Prototype Showcase Unveils Discovery Team Training Modules
Nearly 400 attendees joined us from 45 countries on 18 August for the Prototype Showcase. They met the ten Discovery Award teams and saw their progress in developing new surgical training and self-assessment modules. The opening address was delivered by Professor Abebe Bekele, University of Global Health Equity and Fellow of COSECSA and the American College of Surgeons.
In a series of short videos, each team described their module. They explained what materials are needed and demonstrated the assembly of their simulators. Simulator materials ranged from animal bone to ice cream sticks to modeling compounds, such as Play-Doh. The teams have uploaded the modules to the Appropedia open-source platform.
In addition to getting the first public viewing of the prototypes, attendees heard from a panel of team members in a discussion moderated by MIT Solve’s Patrick Diamond. Team members shared their learnings so far, as well as their reflections for other innovators. They discussed the balance between low and high tech solutions, as well as the importance of team diversity and communications.
During the Prototype Showcase, each team’s prototype was demonstrated in a short video. Now you can see those videos and learn more about the structure of the training models, and see the materials used in creating the simulators.
You can access the prototype videos for each team here.
Self-Assessment Briefs
One pillar of the Global Surgical Training Challenge is to create modules that allow surgical practitioners to train and assess themselves. As part of their learning journey, teams participated in a workshop that focused on the importance and methodologies for designing effective self-assessments.
Two international experts in self-assessment shared insights with the teams before they broke out into smaller work groups to discuss their individual needs and approaches. Dr Carla Pugh, a professor at Stanford University explained the importance of self-assessment. She also reviewed the different types of assessment. Dr Richard Arnett of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland provided an overview of best practices for structuring and framing assessments.
Both experts agreed on one critical point: the timing of the assessment is essential. Feedback must be given immediately so that learners can improve and know when they can progress to the next level of training.
We have created a technical brief on their talks, which you can download here.
What’s Next for Discovery Award Teams
After the public portion of the Prototype Showcase, our teams had private feedback sessions with members of our judging panel. Now they are refining their models based on the feedback as they prepare to submit their projects for consideration for the Finalist Awards.
Teams will be able to download the application for the Finalist Awards and review the judging criteria before submitting their entries. The window to apply for a Finalist Award will open on 18th October 2021 and the deadline for entries is 12th November 2021. We will announce the Finalist Awards in January 2022.
The Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard University hosts a monthly Research Seminar for the public. It is held the second Tuesday of each month, from 9:00 a.m. EST to 10:00 a.m EST. Click here to learn more about upcoming topics.
Mark Shrime, Chair of global surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, wrote an opinion article in STAT First Opinion that calls for a National Institute of Surgery in the United States. “The NIH should put its money where the disease burden is,” he says.
Interested in learning more about other challenges being delivered by Nesta Challenges? Take a look at our website to find out about our other prizes.
