The last day of the unforgettable RAMS International Summer School Neurosurgery 2017 has passed. Friday, participants all attended a fascinating lecture on spinal cord traumas by dr. Zweckberger from Universität Heidelberg, presented their insights on a chosen subject during a 10-minute pitch and at the end of the day enjoyed the official ending ceremony.
The morning started with a short though inspiring lecture on the Radboudumc innovation center called REshape. Participants also heard more about the special location in which most lectures of the week were held: operating theatre 71. Some of the Dutch lecturers had even used this operating room, which still holds the original lighting, for their neurosurgical operations.
Next, participants had time to finalise their pitch and listen to a clinically oriented and case-based lecture on neurotraumatology by an expert on spinal cord trauma’s and surgery, dr. Zweckberger. In addition to the current state of this progressing field, dr. Zweckberger also made a window to the future of spinal cord preservation and regeneration.
Just before the ending ceremony, the participants pitched the findings and novel insights of their group. The pitches covered the same neurosurgical subjects as the mini-reviews that were handed in the day before. One of the postdoctoral researchers from Nijmegen, René Aquarius, attended all pitches, graded them and selected the best pitch-mini-review combination. All members of the winning group received a 3D-printed, white, brain shaped trophy.
Congratulations to Kiedo Wienholts, Boris Janssen, Victoria Visser, Iris Verploegh and Jeroen Crouzen for their excellent mini-review and pitch on deep brain stimulation as treatment for epilepsy, which was rated best for its excellent overview of current challenges, research questions and future perspectives!
For all interested participants, the day ended with an informal barbeque at Café Piecken followed by one of the legendary pubquizes by Pieter Monté.
Many thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm, their dedication and for making it a wonderful and successful Summer School!
http://www.nccn.nl/
http://radboudreshapecenter.com/
https://www.ramsresearch.nl/
