Double degree engineer-doctor/doctor-engineer towards a new generation of experts
Posted date: 03 Mar 2022
Augmented humans, connected objects, the emergence of artificial intelligence, the development of telemedicine… the considerable advances in technology are revolutionizing modern medicine. This trend, destined to increase in the coming years, must be able to rely on health professionals of a new generation, capable of mobilizing skills at the crossroads between medicine, research and technology.
It is to meet these new needs that, since 2019, the École Centrale de Lyon, the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and the Hospices Civils de Lyon have joined forces around a double degree engineer-doctor/doctor-engineer. The objective: to bring the two professions closer together from initial training. The 2021-2022 academic year marks the first year of full integration of students in their partner establishment.
A course designed to acquire solid knowledge and skills
This training is thus part of a rapidly changing context in medicine which requires a very high level of technical skills. More than a simple opening to a new discipline, it is a question of enabling students to acquire solid complementary knowledge and skills.
"This dual training is fully in line with the current evolution of medical practices. The aim is to train future experts in DNA sequencing, image analysis by artificial intelligence or robotic surgery, within the framework of high-tech medicine centered on the patient. The diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as the monitoring of patients call for the use of advanced technologies. This dual training should allow the emergence of new interface professions to accompany a multidisciplinary evolution of medicine. - Pascal Roy, University Professor - Hospital Practitioner of the Hospices Civils de Lyon, coordinator of the double degree at the Faculty of Medicine Lyon Est.
Students express their interest in the double degree as soon as they enter Centrale Lyon or their second year at the Lyon Est or Lyon Sud faculty of medicine. Candidates are then selected on the basis of their file and their motivations. At the same time, they follow refresher courses in other disciplines, conduct adapted internships and participate in educational activities that combine the two student profiles.
“ Our goal is not to allow our students to change direction during training. We want to train professionals who are destined to mobilize both roles. Common projects and meeting times make it possible to mix the two profiles and make them evolve together.» - Céline Helbert, Lecturer at the École Centrale de Lyon, in charge of the development of the double degree.
At the end of the second year of the engineering course or at the end of the third year of medicine, the students are then definitively admitted to the double course. The training of doctors continues with 2 years at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon and then with their second cycle of medicine. That of the engineers continues entirely in medicine with a compulsory end-of-study work in a company.
“ I joined this course to design new tools in the service of medicine. I want to do robotics with my doctor's cap to improve my diagnosis ” - Double degree student (engineering to medicine flow).
Ambitions reaffirmed and reinforced
The 2021-2022 academic year marks the first year of full integration of students in their partner establishment. On this occasion, Centrale Lyon, the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and the Hospices Civils de Lyon reaffirm the innovative partnership initiated in 2019. The establishments agree to increase the number of staff in the years to come in order to meet the growing demand from students. This dual degree, emblematic of the engineering-health collaboration, will serve as a model for the construction of other excellent systems on the Lyon-Saint-Étienne site.
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