TNMU Students Took Part in the 3rd International Medical Conference

Some international students of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University are active members of the NGO “HMI – HELP MOTHERLAND INTERNATIONAL”. They recently took part in the 3^rd International Medical Conference, which took place on October 14-17, 2021 in Ivano-Frankivsk. The theme of the event was how to become a professional doctor and the role of a mentor in it.

In total, more than 200 participants from 32 countries joined the conference, mostly from the United States, Ukraine, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and Poland. Ukraine was represented by students from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipro. 50 students were from Ternopil National Medical University.

The facilitators of the event were Dr. Gary Jerkins (ophthalmologist, 40 years of experience), Dr. Mark Cobb (neurosurgeon, 38 years of experience), Dr. Patrice Bidwell (anaesthesiologist, 42 years of experience), Mr John Durham (journalist, 36 years of experience, project manager), Dr. Racheal Mace (paediatrician, 30 years of experience), Mrs Melissa Anne Davis (39 years of experience in the emergency department and as a paramedic), Dr. Glenn Buckspan (plastic and reconstructive surgeon, 40 years of practice), Dr. Christopher Wood (42 years of experience in dentistry), Mr David Van Hooser (over 38 years of experience in project management), Miss Emily Mace (last year student of surgery), Dr. Paul (paediatric pulmonologist, 28 years of experience).

The members of the HMI USA Advisory Board are Dr. Gary Jerkins, Ph.D. Mark Cobb, Dr Patrice Bidwell, Mr John Durham.

During the opening ceremony on October 14, 2021, all the organizers, facilitators and participants of the event were presented. The Student of the Day award for outstanding work during the first workshop was presented to Mahima Zalpure.

There were 8 masterclasses which were split and held within 3 days (15^th-17th October 2021). The master classes comprised of 12-15 students per one speciality. Thus, young people had the opportunity to gain new knowledge and develop practical skills during the following master classes:

• Neurosurgery: This master class was held by Dr. Mark Cobb in which students practiced the basics of neurological examination, shared his life and medical experiences, and answered several queries of students.

• Surgery: This master class was held by Dr. Glenn Buckspan and Miss Emily Mace who explained and held practical workshop on the basic suturing and knot tying skills, along with sharing their life and surgical experiences and answering to queries of students.
• Pediatrics: This master class was held by Dr. Racheal Mace who explained the peculiarities of growth and development in children and benefits of immunization, students here practiced Ear techniques in pediatric patients, along with discussion of real life clinical cases, life experiences and answered to several queries by students.

• Pediatric pulmonology: This master class was held by Dr. Paul, where students were taught several aspects of pulmonology in pediatric patients, students practiced examining x-rays, and blood reports as well.
• Oral health: This master class was held by Dr. Christopher Wood where students practiced head, neck and oral examination, also real life clinical cases experience was shared by the specialist.

• Triage: This master class was held by Mrs Melissa Anne Davis where she spoke on how to manage and act in traumatic situations.
• Anesthesiology: This master class was held by Dr Patrice Bidwell where participants practiced intubation, learnt from her life and clinical experiences.

• Communication: This master class was held by Mr John Durham on how to improve your communication skills with patients and real life situations. Also he shared his life experiences in his field.

The agenda for Conference was to build International contacts, learn about different countries culture, medical systems, Different Universities, sharing experiences and strengthening the faith in the supreme power.