For the purposes of the course “English for Medical Academic Purposes”, taught at the Medical Faculty of the University of Ioannina, we connected via Skype with Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam, Holland, on 24/11/2016. During the connection, our students had the opportunity to interact with Dr Michael Doukas, Pathologist (and graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Univ. of Ioannina) and Dr. M.C. Clahsen-Van Groningen, Nephropathologist, two distinguished doctors working at Erasmus MC.

The purpose of this task was to encourage students to employ English in an authentic communicative environment as well as to provide them with relevant information about the academic and medical professional environment in one of the most ground-breaking European university medical centres. Inherent interest was expressed by both sides and among the issues discussed during this interaction were: medical studies and specialties, managing personal and professional life, common diseases encountered by the specific doctors, transplantation procedures at Erasmus MC, etc.

Dr. Michael Doukas & Dr. M.C. Clahsen-Van Groningen                             U.o.I medical students

Special thanks are owed to Dr. Michael Doukas for his assistance in setting up this digital interaction and for his active participation in it.

Our aim is to continue implementing similar actions in the future in order to help students have access to a window to the real world out there and, in doing so, to promote international partnerships with institutions abroad.

The instructor

Dr. T. Tseligka

Senior Teaching Fellow in EAP/ESP

thtselig@cc.uoi.gr