
Over time, WEO has developed four formats for PET courses. Future PET organizers may draw upon content from past programs of each of these formats:
- PET Standard: 1½ days. The course includes lectures, large group discussion sessions, hands-on activities, and breakout sessions, with a focus on developing individual teaching skills rather than the structure and organization of the training program.
- Mini PET: 1 day. This course can be integrated into conferences. Hands-on sessions are usually substituted with demonstrations of teaching on models and/or discussions of pre-recorded videos of teaching on real procedures or simulators. Breakout sessions are generally not included.
- Micro PET: ½ day. This course can be integrated into conferences or other courses. It includes lectures and discussions only, but may incorporate pre-recorded videos of teaching on cases or models.
- TelePET: This is a new program currently under development, designed to create a series of short videos highlighting the concepts taught in in-person PET courses. While it can be a standalone program, it is not intended as a substitute for in-person PET courses. The material may also be used as preparation before attending a PET course or as a post-course review.
PET focuses on didactic skills “how to teach endoscopy”: specific skills for the teacher, how to be more effective at addressing various levels of fellowship, integrating technical and cognitive knowledge, what materials need to be learned by students and how to select trained doctors as teachers who will participate and enhance the ability of the trainee to learn endoscopy in all of its aspects.
Attendees will include approximately 30 qualified medical doctors and/or surgeons who practice and teach digestive endoscopy. It is encouraged to invite attendees who are proficient in English, although this may not always be possible.
Faculty is usually comprised of 4-6 international and 3-5 local experts. International faculty is suggested by the program director and chosen in close communication with the local host.
WEO program director together with the local course director discuss program topic and timing. It is possible to sample attendees prior to the course to accommodate for local needs.