SCALPEL IV - Mountain

Welcome to the fourth edition of Scalpel! The one and only international surgical symposium organized by students, for students in Spain.

This marked the inaugural edition in which the symposium successfully embraced an international audience. Scalpel extended a warm invitation to students across Europe, providing them with the opportunity to participate in the conference’s diverse range of activities. Attendees engaged in presentations, workshops, and networking events alongside more than 150 participants, including medical students from various universities in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and across Europe.

Held from February 15 to 17 at the Campus del Mar of Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, the symposium received support from Hospital del Mar, Parc Salut Mar, and its team of dedicated surgeons.

While maintaining the established structure of previous years, the 2023 edition demonstrated enhancements across all aspects. Workshops offered during the event covered a broad spectrum, including vascular surgery, heart surgery, polytrauma simulation, ophthalmological surgery, neonatology, bandaging techniques, suturing, echo-guided venous drainages, dermatology, orthopedic surgery, neonatal CPR, pelvitrainer simulation, neurosurgery, gynecology, advanced CPR, tracheostomy, and urology.

The lineup of presentations featured two insightful conferences: “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Separating Fact from Fiction,” led by Dr. Medrano, and “May AI Be With You, Young Clinician: Embracing the Future of Healthcare,” presented by Oscar Camara. Additionally, two roundtable discussions were held on “Surgical Societies” and “Women in Surgery.”

Complementing the academic agenda, participants enjoyed lunch, coffee breaks, and after-work gatherings. These social occasions provided valuable opportunities for students, residents, and experienced doctors to connect, fostering a sense of community among those who share a passion for medicine and surgery.

We hope that all of the students who participated had a great time learning and practicing surgery. For the international attendees, we hope they had an incredibly pleasant stay and enjoyed their time in Barcelona. We hope to see you again next year!

Special thanks to all of our collaborators, specially the surgeons of Hospital del Mar, who instructed the surgical workshops. Finally, special thanks, as always, to our Honorary President, Prof. Manuel Pera, for his unconditional help and support.