroscopy and endoscopic ultrasound and 1 for ERCP. All rooms are equipped with state of the art Olympus and Fujinon videoendoscopes, endoscopic ultrasound, electrosurgical generators, argon plasma coagulators, and accessories for therapeutic endscopy. A room for disinfection and sterilization process is also available in this unit
• A fully equipped angiography suite is used for hepatic hemodynamics and TIPS placement
• GI lab is mainly dedicated to research activities. It is equipped with real time PCR, blood chemistry multiprocessor, cell culture chamber, electrophoresis, ELISA and other lab techniques used in molecular biology
• The Medical and Surgical Skills Center, the first of its kind in Mexico and Latin America, provides a laboratory setting where basic and complex medical and surgical procedures can be learned and practiced. The models used in the Center vary from very basic knot-tying boards used for basic skills, partial simulators, and animal models to virtual reality simulators

To enhance the learning experience, the Center is equipped with telecommunications capability. Directly linked with operating and endoscopy rooms in the hospital, participants have the opportunity to view live endoscopy or surgery in the context of the course and are able to interact directly with the operating surgeon or endoscopist. Using this telecommunications system, the Center is also able to connect with any similarly equipped facility in the world and continues to expand their video conference capabilities

In-house videotaping of expert endoscopies and other procedures has also provided a number of key applications:

• The person who performed the endoscopy or procedure has the opportunity to reflect and evaluate their technique
• Students have the opportunity to review and learn from the taped expert

As research has confirmed that video learning is an effective way of training, particularly for early learners, the Center has placed a strong emphasis on this style of education.

State of the art virtual reality simulators (Simbionix®) are part of the equipment of the center; there are 2 simulators for laparoscopic surgery, 1 for urology, 1 for gastrointestinal endoscopy, 1 for bronchoscopy, which also has the capability to have software for gastrointestinal endoscopy, 1 for vascular access, 1 for aniography, and 1 simman simulator for all areas of medicine. The gastrointestinal endoscopy simulator is composed of modules for upper GI (Gastroscopy), lower GI (colonoscopy), endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP), flexible sigmoidoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound. In addition, there are also partial simulators for different areas such as anaesthesia, nursing and critical care, for instance difficult airway, vascular access, ultrasound, arrhythmias, cardiovascular resuscitation, etc.

Multimedia Library and Scientific Journals are also available for trainees.

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Areas of Training:

• GI motility tests
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Enteroscopy
• ERCP and bilio-pancreatic therapeutic endoscopy
• Hepatic hemodynamics
• Liver cirrhosis

In the press:
Mexico City Training Center Press Clipping ()

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Contact:

Center Director: Dr. Miguel Valdovinos
 
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán
Vasco de Quiroga 15
Sección XVI Tlalpan 14000
México DF
Tel: 55733418, 54870900 exts 2706, 2714
E-mail: miguelvaldovinosd@gmail.com

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Further Information:

For more comprehensive information on the Mexico City Training Center, including the trainee application process, course offerings, and other details, please refer to the downloadable pdf:
> Mexico City Training Center Information Packet ()

or the center’s informational brochure (Spanish language):
> Mexico City Training Center brochure ( pdf file ) ()

The WGO would like to give special thanks to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas Nutricion, the Mexican Association of Gastroenterology, Instituto Danone, Asociacion Interamericana de Gastroenterologia (AIGE), Fujinon Latin America, Ferrer, and Olympus Latin America for their support and sponsorship of the WGO Mexico City Training Center.