Neuruppin, 22 November 2018

Basle (Switzerland) hosted this year’s annual meeting of the German, Swiss and Austrian Societies of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM, SGUM, ÖGUM) from 13 to 16 November 2018. Among the more than 2,000 participants of the renowned interdisciplinary conference were MHB students Gregor Barth and Fabian Schummer and Prof. Dieter Nürnberg, senior professor of gastroenterology and director of the BIKUS at the MHB.

The two students presented preliminary findings from a feasibility study entitled “point of care ultrasound” on the use of mobile ultrasound devices for home visits in rural areas. The study explores ways to improve medical care in regions with low physician density via modern pocket-size ultrasonic devices. Another aim, so the students, was to develop a training programme for physicians as an incentive to use such mobile devices for home visits.

In their capacity as ultrasound tutors the two MHB students gained insights into latest developments, attended workshops and lectures and made contacts with physicians and fellow students.

They reported exchange with students from other ultrasound skills labs as particularly stimulating. They arranged the attendance of MHB ultrasound tutors at future advanced training weekends nation-wide and at European congresses. This networking will serve as a first step in securing a uniform standard of ultrasound training at medical schools in Germany and facilitate a sharing of skills with teams from other universities. An attendant industry exhibition offered the chance to test the latest ultrasonic devices and simulators. Gregor Barth and Fabian Schummer returned from Basle with lots of innovative ideas and fresh motivation for their activities at the MHB ultrasound skills lab.

Students organized in the DEGUM had an additional meeting on Friday. The German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine is Germany’s largest interdisciplinary medical society with over 11,000 members. Its student section is committed to ultrasound training at German medical schools and a strong national network of students with an interest in ultrasound. Gregor Barth was elected to the board of the section, which makes the MHB ultrasound skills lab an official member of the national network.

Mainz will host the 2019 meeting of the three ultrasound societies in the German-speaking area.

Honorary DEGUM membership for Dieter Nürnberg

At the meeting in Basle, the DEGUM awarded its honorary membership to Prof. Dr. Dieter Nürnberg for his commitment over many years to ultrasound diagnostics.

Former DEGUM board member Dr. Bernd Frentzel-Beyme gave the laudation. He described Nürnberg’s activities in the field in a wide range of capacities, from seminar instructor, congress host, treasurer and president to DEGUM delegate at national and international levels: “He organizes and directs biannual EUROSON schools on interventional sonography in Berlin on a regular basis and currently serves as advisor for the ultrasound world federation where he supervises all Centres of Education world-wide. His wit and rhetorical skills have contributed to his international reputation as a much appreciated clinical instructor. Nürnberg draws the energy required for his manifold professional activities from marathon training among other things, with an incredible 2 hours and 40 minutes as a personal best. He is a real fighter, a critical mind who never sways with the wind. He keeps calm, congenial and persuasive even in difficult situations. He is and remains a dedicated proponent of ultrasound diagnostics with great integrative powers.”