University staff exchange in Madrid
Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:52:00 BST
(Above - Michael with Head Podiatrist Dr Javier Hernandez)
In May 2011, Senior Lecturer Michael Concannon under took a four day assignment as the very first staff exchange between the Divisions of Podiatry at the University of Huddersfield (UOH) and the Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM). The main aim of this exchange was to explore common goals in research and educating future Podiatry professionals and to develop the newly formed relationship between the two Universities under the ERASMUS scheme.
The majority of Michael’s time during the visit was spent in the UEM Polyclinic in Madrid city centre (shared facility – Podiatry, Ophthalmic, Audiology, and Dentistry) with Head Podiatrist Dr Javier Hernandez. The schedule of teaching including one key lecture on ‘Diabetes and Orthopaedics’ presented to final year podiatry students at the University and clinical work at San Carlos Hospital Diabetes Centre.
Diabetes is a major medical concern in Spain, with 17% of the population being affected by the disease (compared to around 2% of the UK population). Visiting San Carlos Hospital on two occasions, Michael observed lead podiatrist Dr Ana Esther Levy’s work in providing dynamic and integral diabetes care. Dr Levy is part of a highly successful multi-disciplinary team, working alongside endocrinologists, vascular surgeons and nursing staff to achieve significant results, , including the reduction of limb amputations by 70% over the past 4 years. This serves as an excellent example of how MOT work benefits patients.
Michael commented on the exchange: “It was a very successful visit which I thoroughly enjoyed. Dr Hernandez and the whole team made me very welcome and the UEM and UoH courses are remarkably similar in both content and philosophy. These parallels will serve as a great foundation as this new relationship develops.
“I also had many opportunities to discuss areas of potential collaboration covering both clinical and research interests in different fields including MSK, Diabetes and General Podiatric care. We look forward to the reciprocated staff exchange in autumn 2011, when Dr Levy will come to Huddersfield and contribute to the Huddersfield curriculum.”
The first student exchange between the two Universities will be a four week placement by UEM students to UOH. The placement will start February 6 2012 with students from Spain attending Huddersfield. In March Huddersfield students will attend UEH.
And, after a high level of interest, four successful UOH Podiatry students are currently progressing arrangements to complete the exchange with a 12 week placement at UEM in March 2012.
For more information, contact Michael Concannon on 01484 473788.
