Mega Doctor News

By Karen Villarreal

EDINBURG, Texas – A UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine faculty member has been recognized at the international level for his work in educating physicians. 

Dr. Hooman Mir, SOPM assistant professor of medicine and faculty senator, recently led surgical Amputation workshops at an annual conference hosted by Imperial College London School of Medicine, one of the top 10 medical schools in the world, as he has for the past five years.

“The Imperial College London School of Medicine is known as the John Hopkins of Europe,” Mir said. “It was an honor to run this Surgical Amputation workshop once again while representing our inaugural UTRGV SOPM Program.”

In November 2022, the Imperial College School of Medicine Surgical Society recognized Mir’s contribution to the annual trauma conferences and presented him with a plaque of appreciation for what they called “Pioneer Work in Academic Medicine & Physician Student Education.”

“We are delighted to welcome him every year, as he is an engaging and dedicated teacher with a mastery of the technique,” said Louise de Galbert, trauma chair of the Imperial College Surgical Society. “Our delegates commend the interactive and hands-on nature of the workshops.”

DEDICATED TO EDUCATING

Mir’s workshops on amputation were attended by 250 student-doctors from medical schools around the world, including Oxford and Cambridge.

Over the course of two days, 20 students at a time would take the hour-long workshop – which meant Mir was teaching for 14 hours straight.

His workshop included hands-on experience, practicing surgical amputation techniques on pig feet – which resemble the human foot structure. These include preserving any viable nerve structures and skin.

Mir also shared information about the ‘Mega-Disparity’ that exists between Hispanic/African American Diabetic patients and the rest of diabetic population when it comes to treatment of diabetic foot ulceration and prevention of amputation.

“The U.S. level of amputation is extremely high ­– more than most countries,” Mir said. “The majority of diabetic foot ulcerations and ulcerations are preventable with proper patient education. Unfortunately, by the time the patients see a podiatrist or are in the ER, it’s already too late. Their ulcer has developed into bone infection, and at that time we have to go with amputation.” 

ACADEMIC MEDICINE IN ACTION

While attending the conference annually keeps him updated with the most innovative advances in academic medicine and surgery, Mir said, another big part of the experience is getting to know the incoming physicians.

“One-on-one interaction is always the key for excellence in medical training,” Mir said. “Students walk away from that experience with the level of confidence required of them as future physicians.”

Hossein Abdolmohammadpour Bonab, a fourth-year medical student from Aston University, in Birmingham, England, said he learned a lot from Mir at the workshop.

“His amputation workshop was definitely one of the highlights at the conference,” Bonab said.

Mir posted live video of the workshop for his UTRGV SOPM students, and said he looks forward to taking at least two UTRGV SOPM students to the next conference to participate in the student poster competitions.

“I would love to see UTRGV SOPM officially competing at the international level,” Mir said.

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