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The start of the academic year is often a time for reflection and renewal. It is a period when many people think about their future prospects: the perfect opportunity to consider continuing education! We would like to take this opportunity to introduce one of our 198 university diplomas and inter-university diplomas: the university diploma in Normal Cells and Tumor Cells. To do so, we met with the two co-directors of this program, Ms. Szablewski and Mr. Ramirez. Interview.
Ms. Szablewski, Mr. Ramirez, hello. Could you briefly introduce yourselves?
VS: I am Dr. Vanessa Szablewski, Associate Professor of Pathological Anatomy and Cytology at Montpellier University Hospital. I specialize in hematopathology and ENT pathology. For my research activities, I am affiliated withINSERM UMR 1058 Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections. My research focuses on the role of Human PapillomaViruses (HPVs) in cancers of the ENT sphere.
JMR: I have been a doctor of biological sciences for health since 2005. After completing my thesis, I did several postdoctoral fellowships abroad, in Washington, D.C., in the United States, at the Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland, and at the CIC (Centro de Investigación contra el Cáncer) in Spain, before finally returning to France to work at the IRMB in Montpellier. In 2015, I was recruited as a lecturer at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine in Professor Thierry Lavabre-Bertrand's department, where I teach histology and cell biology. In 2019, Vanessa and I created the first virtual slide website combining three disciplines: anatomy, pathological anatomy, and histology.
You are both responsible for the university diploma course "From Normal Cells to Tumor Cells." What prompted you to create this course?
JMR: Histology and pathological anatomy are two closely related disciplines. It seemed essential to me that a researcher in the field of health should be familiar with histology (the study of tissues) as well as pathological tissues.
Who is this training primarily intended for? How long does it last?
VS: This program is intended for all researchers working in the field of oncology, as well as those who wish to learn about human tissues and their associated pathologies. It is also intended for physicians who wish to pursue a career in research or oncologists who wish to acquire a fundamental understanding of scientific oncology. The training program runs for one academic year, but classes are held between February and June. The program consists of 52 hours of instruction, divided into six modules.
What added value will future graduates gain from this training? Does it open up new career paths for those enrolled?
JMR: The added value lies first and foremost in the acquisition of new fundamental skills that will better equip future doctors or researchers in the field of oncology to perform their duties. Then, for all future doctors, it lies in being able to better interpret the medical results established by a specialist in pathological anatomy.
In 2020, Dr. Valentin FAVIER, in collaboration with Dr. Antoine Debourdeau, once again participated in the MUSE call for projects aimed at supporting the pedagogical transformation of training programs. He was selected as a winner with his project entitled "Application for Pedagogical Monitoring of Learning and Performance of Technical Procedures in Medicine."
Project background
The quality of medical training is a public health issue in order to provide the population as effectively as possible in the years to come. Medical competence is a long process to acquire, during which students must master theoretical and technical skills. Medical interns must learn the procedures and techniques that will form the basis of their medical practice during their 4- to 6-year internship. Their theoretical knowledge is frequently assessed through theoretical exams.
Currently, medical interns complete their clinical placements according to a predefined educational model, divided into semesters, and obtain their specialized degree at the end of their course of study by defending a thesis.
Nevertheless, during their residency, medical students work full-time at the hospital and their faculty training on university premises is reduced to a few days per year.
However, the validation of the medical curriculum does not take into account the technical skills of the intern, and there are few tools available to monitor their acquisition and observe the learner's progress throughout their internships.
It was in this context that Dr. Favier and Dr. Debourdeau decided to develop an application that would track the progress of health students in terms of their technical skills.
The birth of SPART APP
SPART-App is a project that aims to provide medical interns, their trainers, and the head of education with a mobile application to record each of the procedures performed throughout their internship (e-logbook). This pilot project covers the specialties of anesthesia and intensive care, gastroenterology, ENT, and maxillofacial surgery. Its objectives are as follows:
The application: a strategic choice
The electronic format paperless, via an application that can operate offline, eliminates the need for procedure logs that are not regularly updated. Interns will be able to evaluate their actions immediately after performing them on their smartphones.
Each intern will have access to a student account specific to their specialty. Interns can use this account to record each procedure performed over time, detailing the procedure, its success or failure, and any difficulties encountered. The data entered into the application can be used to track their learning curve.
