title: Obstetrics and gynaecology training in Europe needs a next step.
abstract: Changing societal demands on doctors necessitate changes in the training of gynaecologists. Adapting this training will need well-thought-out and comprehensive planning that addresses the needs of the major stakeholders: society, patients, and doctors themselves. Doctors need to be cognizant of societal issues such as rapidly rising healthcare costs and budgetary crises, and be able to participate in the solutions. This demands effective medical leadership, which has been a neglected area in postgraduate training. It has become increasingly evident that a holistic view of the patient rooted in proper teamwork and systems-based practice is essential to provide patient-centered care. Specialists need to expand their skill set to participate in this kind of care. Furthermore, the feminisation of the medical profession and a new generation of doctors rejecting the constraints of the traditional model of medical care introduce new professional perspectives. This manuscript briefly reviews the challenges faced in the training of European gynaecologists in an effort to provoke discussion about how to best train the gynaecologists of the future.
authors.affiliation: European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Standing Committee of Training and Assessment, Brussels, Belgium; European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Training the Trainers Working Party, Brussels, Belgium; Health Systems Innovation and Education VUmc University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: f.scheele@slaz.nl.
authors.forename: Fedde
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scheele
authors.affiliation: European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Standing Committee of Training and Assessment, Brussels, Belgium; European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Training the Trainers Working Party, Brussels, Belgium; Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Ziva
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Standing Committee of Training and Assessment, Brussels, Belgium; Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vetter
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caccia
authors.affiliation: European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Standing Committee of Training and Assessment, Brussels, Belgium; European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Training the Trainers Working Party, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goverde
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005060:Europe; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011361:Professional Competence
keywords: Competencies; EBCOG; Europe; Medical education; Specialists; Training