INTERVIEW
InSimo and AGOF: Innovating for Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Training
Interview with Pierre-Jean Bensoussan & Frédéric Glicenstein
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13th November 2024
InSimo and AGOF’s story is one of partnership that has led to the creation of 4 clinical obstetric ultrasound cases, with 5 additional exercises focused on fetal ultrasound coming very soon. To highlight this milestone, we invite you to hear Pierre-Jean Bensoussan, President of InSimo, and Frédéric Glicenstein, President of AGOF. They reflect on their teams’ collaborative work, their shared ambitions, and their future projects.
How did the collaboration between InSimo and AGOF start?
Pierre-Jean : The partnership with AGOF is linked to the development of our online ultrasound simulation software, diSplay U/S, designed to be widely accessible and partially free, with no equipment required.
diSplay U/S was born during the first 2020 lockdown, initially focused on lung ultrasound content for COVID-19 patients diagnosis and follow-up. We then decided to continue investing in this project, expanding diSplay U/S into a more generic ultrasound simulator.
We involved doctors and trainers to co-develop new exercises and training paths, incorporating crucial medical expertise. After presenting our simulator at numerous events, including SoFraSimS 2022, Maxime Ros, CEO of KEYROS MEDICA and renowned neurosurgeon and surgical pedagogy expert using virtual reality, introduced us. Things then moved quickly; after a demo, Frédéric saw potential in our simulator, and we began developing obstetric ultrasound exercises and setting up this partnership and its funding.
Frédéric : In 2018, while preparing for my Master’s year, I learned about IRCAD’s work on anatomical structures segmentation. Unfortunately, a training program on the subject couldn’t be realized at the time.
It was only in 2022 that Maxime Ros connected us with InSimo and Pierre-Jean. Discovering the diSplay U/S simulator was an instant revelation: a perfect tool to support our efforts to modernize gynecology and obstetrics simulation.
Paris Santé Femmes 2024 Congress
Paris Santé Femmes 2024 Congress
Journées d’Anatomie et de Robotique Chirurgicale inter-Associations 2024
What projects have you undertaken together?
Frédéric : AGOF offers various communication, awareness, and training activities for gynecology and obstetrics interns: podcasts, outreach initiatives, events, etc.
For this first project with InSimo, we aimed to create educational content on echo-anatomy through a webseries showcasing experts and real patients for genuine diagnostics, alongside simulation exercises that replicate the exact clinical cases, allowing students to practice and test what they learned from the video.
A pilot project was created in 2023, funded by the Saint-Maurice maternity unit, AGOF, the National Academy of Surgery, InSimo, and FMC Productions.
Pierre-Jean : More recently, we developed echo-anatomy cases focused on endometriosis, with 1 new theme and 3 different clinical cases to provide anatomical variability. These cases range from 1/ identifying anatomical structures in healthy patients to 2/ examining pathology.
Frédéric : These echo-anatomy cases on endometriosis were repurposed for a friendly challenge among gynecology trainees at the Paris Women’s Health Congress 2024, with prizes awarded for the highest scores.
What challenges have you faced with these projects, and how did you overcome them?
Pierre-Jean : Developing an initial clinical case always presents challenges as it requires time to understand mutual needs: each other’s expertise, educational goals, technical features that can be feasibly developed within a reasonable timeframe, etc.
Frédéric : Funding is another major challenge. This stems largely from the lack of value assigned to such work, despite the human, economic, and societal importance of reducing medical errors. Secondary prevention (patient follow-up) is financially underappreciated by both government and insurers.
Pierre-Jean : Indeed, the business model is a real issue, as the clinical cases developed with AGOF are freely accessible on our simulator. Our goal is to engage sponsors to financially support and help grow and sustain our project in the long term.
Finally, I would say that promoting the developed cases is another challenge. These are quality resources created with experts in their field. Our project launching later this year will bring visibility to this great collaboration.
“Our goal is to engage sponsors to financially support and help grow and sustain our project in the long term.“
Pierre-Jean Bensoussan,
President InSimo
What synergies exist between the teams?
Frédéric : The InSimo team works closely with doctors, making communication easy since we share a similar language. My Master’s in 3D Imaging Production is also a real asset in understanding our discussions and developing fetal ultrasound clinical cases.
Pierre-Jean : I completely agree with Frédéric. There is a genuine synergy between doctors and engineers. We are truly in a partnership with AGOF, working hand in hand.
Can you share an anecdote or memorable moment in your collaboration?
Frédéric : Probably going around to various industry stands with the simulator in hand during the FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Behind the scenes of the creation of a new clinical case study
InSimo and AGOF teams
Pierre-Jean : Exactly… at this highly visible event, our goal was to approach the attending industry representatives. Frédéric and I spent hours carrying the simulator around, moving from stand to stand to meet companies and showcase our project, with a demo each time. It was literally “door-to-door” prospecting, which paid off and led to valuable connections.
Another memorable moment was at a conference day Frédéric organized, where he moved seamlessly from a talk to a simulated delivery, then to an ultrasound, and then, without missing a beat… a small concert. In short, a lot of passion, talent, and energy in everything he does!
This year, AGOF and InSimo are launching a second webseries, “AGOF Ultrasound.” What does this project entail?
“65% of young obstetrician-gynecologists turn to online theoretical training for fetal ultrasound. Studies found that the majority of available training on this subject is costly and inaccessible, creating a gap between trainers and users.”
Frédéric Glicenstein, President AGOF
Frédéric : In 2022, an AGOF survey among our representatives revealed that 65% of young obstetrician-gynecologists turn to online theoretical training for fetal ultrasound. Studies found that the majority of available training on this subject is costly and inaccessible, creating a gap between trainers and users.
So, we worked closely with InSimo to develop a 5-episode webseries on fetal ultrasound, integrated with the diSplay U/S simulator. This webseries was also made possible with support from LEN AXIS.
The goal is to offer an immersive educational tool that allows interns and young doctors to learn fetal ultrasound for free, without constraints of location, time, or resources.
Pierre-Jean : What’s interesting is the creation of high-quality content with a strong partner and expert involvement. They developed the educational framework, which allowed us to build the technical and simulation components to enable users to transition from theory to practice.
The series structure is also very engaging: well-made expert videos, demonstrations with real patient cases, and hands-on practice using the diSplay U/S simulator on their smartphones, replicating the exact steps and images from the diagnostic process.
Webseries AGOF : Fetal ultrasound training
- The gall bladder
- Liver, stomach, spleen: general description
- The ductus venosus
- When the mesentery turns over
- Hepatic vascularization
💻 Log in to diSplay U/S online ultrasound simulator to practice.
