The Medical Education Development Center (MEDC) of Gifu University (GU) hosted the "86th Medical Education Seminar and Workshop in the University of Toyama" on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7, 2023. A hybrid-style seminar (online and offline), and 13 in-person workshops were attended by 172 people, including lecturers.

The seminar started with a speech by Professor Takamura Akiteru of the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Toyama, under the title, "Think about Japanese Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship - what is a real regional based practical medical training." Dr. Takamura reported on a long-term community-based primary care practical training conducted at Mie University, the University of Miyazaki and the University of Toyama. His speech was followed by students' reports about their own experiences of participating in the training. The participants were given an opportunity to think about the necessary regional medicine, education for students coming from different prefectures, and the prospects of primary care practical training. They also discussed how to improve regional based medical training at each university.

In the workshop, the participants exchanged opinions and shared their ideas about 13 different themes. They included "Experience! Toyamaipi : Let's design interprofessional education (IPE)," "Let's try a painting observation method in medical education," "Let's create a new training program that can help the growth of young medical workers," and "Social and scientific viewpoints necessary for regional medical leaders - Part 1: Viewpoints of urban design engineering."

Under the theme of "Experience! Toyamaipi : Let's design interprofessional education (IPE)," the participants listened to IPE activities designed for students studying public health and medical welfare in Toyama and Ishikawa prefectures. They also discussed a partnership among universities and the sustainable operation of IPE.

The participants discussing the theme, "Social and scientific viewpoints necessary for regional medical leaders - Part 1: Viewpoints of urban design engineering" welcomed an expert on urban design engineering and creation of healthy urban spaces, and learned the latest urban design technology and how to analyze data from the perspectives of designing their own region. Later, the participants worked on designing and analyzing their hometowns and received feedback from the expert. Through their attendance, the participants learned how to improve their skills to create a healthy community in the future.

As a joint usage/research center for medical education, MEDC holds a medical education seminar and workshop three times a year to promote, develop and improve the education of medical staff education in Japan. The "87th Medical Education Seminar & Workshop" will be conducted online from Thursday, January 18 to Saturday, January 20, 2024. Applications are accepted through the MEDC website from December 2023.