AMEE Glasgow 2023: Transforming health care education through inclusivity and innovation
The 2023 Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) conference held August 26–30, in Glasgow, Scotland, was a monumental success, drawing an unprecedented turnout of health care professionals and educators from across the globe. AO and AO Education Institute (AO EI) colleagues played pivotal roles in this year’s event.
AMEE started with a focus on European education and evolved over the years in being an international association. With the theme, "Inclusive Learning Environments to Transform the Future," this year’s conference attracted 3,200 participants on-site and an additional 1,500 joined virtually, making it the largest gathering ever for this international meeting dedicated to health care professionals lifelong learning.
The conference covered a diverse array of topics, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of health care education. These included discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology-enhanced learning, simulation, continuing professional development (CPD), competency-based medical education (CBME), patient safety and patient involvement in education, sustainability, and assessment.
AO and AO EI colleagues organized and participated in various educational sessions and held daily debriefings throughout the conference, brainstorming and reflecting on strategies to further the AO's mission and expand its knowledge base. The conference reaffirmed that the AO is on the cutting edge of best practices in health care education. In some areas, such as CBME and communities of practice, the AO is ahead of the curve compared to other organizations and medical societies.
One of the key highlights of the conference was the AMEE Surgery Track, which inspired significant engagement from attendees. The surgery track included short communications, e-posters, a symposium, a meet-the-expert session, and a workshop. The symposium titled "Acquisition of New Surgical Skills During the Long Careers of Practicing Surgeons" provided a platform for professionals to share their perspectives, emphasizing the diverse approaches to surgical skill development over a surgeon's career span in different countries. AO Alliance representative Naomi Amuron and the AO EI’s Monica Ghidinelli—an AMEE Surgery Track Committee member since 2019—collaborated to present a workshop, "How Can Surgical Education Be Scaled in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)," with Catherine More from the Intuitive Foundation. This workshop shed light on the challenges and opportunities in expanding surgical education in resource-constrained settings, showcasing AO and AO Alliance dedication to global outreach and inclusivity.
AO EI Executive Director Tobias Hüttl and the AO EI leadership team attended several discussions on the future of generative AI, its application, its opportunities and risks, and related ethical aspects.
AO EI Advisory Committee members Teija Lund and Simon Kitto, Naomi Amuron from the AO Alliance, and Monica Ghidinelli from the AO EI, participated in a thought-provoking discussion about surgical skill acquisition at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. This event explored the role of robotics in shaping the future of surgery—a topic of great significance in contemporary health care.