Expert3D on the Importance of 3D Technology Training in the Medical Sector

A few months ago we introduced you to Expert3D, a postgraduate course aimed at doctors, healthcare professionals, engineers and technicians in the healthcare sector. Offered by the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona (SJD) and other European medical centers, and accredited by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (with ECT credits), this course has theory-based modules dedicated to certain areas of focus among which artificial intelligence, 3D printing and medical image post-processing stand out. In addition, the growing demand for 3D applications in the healthcare sector has encouraged many organizations to launch professional training and courses to meet the need to adapt to new technologies in medicine. In this context, we met with two of the main representatives of Expert3D, Josep Munuera and Arnau Valls, to learn more about the importance of training in the healthcare sector as well as technical knowledge of the additive manufacturing industry, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. This is the third year the course has taken place and in 2021 it is also supported by EIT Health.

3DN: Can you introduce yourself and talk about your connection to 3D printing?

We are Dr. Josep Munuera, Head of the Diagnostic Imaging Department at SJD, and Arnau Valls, engineer in the R&D department at the same Hospital and co-directors of the Expert3D course. In 2015, together with a multidisciplinary team of 2 surgeons, 1 bioengineer, 2 simulation experts and 1 finance manager we created the 3D planning unit of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (3D4H Unit), one of the first 3D planning units in Spain and one of the first in Europe at pediatric level.

A la izquierda Josep Munuera y a la derecha Arnau Valls. Los Co-Directores del Curso Expert3D

The creation of the unit and the contact with the technology came naturally and out of common interest from each of the specialization areas. 3D planning is a technology that in health is born from the union of the deep knowledge of radiological imaging, anatomy and diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and knowledge of technology and the production of custom medical devices. This conjunction of specialties and the curiosity to learn and explore the possibilities of technology and other fields are what motivated this collaboration. Since then, we have worked on complex surgical planning projects and R&D projects in the field of medical image post-processing and 3D at national and international level. Four years ago, seeing that there were no specific training programs in the field of 3D planning applied to medicine, we decided to create one ourselves in order to reflect what we would like training in this field to be.