Practical Training for Foreign Students

The Interdepartmental Training Center is one of the favorite training locations for foreign students at Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University. It is equipped with the latest simulation equipment, which allows the real-time recreation of various clinical conditions of patients. During procedures here, students do not have to be afraid of making mistakes. An instructor nearby always corrects their actions and guides them in the right direction. Under the careful supervision of the instructor, students can repeat the procedure as many times as necessary until it is performed with automatic precision.

Foreign students performed a lumbar puncture under the guidance of Associate Professor Kyrylo Kalashnyk from the Department of Infectious Diseases at ZSMPhU. The class began with a lecture, during which Kyrylo Vadymovych focused students' attention on the indications and specificities of this procedure. He noted that a lumbar puncture helps to obtain lumbar cerebrospinal fluid, which is found in the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord. Examining this fluid is an important diagnostic tool for detecting diseases of the central nervous system. The procedure is performed on patients with signs of meningitis, hemorrhagic brain infarction, or encephalitis. This diagnostic and therapeutic procedure is used in neurosurgery, rheumatology, and other fields of medicine. Although the procedure is relatively simple and can take up to 15 minutes, lumbar and other punctures are considered minor invasive surgeries. Like any intervention in the human body, it requires precise skill and a thorough understanding of anatomy.

The students had not performed such procedures before, so they paid close attention to the details. Using simulators, they observed how to properly prepare the patient, technically extract the cerebrospinal fluid, and the exact amount to be collected, as accuracy is crucial to avoid harming the patient. Each student individually performed the procedure on mannequins, repeating it if necessary. Kyrylo Vadymovych conducted a brief survey to ensure the students understood the topic and could perform the procedure independently in real-life conditions.

Such practical sessions with international students are typical, and the university provides all the necessary conditions for their conduct. All ZSMPhU educational facilities are available to students. Simulation training not only enhances individual professional abilities but also helps future doctors develop teamwork and collaboration skills.