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Final report 2006

MELANIE RUTH KARGANILLA FRANGE - MANILA, PHILIPPINES

From July 31 until August 11, 2006, the second International Summer School for Clinical Periodontology and Implantology was held at the University of Heidelberg. The first international summer school was held in 2004 and it was from my co-faculty, Dr. Christian Ermita at the College of Dentistry, University of the Philippines, that I have learned how good the program was. That was why when the dean of our unit announced that there was going to be a second one, I took the opportunity to apply at once.

This year there were 15 successful accepted applicants that came from distant parts of the world: Bosnia, Brazil, Croatia, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Philippines and Serbia. In the second week, two from Bosnia who have already attended the 2004 summer school, joined our group. During the first day, Dr. Ti-Sun Kim, the directress of the program allowed us to introduce ourselves to the class. When I have learned how far apart the countries we all came from, I said to myself that it might be difficult to create a unified group because of cultural differences. Nevertheless, I resisted my original thought and just allowed time to disprove or prove my doubts.

The program can be summarized into 5 parts. The first one was lectures on the basic courses: Classification of Periodontal Diseases; Clinical and Microbiological Periodontal Diagnosis; Antibiotics in Periodontology; Anatomy and Physiology of Bone, Cementum, Periodontal Ligament and Wound Healing; Scaling and Polishing; and Periodontal Flap Techniques. Although considered basic, I think it was still important to include this in the course so that there was a sort of a basis or starting point to get the discussion rolling and also to calibrate what everyone knew.

The second part was the more advanced perio courses such as resective and regenerative treatment and, mucogingival surgery. I considered this as advanced because these topics are not taught comprehensively in the undergraduate dentistry program in the Philippines. I would say these topics caught the interest of most of the attendees of the program.

The third part was Implantology. Here the fundamentals of setting implants, sinus lifts, biology of osseointegration and 3 different implant systems were discussed in the class. This was also very interesting because only a few in the group had experience in implantology. This has given us the opportunity to break through the concept of implantology.

The fourth part, although I would consider as part of the basic course such as Gingival Overgrowth, Aggressive Periodontitis and Periodontal Medicine were discussed, stressed and given more attention. I think because these are the topics which present cases that make our clinical practice in perio more exciting and challenging.

The fifth part was the hands-on course. This included the Dentsply-Friadent Xive, Strauman and Nobel Biocare implant systems. Also there were hands-on course on periodontal flap techniques, Furcation and Regenerative therapies (Emdogain and membranes) and, Mucogingival Surgery. In my opinion, the regenerative therapies and the mucogingival surgery were the best seller- hands-on courses. Based on the reaction of the participants and on the discussion in the class, this was where everybody was most attentive to during the presentation and, where everyone showed great interest during the hands-on course. The mucogingival lecture and hands-on were full and tiring but this did not stop the class from listening and trying it out on the pig’s mandible.

The professors that made the presentations are top –caliber. Aside from their great knowledge on the topics that they lectured on, each has its own style of making the discussions interesting. I have never imagined Drs. Caton and Machtei would be giving out a lecture in front of me. Because I have this impression that they are considered one of the demigods in perio because of their broad clinical experiences and researches. The only encounter I had with these people (which are actually not real encounters) was when I read their articles on various journals. And personally meeting them was like a chance of a lifetime. But of course my favorite was Dr. Kim, not because she was the program directress but because of the interactive lectures she had with us. Not only that she stimulated our minds but she also gave us the chance to discuss and interact with others. Such interaction made us know each other more and also made us learn and peek on how perio is taught and how cases are treated in other countries. Also as a result of this I found myself a little proud and thankful because what I have learned in perio in our country does not differ much with what the other countries teach their students. Suffice to say that what we learn in the Philippines is what I can consider as “globalize”.

The summer school was not just academic because we also had cultural awakenings of Germany. We had a lecture about the city of Heidelberg; excursions to Bensheim and Sirona Company, Ludwigsburg and Speyer; cruise along the Neckar River and a hike on the Philosopher’s trail. These activities also paved the way for the exchange of cultural experiences of the participants in their respective countries. Thus, albeit indirectly, we also had cultural awakenings of Bosnia, Brazil, Croatia, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Philippines and Serbia.

In general, to me, the entire experience was stimulating, enriching and fulfilling. Stimulating because it has broaden our knowledge in Periodontology. Enriching because if the cultural exchanges that have widen what we knew about the rest of the world. Fulfilling because both the academic and the cultural experiences have struck my mind, my heart and my soul.

As to my initial doubts of whether people from poles-apart countries would click and blend considering that the only common ground was periodontics, I would say that I spoke to myself too soon. Because at the end of the two week- program, friendships have blossomed naturally. We did not have to force it upon ourselves for the sake of perio, rather, it just happened. And because of this, the vision of Dr. Ti-Sun Kim to have a multicenter from different countries for clinical and research cooperation and exchanges in Periodontology for the sake of humanity, might not be a hard task at all. And this is what I call as the MAGIC OF HEIDELBERG.

I would like to thank:

Dr. Kim: for conceptualizing the international summer school program. I know it was a gargantuan task to organize such program. Also I thank her for the rare opportunity she has given me.

Drs. Caton, Machtei, Kruger, Eickholz, Romano, Neugebauer, and Steveling: for unselfishly sharing what they have learned and discovered

Dr. Kim’s staff (Sven, Raluca, Helga, Isabel etc): for all the supportive hard work and for baby-sitting 17 adult students

International Summer school students batch 2006: especially Nikolina, Zeljka, Milanko, Young Taek and Jin, for the wonderful company and friendship

University of the Philippines: for all the support and understanding

Dr. Nannette Vergel De Dios: my mentor in Periodontolgy

All the sponsors: if not for them, the summer school would not have happened

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