In November 2022, I had the privilege of attending the 4th Intensive Assessment & Teaching Seminar for EULAR Authors and Convenors in Paris. This was a joint seminar for EULAR authors & convenors and selected EMEUNET sub-committee members.
This unique seminar brought together junior and senior educators from across Europe for a weekend of reflection, skill-building, and collaboration on how we teach and assess rheumatology.
The setting—Paris in late autumn—was inspiring, but what truly left a mark was the structure and content of the seminar. Under the guidance of experts like Dr Catherine Haines, Prof Xenofon Baraliakos, and Prof Christopher Edwards, we explored strategies for making learning not only evidence-based, but also engaging and accessible. From “polling and Q&A games” to coaching techniques for live presenters, every session focused on bridging the gap between knowledge and effective delivery.
One of the most transformative sessions for me was the hands-on review of assessment questions. Using feedback from learners and the guidelines for EULAR Online Course Authors, we worked in course-specific teams to revise our materials with clarity, brevity, and clinical relevance in mind. The “F-shaped reading pattern” and the call to “write like a slide designer” stuck with me—less is truly more when teaching under time constraints and cognitive overload.
The seminar was not just about technical improvement. It fostered a sense of community. Sharing dinner with rheumatologists from different countries, all passionate about education, reminded me why I joined EMEUNET in the first place: to learn, contribute, and connect.
If you’re an EMEUNET member involved in education, I cannot recommend this seminar enough. It is a rare chance to step back from the rush of clinical practice and rethink how we teach the next generation of rheumatologists.
Written by Halbert Hernández Negrin, EMEUNET Newsletter Sub-Committee member
