International transfer of knowledge: Training and education in craniomaxillofacial surgery. Contributing to humanitarian aid by teaching the teachers

Abstract

The development of multiple international aid programs aims to offer health care according to basic quality standards to the global population. In many fields of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery such as the treatment of head and neck tumours, complex or acquired malformations and craniomaxillofacial trauma, aid programs contribute to solve urgent needs although in the long term only the establishment at local or subregional levels of stable specialized healthcare networks including training of specialized health personnel will be able to contribute to achieving an adequate standard of care. In this paper we review our experience regarding the different efforts made to enhance education and training in the specialty at the European level by the EACMFS and at the global level by the IAOMS.

Keywords

• Oral maxillofacial surgery
• Postgraduate education
• Standards of care