VCU hosts international medical science students and faculty

By Mike Porter

A delegation of medical science students and faculty from universities in Italy and Spain recently spent a week on Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia Campus to focus on health and peace in the Mediterranean region.

The students and faculty were from the University of Messina in Italy and the University of Cordoba in Spain, and they participated in a summer seminar coordinated through the Center for Integrative Mediterranean Studies, a partnership between the three universities created in October 2005.

"Its focus is to study health and peace issues in the Mediterranean Basin," said Peter Kirkpatrick, director of the Office of International Education. The Center seeks teaching grants in Europe and the United States to support its efforts.

Kirkpatrick says getting financial support so quickly for the summer seminar is a strong sign of the importance of the center's mission.

The graduate-level summer seminar, "Neuroanatomy & Clinical Neurosciences" began at the University of Messina from June 12 through June 30. John Povlishock, Ph.D., chair of VCU's department of anatomy and neurobiology, and George Leichnetz, Ph.D., anatomy professor, led a group of seven, advanced-level VCU medical students to Messina.

The second part of the seminar was offered at VCU the week of July 9. Faculty in the departments of neurosurgery, anatomy and neurobiology, pathology and neurology at the VCU School of Medicine offered seminars in their subject areas. Their presentations complemented seminars offered in Italy.

"This was a tremendous academic exercise, brief and intense. It reinforced some topics they had already learned and taught them something new," said Povlishock.

Visiting students spent their days with lectures, laboratory exercises and lab tours. But organizers say also important was what the group learned outside of the classroom. Visitors explored their host country's language, food and culture.

"Not only was this valuable academically, but the students received a total immersion experience," Povlishock said.

The visiting students took a cruise on the James River and learned about Richmond's history and architecture through informal social gatherings with local students.

They also toured Washington, D.C., and even managed to work in a trip to the ESPN Zone so the Italian students could cheer the home team to victory in the World Cup Soccer Championship.

The summer graduate seminar adds to the already active international medical clerkships that have been established for students from the three universities. In addition, pharmacy and dentistry clerkships between the three universities also are being offered.