“Zverev Readings”

Students and residents of pediatric surgeons from numerous universities in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan gather annually in the city of Yekaterinburg, Russia, for the Winter School “Zverev Readings” dedicated to the memory of the founder of pediatric surgery in the Urals, Alexey Fyodorovich Zverev. The school is organized by the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the Ural State Medical University (USMU), headed by Professor Natalya Alexandrovna Tsap.

After the solemn opening of the international school by the rector of USMU, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Kovtun O.P., each team presented its creative greeting, introducing their city and university.

During the scientific and practical conference “Student to Teacher,” the team from West Kazakhstan Medical University presented a report by Gaukhar N. Konysova on the topic “Early diagnosis of hip dysplasia in children under 6 Months of age in remote areas of the Aktobe region.

Competitions started with the quiz “Own Game,” during which teams had to quickly answer questions about the history of medicine, significant dates, and the lives of famous figures in pediatric surgery and medicine.

Team leaders from the academic staff delivered lectures to the audience on current issues in pediatric surgery. Associate professor Bisaliev B.N. gave a lecture on “Appendicular peritonitis in children”.

In the “Drowning Rescue” competition, teams competed in swimming speed in the pool and the correctness of helping a drowning person. They secured prize positions.

In the “Stationary” and “Night duty” contests, participants demonstrated their knowledge in simulated duty situations, showcasing communication skills with patients, applying plaster bandages, wound care, performing laparoscopic appendectomy, and practicing the technique of forming intracorporeal laparoscopic sutures on simulators. Prize positions were also achieved in these contests.

In the “Medical skiing” competition, after a 3 km ski race in the forest, participants had to apply a transport splint, transport bandage, or a tourniquet to the limb of the simulated injured person and transport them over obstacles.

   

In the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation competition, participants demonstrated the art of resuscitation on special pediatric mannequins. The jury for all competitions included team leaders from the academic staff. The cultural and entertainment program featured a satirical play, “Paradise,” performed by the traveling satire theater “TvAri,” and a visit to the Museum of Military Equipment in Verkhnyaya Pyshma.

The closing ceremony of the “Zverev Readings” school was accompanied by the final speech of the “veteran” of the Winter School, USMU Vice-Rector for science Ivan I. Gordienko, and the participants sang the school anthem. Participants were awarded diplomas for the aforementioned competitions, certificates, and commemorative souvenirs were presented. The International Student Winter School concluded with a festive dinner, during which words of gratitude were expressed to all organizers and participants of the “Zverev Readings.”