The world is rapidly changing thanks to constant technological improvements. Nowadays news, ideas, and tools are instantly available worldwide. Modern university and society need to take on this new challenge: take advantage of technology and progress while remaining committed to strong principles and traditional missions. Considering the large number of incentives and information available on a daily basis, today more than ever, the knowledge is strictly linked to knowing how to discern, and the medical field is no exception.  

To promote this new approach, on February 7,  Sapienza will hold the conference “Innovative Medical Education in the Digital Era” along with STITCH -  Sapienza Information-Based Technology InnovaTion Center for Health and our e-learning platform Unitelma Sapienza.

This project, strictly linked to Civis - a European Civic University, the European University Network led by our Rector Eugenio Gaudio since October 2019, aims to present a range of internationally known innovative approaches and test the opportunity for technologically advanced methodologies and common resources.

Professors, medical doctors, and new technologies and medical education specialists will take part in the event. They all represent the Civis Alliance and other important European institutions: Aix-Marseille University, project coordinator, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of Bucharest, Free University of Brussels, Autonomous University of Madrid, Stockholm University, and the Universities of Maastricht, Sechenov, Tübingen e Gothenburg.

The main purpose is to create an interdisciplinary group focused on improving the academic curricula and methodologies. The priority is to provide the target groups, the so-called “millennials” with a new “educational design” that will go beyond conventional lectures, promoting, instead, the active participation of the student in the learning process.

The conference will be presented in three sections. The first one will be about digital tools used to create a more technological learning environment: flipped classroom, online modules to identify each student’s learning style and “liquid textbook”. The most innovative solutions in the field will be presented in a round table meeting by specialists and by Scott Grillo, McGraw-Hill’s chairperson, the American publishing house leader in customised educational content, software and “virtual book” development, and main sponsor of the event.

In the second session, we will talk about one of the most promising educational resources: simulation as a training and educational tool. High-tech dummies and virtual patients will provide medical students with a wide range of cases that will train them to face genuine interactions with real patients in their future careers.

The last part of the conference will be dedicated to the important challenges the digitalization presents when working in medicine. Having instant feedback might be different but, hand human actions and decisions over to digital technologies may increase the efficiency and reduce mistakes. More importantly, it will give the doctor more time for interaction and communication.

“This project – says Sebastiano Filetti, coordinator of the Stitch scientific committee – is the starting point for a reflection on how this emerging scenario is, in fact, shaping our world and how it will influence the future. Talking about it is necessary and we also need to prepare ourselves to face present and future challenges. We need to strike a balance between ever-changing systems, consumers’ high expectations, and organizational limitations.

The Rector Eugenio Gaudio will open the conference by greeting the attendees, followed by Domenico Alvaro, Director of  STITCH -  Sapienza Information-Based Technology InnovaTion Center for Health,  Luciano Saso, Deputy Rector for European University Networks, and Antonello Folco Biagini, Rector of Università telematica Unitelma Sapienza.