Brno became a centre for surgical education! The Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University hosted the third international "TBL Workshop With Real Temporal Bones." Twenty European doctors immersed themselves in intensive practice, testing complex surgical procedures on real temporal bones.
For the third time, doctors from various European countries gathered in Brno to refine their skills in temporal bone surgery. The international "TBL Workshop With Real Temporal Bones," organized at the Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University, provided a unique opportunity to work on real cadaveric specimens and master advanced surgical techniques. The two-day intensive training, which took place on March 13-14, 2025, was led by top experts in the field.
"The goal of the course is for young ENT surgeons to learn surgical techniques for various ear procedures. These procedures treat complications of middle ear infections and include surgeries for implantable hearing aids," explains Assoc. Prof. Milan Urík, M.D., Ph.D., is the organizer and chief instructor of the course. "Each participant practised fundamental surgical procedures, such as mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy, in real conditions, which is extremely valuable for their professional growth."
During the two-day course, doctors also practised reconstructing the middle ear ossicular chain using modern titanium prostheses, trained in cochlear implantation, the implantation of an active middle ear implant, and bone conduction implants. In the final phase, participants focused on more demanding procedures such as stapes surgery and facial nerve decompression.
A major highlight was the guided tour of the Simulation Center at the Faculty of Medicine, which left participants deeply impressed. "It was absolutely stunning," commented one participant. "The technological level of the centre is incredible and gave us a new perspective on medical education."
The course was conducted in English and held under the auspices of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. It was led by leading Czech and Slovak experts, including Prof. Ivo Šlapák, M.D., CSc. (Brno), Prof. Zdeněk Čada, M.D., PhD (Prague), Prof. Karol Zeleník, M.D., PhD (Ostrava), Miroslav Veselý, M.D., PhD (Brno), and Assoc. Prof. Lukáš Varga, M.D., PhD (Bratislava). Special thanks also go to Assoc. Prof. Marek Joukal, M.D., PhD, Head of the Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Medicine, and to the companies Medel, Medtronic, Zeiss, and Karl Storz, which supported the technical aspect of the course.
Participants came not only from the Czech Republic and Slovakia but also from Montenegro, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. They rated the course as exceptionally high-quality and beneficial for their professional development. This success motivates the organizers to continue hosting future editions. "It is both a challenge and a reward for our hard work," concludes Assoc. Prof. Urík. "We want to continue providing top-tier education and contributing to the advancement of modern surgery."
Courses like this are crucial for the professional growth of doctors and reinforce the position of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University as a leader in medical education in Europe.
This year, 55 students received the Dean’s Award in Czech study programs and the Excellence Award in English study programs across several categories. The awards were presented to the students by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at MU, Martin Repko, Vice-Dean Eva Brichtová, and Vice-Dean Lubomír Křivan.
At its regular meeting on March 25, 2025, the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, approved the budget for 2025.
