From November 21st to 24th, PUMCH hosted the China-Morocco Temporal Bone and Lateral Skull Base Microsurgery Training Program, attended by 13 senior Moroccan doctors. Since its establishment in 2012, the program has attracted senior doctors from 10 countries and regions for systematic and immersive learning.
The opening ceremony featured distinguished guests, including Radouane Chaouki, Deputy Chief of the Embassy of Morocco in China; Jin Xiaoming, Director of the Science and Technology Diplomacy Expert Committee of the CAISTC and former Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology; Prof. Du Bin, Vice President of PUMCH; Prof. Raji Abdelaziz, President of the Moroccan Otorhinolaryngology College, and Prof. Gao Zhiqiang, Director of the Department of Otolaryngology at PUMCH, who all delivered speeches.
The PUMCH microsurgery course and visiting physician program of the temporal bone and lateral skull base is one of the featured international exchanges of the hospital. In this year’s Morocco-tailored program, 8 professors, 2 associate professors, and 3 private hospital directors from Morocco were selected to get involved.
▲ From left to right: Radouane Chaouki, Jin Xiaoming, Prof. Du Bin, Prof. Raji Abdelaziz, Prof. Gao Zhiqiang.
The program was started with a demonstration of a high-difficulty surgery: Type A+B lateral skull base paraganglioma (PGL) resection through the infratemporal fossa approach. The surgery lasted for 11 hours, and the tumor was completely removed. During the surgery, PUMCH experts provided detailed explanations of standardized surgical steps, key considerations, risk points, complications, and corresponding treatment strategies, as the participants attentively observed and engaged in enthusiastic discussions.
Based on actual needs, the curriculum of this four-day course included fundamental surgical operations, key principles, and the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment for middle ear mastoid surgery and lateral skull base surgery, combining classic Fisch Technique with PUMCH’s innovations. “The professors are very experienced, and explained everything very well. After returning home, we will impart the knowledge to more people,” said the participating doctors, who eagerly absorbed the material and expressed their immense benefit from the program.
Created by Prof. Ugo Fisch, known as the father of modern otoneurologic and skull base surgery from Zurich University Hospital, the Fisch Technique is the most widely used and recognized technical system in this field worldwide. In 2011, PUMCH’s Department of Otolaryngology sent Prof. Feng Guodong to Switzerland to study this technique, under the guidance of Prof. Ugo Fisch and Prof. Thomas Linder. Prof. Fisch spoke highly of the PUMCH team on various occasions, saying that “they quickly mastered all the techniques and demonstrated exceptional skills in practice.” Benefited from extensive practical experience and self-developed new instruments, the department has continuously optimized surgical methods and established an otolaryngological minimally invasive surgical (MIS) technology laboratory and surgical training system. While inheriting and developing Fisch Techniques, the department also formed the unique PUMCH approach, attracting attention both at home and abroad.
PUMCH has consistently adhered to an international development strategy. Over the past five years, the hospital has launched specialized training programs in departments such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, otolaryngology, anesthesia, laboratory medicine, radiology, ultrasound, and nursing. These programs have attracted more than 100 international trainees from over 20 countries and regions. Moving forward, PUMCH strives to further expand its friend circle, deepening academic exchanges and cooperation with more countries and regions.
Written by Wang Jingxia, Li Nian and Fu Tanpin
Photos courtesy of Sun Liang
Edited by Chen Xiao and Wang Jingxia