Orthodontic Advanced Education after COVID-19
COVID-19 has impacted many industries in the world, including ours, and this has led me to reconsider the methods for orthodontic education. During this period, even if you had gone to the United States to learn orthodontics, most courses would have been taught primarily with online videos. Therefore, is there actually any real educational difference between studying online lessons in the United States and doing exactly the same thing in Taiwan? If there is no discernable difference between the two, then I personally would prefer being trained in the comfort of my home in Taiwan. Why spend so much time and money going to the United States to receive the same education?
Now, a perfect solution has presented itself. The International Medical College (IMC) of the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Germany, contacted us in the hope that we could provide them with a prerequisite orthodontic program. In addition to learning comprehensive orthodontics in this program, every participant is required to complete two case reports, in order to attain a thorough understanding and perception of the whole treatment process. This solid training helps to greatly strengthen your foundations in orthodontics. After completion of this program, doctors will be instantly eligible for admission to the Specialized Orthodontics Master’s program in UDE. The curriculum of the Master’s program combines online distance learning from home and internships in Germany. After finishing the course and your Master’s thesis, which is either a systematic review or an original scientific research, you will receive a fully accredited Master’s degree in Orthodontics. I believe that the concept design of the curriculum in UDE is very consistent with post-COVID orthodontic education. Instead of wasting so much time and money traveling to a specific location in the world to study, this is the method that will be more frequently applied in the future.
The three cases in this issue are all written by doctors who are joining the UDE Master’s program this year. The report that I am most moved by has been written by Dr. Nawal J. Al Mutawa, a female dentist from Bahrain, who originally qualified as a prosthodontics specialist. In her practice, however, she found that many cases needed orthodontic treatment, but she was unable to receive an orthodontic education in Bahrain since she is a prosthodontist. Pre-COVID, I gave a speech in Bahrain, and having listened to my speech, she finally found the best way to learn orthodontics - she flew to Taiwan to learn from me. During my course, she asked me a question: how could she become certified as an orthodontist and be able to officially practice orthodontics in Bahrain? The Master’s degree in UDE is the best answer that I could find.
She has now completed two case reports and this month is joining the UDE Master’s course. As you will yourselves discover from her case report in this issue, her work is amazing. A huge 14mm overjet was improved so dramatically in only 18 months. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that she is more than capable of becoming a most proficient orthodontist. The only thing that she is lacking is an official certification. Now, the UDE Master’s degree program has solved the puzzle. I am very grateful to be able to teach such a student.
Finally, in this issue’s Taiwanese lifestyle, we introduce how to raise chickens in an unconventional manner. I believe you are smart enough to agree with my new approach.....and if not, I’ll be starting an online international chicken rearing path to glory course very soon!
CC