The supervisor of the procedure performed may, if they wish, validate the intern's assessment of the procedure and use it as a basis for a technical debriefing . The instructor will have access to the data for each of the interns they supervise. This will enable the head of teaching (head of department) to ensure that each intern performs a sufficient number of procedures and to identify any interns who are struggling so that they can be given additional support.
The impacts of START APP
Through this project, Dr. Favier hopes to advance the learning of technical skills and generate short-, medium-, and long-term impacts.
Currently, the project led by Doctors Favier and Debourdeau is progressing and should be launched shortly.
The Avicenne Multidisciplinary University Health Center (MSPU) was inaugurated in Cabestany near Perpignan in 2018. In June 2021, two other MSPUs will complete this regional network. To mark the opening, a formal ceremony was held on Thursday May 27 to take stock of the Cabestany MSPU and present the project for the two new MSPUs."
MSPU: What is it?
A Multidisciplinary Health Center is a multi-professional health center that has entered into an agreement with the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and a university with a medical department, with the aim of developing training and research in primary care.
Avicenna's MSPU: a successful outcome
This MSPU, managed by Dr. Mark OUDE ENGBERIK and bringing together some thirty health professionals from various fields, has carried out several projects over the past five years. Two main projects were discussed at this conference:
- The TSAPPproject, which aims to train healthcare professionals on access to care for people with disabilities.
- The SPES (Primary Care, Environment, and Health) project, which aims to develop a culture of health and environmental awareness among professionals and the general public.
In terms of academics, this MSPU has 16 internship supervisors in several health fields and welcomes 6 to 10 interns per year.
Two new MSPUs in the region
Following the success of the projects carried out by the MSPU in Avicenne, two other houses were inaugurated in the region to meet local needs in this area.
A joint project is taking shape around these three MSPUs: building a research network and making the service accessible to local citizens.
On Friday, March 19, 2021, we had the pleasure of welcoming Antoine Petit, CEO of the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), to the Arnaud de Villeneuve campus for the signing of a partnership agreement with the University of Montpellier. We also welcomed Philippe Poignet, Director of the LIRMM Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics in Montpellier, who presented the surgical robotics projects hosted by the Faculty of Medicine.
Speech by Philippe Poignet, Director of LIRMM
During this event, we were visited by Philippe Poignet, director of the Montpellier Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics, and Microelectronics. He took this opportunity to present the surgical robotics projects hosted by the Faculty of Medicine at the Arnaud de Villeneuve campus. These projects are led by a team at LIRMM called DEXTER, whose goal is to design, build, and control high-performance robots capable of performing fine, rapid, and/or precise movements.
Presentation of three surgical robotics projects
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A maxillofacial surgery project:
Project leaders: Dr. Marie de Boutray (PH, Maxillofacial Surgery and Stomatology at Montpellier University Hospital and associate researcher in the LIRMM surgical robotics team) and Dr. Nabil Zemiti (MCU at UM) and Prof. Philippe Poignet (PU at UM) from the LIRMM surgical robotics team.
Funding: Fondation des Gueules Cassées, Labex CAMI, Labex Numev.
Project description: Currently, when faced with mandibular bone loss, the gold standard is to perform autologous bone reconstruction using a free fibula flap (fibular bone graft) revascularized at the cervical vessels. The main difficulty with this surgery lies in shaping the long, straight fibular bone into a flap angled in three planes to fit the shape of the mandible to be reconstructed. Currently, there are ways to help the surgical team achieve this 3D shape in an optimal way, such as custom-made cutting guides and plates or 3D-printed models. However, these techniques remain very costly and extremely time-consuming, which hinders their use in everyday practice. The project leaders therefore focused on improving this fibular conformation by using a collaborative robot to guide the surgical procedure. To do this, they developed a robot-assisted fibular conformation technique coupled with virtual modeling of osteotomies. This project is currently undergoing preclinical validation on cadaver models at the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine.
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An orthopedic shoulder surgery project:
Project leaders: Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Chammas (Orthopedic Surgery, Montpellier University Hospital), Dr. Nabil Zemiti (Associate Professor, University of Montpellier), and Prof. Philippe Poignet (Full Professor, University of Montpellier) from the LIRMM surgical robotics team.
Project description: The significantaging of Western populations is leading to an increase in the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures and osteoarthritis. Arthroplasty, or prosthetic joint replacement, is a common treatment for these conditions in the shoulder (in 2010, 10,831 procedures were performed in France). The medical and economic challenges are significant, with the need to operate on more patients with ever-increasing safety, precision, and speed.
