Hosting an Educational Careers Day Within the Virtual Paradigm: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group Experience.

INTRODUCTION:  To explore our experience of hosting the 10th Annual Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group-Society of British Neurological Surgeons (NANSIG-SBNS) Neurosurgery Careers Day, held virtually for the first time. METHODS:  Reflective feedback and review of an international, virtual neurosurgery careers day. The authors reflect on the logistics of organizing the event, and the pre- and post-event feedback provided by delegates. Recommendations have been made on how to successfully host a virtual event. The key themes that permeated the event have been outlined and discussed in the context of the feedback received. RESULTS:  The event was attended by 231 delegates from 20 countries worldwide. Knowledge of neurosurgery as a career and the application process increased after attending the careers day (4.27/5 to 4.51/5, p=0.003 and 3.12/5 to 4.31/5, p<0.001 respectively). The key themes identified from the event include attendance, networking, and education. Qualitative feedback was positive and indicated a positive perception of the careers day. CONCLUSIONS:  The future of educational events is unclear, and a hybrid approach is recommended to retain the benefits of the online space when in-person events eventually return.

Students' perceptions on race in medical education and healthcare.

Major racial disparities continue to exist in our healthcare education, from the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities when teaching about clinical signs to health management in primary and secondary care. A multi-centre group of students discuss what needs to change in medical education to cultivate physicians who are better prepared to care for patients of all backgrounds. We argue that the accurate portrayal of race in medical education is a vital step towards educating medical students to consider alternative explanations to biology when considering health inequities.

Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Rare Case of Spinal Drop Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of spinal drop metastasis in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is rare. In previous reports, this diagnosis occurred after surgical resection of GBM, which was believed to increase the likelihood of tumor seeding. Diagnosis of spinal drop metastasis prior to surgery remains rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a 57-year-old woman with a brief history of confusion, altered behavior, and agitation without any other significant past medical history. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head demonstrated an intra-axial lesion of the right temporal lobe as well as evidence of leptomeningeal disease around the medulla. A spine MRI scan revealed spinal drop metastases at the level of C1 and T6/T7. Subsequent biopsy confirmed WHO-2016 grade IV GBM. CONCLUSIONS: The awareness of the possibility of spinal drop metastasis prior to surgical resection of GBM is important. The use of routine MRI of the whole neuroaxis in patients diagnosed with GBM can aid in prognosis and management options.