During the week of February 20 - 24, 2010, the Postgraduate Training Center held several workshops and lectures related to the 1st Gulf Region American Association Gynecology Laparoscopy Meeting. The weeklong program was organized by the Saudi National Guard Minimally Invasive Gynecological Group (SNGMIGG) with the participation from the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL). The first of its kind in scope and reach within the region, the program was attended by numerous representatives from various medical facilities such as Dr. Rosanne Kho from the Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona and Prof. Resad Pasic President, AAGL, Louisville, Kentucky.
The workshops and training offered during the week included excellent lectures as well as hands on practice in the animal lab as well as dry labs (simulations done on models). Students and participants were presented a rare opportunity to operate unique tools for laparoscopic surgical techniques as well as witness live telesurgeries and simulators. Some of these items were also displayed by vendors introducing new methods of performing surgeries in such a way that only one incision is utilized for many instruments. Minimally invasive procedures offer the patient reduced pain, smaller scars and decreased recovery time.
Additionally, the program was successful in promoting education in the use of robotics in medical treatments. This push was seen as the start of cooperation between the NGHA and the AAGL with the next stage to expand and become a known Training Center in the region. Several of the visiting Doctors pointed out that compared to many other facilities throughout the world, the National Guard Health Affairs has excellent equipment and facilities, and that further high level training of local medical staff will greatly enhance the overall experience for both staff and patients and extend patient safety measures.
It is the hope that the upcoming young passionate health care providers obtain the support necessary to create a center of excellence for minimally invasive care. Dr. Salah Moghraby, President of the SNGMIGG, has a select core group of interested surgeons in line to serve as a platform from which a Training Center of excellence will be established. This venture will serve to raise medical care in the region to a new level via its increased use of state-of-the-art medical robotics.