These conditions are necessary for a return to previous living conditions as quickly as possible and for maintaining the person's independence, which is directly correlated with life expectancy in the elderly.
The optimal positioning of joint prostheses is one of the most important criteria for achieving the best postoperative functional outcome, the fewest possible complications, and a longer prosthesis lifespan by limiting the risk of wear and tear in the medium and long term.
In this context, and more specifically in total shoulder replacement surgery, the correct positioning of the glenoid implant is one of the determining factors in the functional outcome and longevity of the implant. It depends on the initial positioning of a guide pin. Conventional instrumentation is characterized by significant variability in positioning, even when performed by expert clinicians. Computer-assisted surgery solutions allow for precise and reproducible positioning, with certain limitations. The project leaders proposed implementing robotic assistance for precise and reproducible positioning of the glenoid pin compared to the use of conventional instrumentation. In a preclinical study conducted at the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine, they demonstrated that this solution allowed for more precise and reproducible angular positioning of the glenoid pin, regardless of the operator's level of expertise.
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An ENT surgery project:
Project leaders: Dr. Fréderic Venail (Professor and Head of ENT Surgery at Montpellier University Hospital) and Dr. Nabil Zemiti (Associate Professor at Montpellier University), Prof. Philippe Poignet (Professor at Montpellier University) and Lucas Lavenir (PhD student at Montpellier University) from the LIRMM surgical robotics team.
Funding: Fondation Agir pour l’audition (Act for Hearing Foundation), Labex CAMI, Occitanie Region.
Project description: Cochlear implants are the first functional neuroprostheses to have been developed for humans. They restore hearing in individuals with severe to profound deafness. Implanting these prostheses requires inserting an electrode array into the cochlea, allowing electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve fibers.
Today, inserting this electrode array is a critical step in the surgical procedure because it requires advancing this network of electrodes, which are 1 mm in diameter, into a small hole (~2 mm) in the cochlea (round window). This insertion is performed manually in the clinic, "blind" and without the possibility of controlling and correcting the trajectory inside the cochlea.
The lack of visual control and poor maneuverability of the electrode holder cause significant damage to cochlear structures and the resulting loss of residual hearing. This risk prevents cochlear implants from being used in individuals with milder hearing loss.
To address these issues, the project leaders are currently working (Lucas Lavenir's thesis work) on the development of navigation software that will guide the surgical procedure for implanting auditory neuroprostheses using a dedicated ultrasound probe....
This probe is carried by Collin Medical's RobOtol system, which opens up the possibility of automatic tracking of the insertion movement and electrode guidance.
The outcome of this project will pave the way for safer therapeutic interventions for inner ear disorders, such as in situ drug delivery or gene therapy, which cannot be performed safely with the tools currently available to ENT surgeons.
A partnership agreement for the period 2021-2026
The CNRS andthe University of Montpellier are renewing their partnership for a second five-year period. This agreement, which links the CNRS, the University of Montpellier, Paul Valéry University, the National School of Chemistry of Montpellier, and the Occitanie Academic Region, aims to clarify the elements of shared scientific policy, implemented through the management of joint units and its operational implementation by ratifying fundamental agreements on their management and functioning.
The five major scientific areas of the partnership
A steering and monitoring committee
In order to monitor the partnership, both strategically and operationally, the agreement provides for the establishment of a steering and monitoring committee. The signatories undertake to share reports on a regular basis. The terms of this agreement are defined following negotiations guided by the objective of achieving balance and taking into account the specific characteristics of the shared units.
We would like to thank Nabil Zemiti, leader of the three surgical robotics projects, who provided us with invaluable assistance in writing this article.
The MUSE project ("Montpellier University of Excellence") brings together 19 institutions committed to educational advancement and innovation. Today, several projects led by members of the Faculty have been selected and will be funded by the foundation.
Towards new training courses: TakeOff #3
A call for projects has been launched by the MUSE Foundation to strengthen educational innovation, particularly in the transformation and creation of new training courses. The objective is simple: to align as closely as possible with current labor market demand and societal needs, and even to anticipate future needs in line with societal changes.
Of the 30 projects selected, three are from the Faculty of Medicine and will therefore be allocated a budget to enable them to be carried out.
- The project " Development of teaching tools to support the training of nurses in advanced practices in onco-hematology " led by Nadine Houede.
- The " Rabelais Health-Sciences Dual Degree Program " project led by Stephan Matecki
- The " Montpellier Summer School of Surgical Initiation " led by Astrid Herrero.
