Last month, Prof. Dmitry Popkov welcomed Dr. Ahmet Sinan Sarı from Turkey for a week-long EPOS Observership at the Ilizarov Center in Kurgan, Russia. In this article, he shares his experience as observership host.
The course lasted from the 17th June to 25th June. The programme included visiting of operation theater and participation in surgeries as the first aide. In total, Dr. Ahmet Sinan Sarı took part in 15 surgeries. Those cases represented lower limb lengthening and deformity correction with Ilizarov technique or technique combining Ilizarov frame and flexible intramedullary nailing, telescopic rodding for children with osteogenesis imperfecta, hip reconstruction in CP children, foot deformity correction with Ilizarov frame, single-event multilevel surgeries in CP children, upper limb reconstruction in CP adolescents. All those cases were presented and discussed (a day before surgery).
Another activity included a theoretical lecture about lower limb deformity analysis and alignment procedure planning. It was followed with a workshop on plastic bones imitating tibial valgus deformity correction using an Ilizarov frame.
There was also a cultural aspect to Dr. Ahmet Sinan Sarı's stay (musical theatre and local cuisine).
As a faculty member, I had a great pleasure interacting with the colleague possessing such high professional skills and a broad knowledge base. I assure you that the exchange of useful knowledge and cultural insights was mutual. Dr. Ahmet Sinan Sarı kindly suggested some valuable modifications to the observership programme in Ilizarov Center that we will not fail to use in further Ilizarov Center observership courses.
Dr. Ahmet Sinan Sarı shared the following feedback about his observership:
I truly enjoyed every moment of the observership. The educational quality, surgical experience, academic environment, and hospitality were excellent. Working with you and with Prof Leoncuk in the operating room was a great honor, and this observership gave me a much better understanding of the principles of deformity correction and the Ilizarov method. Overall, I highly recommend this observership to all EPOS members. Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.
If you are interested in finding out more about EPOS Observerships, you can find more information and open positions on our Jobs & Oberserverships page.