Underwater and hyperbaric medicine: enrolment is open until 18 November for the tenth edition of the ‘Piergiorgio Data’ second-level university master's course, promoted by Sant'Anna School with the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology in Pisa
The director of the advanced training course, Vincenzo Lionetti, associate professor of Anaesthesia and Resuscitation: ‘The increase in domestic accidents and the expansion of underwater activities make it urgent to invest in the training of doctors and nurses specialised in these areas, to combat silent killers and address underestimated risks’
Investing in the training of medical personnel and nurses who are specialised in underwater and hyperbaric medicine means providing tools to save lives and improve the quality of healthcare, thanks to personnel capable of managing patients who present symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and who have been involved in underwater accidents. In order to promote an effective prevention strategy and to increase the presence of facilities and personnel in all healthcare facilities, enrolment is open until 18 November 2024 for the tenth edition of the two-year ‘Piergiorgio Data’ Second Level University Master's Degree Course in Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, organised by the Sant'Anna School in collaboration with the CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology in Pisa.
To whom it is addressed. Graduates in Medicine and Surgery and undergraduates in Medicine are eligible to apply, provided that they have completed all their examinations prior to the start of the Master's course and plan to graduate by 1 January 2025. The ‘Piergiorgio Data’ Master's Course was the first advanced training programme in Italy to provide European certifications for underwater and hyperbaric medicine, which are recognised globally and are useful for launching careers all over the world.
How the Master's programme is run. Teaching activities emphasise scientific research as a tool for continuous multidisciplinary updating and also prepare students to conduct innovative studies in the field of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, drawing on the infrastructure and network of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre ‘Health Science ’ of the Sant'Anna School and the Institute of Clinical Physiology of the CNR. The two-year duration allows for in-depth knowledge and the development of practical skills for the diving and hyperbaric field.
‘Every year, carbon monoxidepoisoning and diving accidents are silent killers and underestimated risks on the increase,’ explains Vincenzo Lionetti, Associate Professor in Anaesthesia and Resuscitation at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre Health Science of the Sant'Anna School and director of the Master course, ’which claim victims in far greater numbers than we can imagine: in Italy alone, around 6000 hospitalisations and more than 350 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are estimated every year; while 1000 diving accidents are recorded every year, and of these more than 10 per cent are fatal. Carbon monoxide poisoning and the risks associated with diving pose a serious threat to public health, requiring an urgent and coordinated response. Despite the importance of hyperbaric therapy, often underestimated until it is too late, hyperbaric chambers and specialised medical personnel are insufficient, limiting access to life-saving treatment. Underwater and hyperbaric medicine, which is essential for the management of conditions related to extreme environments and also to domestic and environmental hazards such as accidents with heating systems and fires, requires constant updating and greater appreciation'.
‘The increase in domestic accidents and the expansion of underwater activities,’ Vincenzo Lionetti emphasises, ’make it even more urgent to invest in the training of specialised doctors and nurses to keep civilians and even the military safe. It is essential to promote an effective prevention strategy and to ensure the presence of adequate facilities and personnel in every health facility. Underwater and hyperbaric medicine,' Vincenzo Lionetti concludes, ’can be complementary to many medical careers. It is a multidisciplinary speciality that embraces general practitioners or specialists in different branches of medicine. Whatever his or her specialisation, it is common for a doctor to come across the management of health problems peculiar to underwater or hyperbaric medicine, and this is why he or she needs to be prepared. In addition, a course in these areas is already being planned for nurses, who are essential professionals in dealing with emergencies in extreme environments'.