Supported for three academic years, these projects will enable us to train our students even more effectively!
And tailored teaching tools: TakeOff #4
In addition to these new training courses, the Muse Foundation also supports innovative educational equipment projects. To ensure continuity in education, the working environment must also be adapted.
As a result, three other projects from the Faculty, this time concerning new innovative equipment, were selected:
- A " educational app for monitoring learning and performing technical procedures in medicine " led by Antoine Debourdeau and Valentin Favier.
- A " Sound and visual immersion in a healthcare simulation training session " led by Blaise Debien.
- A project on " The Benefits of Acquiring a Digital Surgical Simulator for the Implementation of the 2021-2023 Medical Education Reform. Learning and Certification of a Diploma in Surgery Outside the Operating Room " led by Astrid Herrero and François Régis Souche.
Many educational innovations are therefore expected to emerge over the coming years at the Faculty of Medicine, both in terms of training and teaching tools!
A commitment to innovation already in place: TakeOff#1 and TakeOff#2
Two other calls for projects launched by I-Site Muse had already taken place previously. These were TakeOff#1 and TakeOff2.
Once again, the Faculty responded quickly and some of its proposals were selected. First, during the initial call for proposals, TakeOff#1:
- The creation of " International DIU: Emerging Infections ", proposed by Éric Delaporte.
- The creation of a "Digital Laboratory for Preclinical Sciences", led by Fares Gouzi.
- A proposal "Anatomy and Surgery Learning through Simulation and 3D Printing", presented by Valentin Favier.
- A "Extended Reality Surgical Pedagogy", supported by Nicolas Lonjona.
- A project of "Craftsmanship at the service of innovation in medical simulation", led by Astrid Herrero.
Then, in a second phase, during the TakeOff#2 call for projects:
- The "International Master's in One Health and Infectious Diseases", which follows on from the International DIU created thanks to TakeOff#1.
- The creation of an "Interdisciplinary educational escape game in a simulation center: Mystery at SimHU Nîmes", which helps develop cohesion, communication, and collaboration among future healthcare professionals.
- The creation of a "VESALE 3D dynamic virtual dissection for teaching surgical anatomy", which is part of a commitment to never perform a procedure on a patient for the first time.
A platform for streaming scientific videos focused on health and biology is available to students for unlimited viewing until April 30.
A video platform for research and teaching
JoVE is a publisher of scientific articles in video format. The articles are peer-reviewed, meaning they are checked and validated by scientists before publication. They are indexed on PubMed and Medline, presenting experiments and protocols filmed at the most prestigious universities and leading research laboratories around the world.
To discover the videos
Simply log in to the University's digital workspace => Click on the "Libraries" tile => Enter "JOVE" in the search engine
Your user experience will enable us to evaluate the relevance of this documentary resource for the University. Please feel free to share your opinion with us by writing to scd-docelec@umontpellier.fr
It's the must-attend event for research and innovation in the Gard region: Les Entretiens Nîmes-Alès! Every year, the Pôle Métropolitain Nîmes-Alès organizes a series of unique conferences at higher education institutions, in partnership with businesses. The Faculty of Medicine is proud to be a partner in these events!
Science todayis paving the way fortomorrow's innovations.
The aim of the Entretiens Nîmes-Alès is to raise public awareness of the region's expertise in higher education, research, and innovation.
Through a series of events open to all—symposiums, conferences, round tables, workshops, exhibitions, visits—organized during the same week.
Come and discover emerging innovations in the fields of digital technology, health, the environment, risk management, and more.
The 2020 edition will take place from February 4 to 8.
Visit the SimHu platform on our Nîmes website!
On the occasion of the 2020 edition of the Entretiens Nîmes-Alès, the Faculty of Medicine at its Nîmes site is opening the doors of its simulation platform, SimHu, in partnership with the Nîmes University Hospital. Our teams will introduce you to the latest technologies used in medical education, including simulation mannequins. High-fidelity simulation workshops will be offered to the public, who will be able to step into the shoes of future healthcare professionals!
How do I get there?
The event will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020, starting at 9 a.m. on our Carreau de Lanes Campus!
Address: 186 Chemin du Carreau de Lanes, 30000 NÎMES
Bus: "Trambus" line T2 or "bus" line 5 towards CHU Carémeau
Road access:A9 motorway, Exit 25 Nîmes Ouest – Parking available on site.
We look forward to seeing many of you there!
