On this freezing mid-winter day, all of our dedicated students showed up bright and early for our session. Only 1 student couldn’t make it. Many had come along frozen early roads…

 

The morning commenced with several students sharing their impressions with their colleagues as to their experiences using the SonoSim simulator. Ibtisam, Marie and Hibah discussed particular highlights with the team prior to commencing the educational session. The main topic today was recognizing normal fetal anatomy and the respective planes that are used for obtaining the biometric measurements.

 

Again, it was a most interactive session where a major focus was for the students to correctly determine fetal lie based on various sonographic images and the proper identification of key anatomic structures. The students were called to the board to demonstrate fetal lie and interpret various sonographic images. This was not the simplest notion for some of the students. As such, using a baby doll, the students were able to model various fetal presentations and lies in order to reach the correct answer. This turned into a game and was repeated many times until the entire class was able to arrive at the correct answer!

 

At the end of the session, the students planned next week’s observatory/hands-on days with SANA…

SANA carried out the 3rd educational session with the midwifery students. The main topic covered today was the 6-Step Approach to obstetrical sonography.

 

The session commenced where 6 of the students who have already worked on the SonoSim Simulator each shared a key pearl with their colleagues from their experience. Mariam, Marie, Nada, Riham, Sara and Yasmine each had a practical tip for her colleagues.

 

Subsequently an interactive didactic session ensued and the class was shown video clips of the 6 steps. The trainees were asked to figure out fetal lie and fetal sidedness. It was a most interesting session for all involved!

 

After the completion of the didactic session, Riham, Nada and Sara each had images obtained using the SonoSim Simulator on which they wanted feedback. They had saved them on their smart phones. This proved most helpful as the were critiqued on the biometric planes and caliper placement. It proved to be an amazing teaching exercise!

For the 3^rd year in a row, SANA commenced the annual ultrasound course integrated into the midwifery curriculum at the School of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli Branch.

 

The team had met last week for introductions and goals and today marked the first official didactic session. The class this year is made up of 15 students. In addition, there are 5 graduated midwives from the community who have joined the course in order to receive the much needed training in ultrasound that shall impact their clinical work in various settings all over North Lebanon.

 

The main topic today was the basics pertaining to physics and knobology. The midwifery students were quite excited to commence and they were given today’s handouts.

 

SANA’s portable probe was on hand today to create a pseudo-simulation setting using sonographic images on the screen and illustrating to the students the probe handling and orientation with respect to the image on the screen. This proved to be quite useful!

 

Most importantly, the ALARA principle and the 6-Step Approach to Obstetrical scanning were discussed and their importance stressed to the students.

 

The team then headed back to CFAFC for an introductory session on SANA’s simulator. This is the first year that the trainees will commence working on the simulator at the initiation of the course and SANA’s is quite excited about the impact that shall have in their practical skills.

 

This year, SANA was able to secure 20 copies of Abuhamad’s e-book ‘Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology: A Practical Approach’ for each of the trainees. These were distributed to cement the strong foundations they shall need into the future.

 

It was a most exciting start and SANA looks forward to the evolution of its new trainees…