AENEID is a new educational paradigm that will revolutionize the field of Neurosurgery. It is a pilot project that will improve the way of selecting, training and assessing European Neurosurgery residents, creating a new generation of excellent physicians who can operate as talented and compassionate neurosurgeons, utilizing the most innovative technologies to serve patients better.AENEID will build a European network among neurosurgery residents and staff from European Centres of Excellence (under EANS guidance), leading simulation companies and university experts in psychology, ethics, clinical empathy and communication.Thanks to this unprecedented path (composed of teaching from the leading EU university masters combined with top-notch simulation and cadaver lab training), European neurosurgeons will excel in terms of performance, clinical empathy and self-confidence, to foster the “patients’ safety first” concept. Ten junior residents (from ten different Neurosurgery Centers of Excellence) will enter AENEID to obtain a licence to operate on humans after completing a patient-free training; afterwards they will enter a defined rotation schedule across the European subspecialty centers of excellence. Trainees will also receive specific education to improve their humanistic/soft skills to become better doctors. Progress will be tracked through innovative methods (learning curves at simulators and cadaver workstations). Simulation companies will refine their prototypes, to make more realistic simulators.This holistic approach will let us unravel the personality traits of the candidates with the highest chances to excel in this profession as well as find the best ways to allow all candidates to develop their potential.This project aims to promote a new educational approach that may be implemented in a full-time residency program to standardise neurosurgical training across Europe. AENEID could also be replicated and applied to other healthcare fields in the future
The AENEID project aimed to establish a European Academy for neurosurgery, uniting expertise to standardize education and enhance skills. A pilot program selected PGY1 residents from leading centers, offering tailored, technology-driven courses to ensure consistent proficiency and safe training. Residents rotated through centers of excellence, gaining specialized knowledge while minimizing patient risk. AENEID redefines EANS training and inspire similar initiatives.
Neurosurgery is among the most demanding medical fields, yet no EU-wide standardized learning method exists for neurosurgical residents. This gap, compounded by language barriers, results in variable surgical standards across countries, cities, and hospitals. Selection and training flaws include subjective evaluations, inconsistent programs, limited innovative tools, and inadequate performance assessments.
<< Background >> Neurosurgery is among the most demanding medical fields, yet no EU-wide standardized learning method exists for neurosurgical residents. This gap, compounded by language barriers, results in variable surgical standards across countries, cities, and hospitals. Selection and training flaws include subjective evaluations, inconsistent programs, limited innovative tools, and inadequate performance assessments. << Objectives >> The AENEID project aimed to establish a European Academy for neurosurgery, uniting expertise to standardize education and enhance skills. A pilot program selected PGY1 residents from leading centers, offering tailored, technology-driven courses to ensure consistent proficiency and safe training. Residents rotated through centers of excellence, gaining specialized knowledge while minimizing patient risk. AENEID redefines EANS training and inspire similar initiatives. << Implementation >> WP1: training needs analysis through a review of the literature and interviews to neurosurgery staff. WP2: recruitment of six PGY1 residents. WP3: basic principles of neurosurgery.WP4: rotation. WP5: practice on neurosurgery simulators. WP6: Academic Fridays (AF).WP7: residents’ evaluation.WP8 quality monitoring, WP9 dissemination, WP10 project management. << Results >> -Syllabus -Online logbook -Global Candidate Evaluation (GCE)-Improvement soft skills and theoretical knowledge (Academic Fridays)-Improvement of technical skills (simulation trainings, cadaver lab, rotation - ‘driving licence to neurosurgery’)