A Scientific Researcher of Tyumen Cardiology Research Center trained at Mayo Clinic for a year

Fulbright scholarship is awarded to specialists in the fields of art, science, including medicine. More than 370 000 students fr om 160 countries of the world became participants within this program. The program is fully funded by the US government. There are three stages to get it: an approval of a scientific project, an interview with Fulbright program Russian representatives, a verification of a project and all documentation by specialists fr om the USA. Specialists in the field of medicine studied Anna`s scientific project. Russian physicians rarely participate in the program: Anna has been the only participant this year.

Anna`s project was devoted to revealing a mechanical dyssynchrony in the patients selected for CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-modern effective method of congestive heart failure treatment). She was interested to check Tyumen Cardiology Research Center (TCRC) study results at other group of people, because there are 2500 Mayo patients with implantable devices for CRT. One more aim was to learn new echocardiographic techniques available to be applied in TCRC. After the project approval, Anna had an oral interview with the Committee which including Fulbright Program Russian representatives, Moscow State University educators, graduates of the program. They estimated her personality: ability to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances and to a new work environment; the English language skills and others. Then host clinic should accept applications. Before confirming a fellowship, Anna together with Vadim Kuznetsov (Professor and Anna`s thesis advisor) had sent the study project to Mayo Clinic. The letter of guarantee, wh ere the great interest to our study and readiness to hosting were expressed, was received the same day.

It has been over a year since applying to Fulbright Foreign Student Program. In August 2018, the scientist got a positive reply. A significant advantage of Fulbright Program is possibility not to leave relatives. Anna`s husband and two children went with her. Anna`s family support played the key role in making decision to participate in the project. After getting the letter of guarantee, Anna got the letter from Donald Trump, the President of the United States. On behalf of the Americans, the President congratulated on opportunity to represent our country as a participant of state exchange program and wished to get unique experience, to meet new people and learn more about their country with rich culture and history.

The traineeship started from the pre-departure guidance in Moscow. The program was intended to people with adaptability, without any assistance. It was a big stress for our scientist, but also great experience of stepping outside of her comfort zone too. Anna was lucky to find an accommodation near the clinic and many helpful open-minded friendly people.

Mayo Clinic is a huge structure. About 52 000 employees are working for the clinic (730 employees, by comparison, are in our center). It is situated in Rochester, Minnesota. It is very cold in winter there; therefore, pedestrian subways are widespread in that small town. Health care is provided in all medical fields.

Anna Soldatova occupied a scientific researcher position and started working one week after her arrival. She had to cope for herself. Scientific curator helped insignificantly. It was positive aspect as a result. People from all over the world come to scientific traineeship and everyone has to negotiate and try to help. Anna made good friends. She hopes keeping not only their scientific cooperation, but also strong friendship. Moreover, she prepared a presentation about our center and about the city of Tyumen to get acquainted with colleagues. Everybody liked it and asked many questions. Anna invited everyone to our center.

As for scientific work, a patient data storage and searching system are very tangled in clinic. She got accesses to all programs and could be engaged in scientific work only after three months of working. Sounds ridiculously, but everyone who was in Mayo clinic, would understand it. Anna was working at huge echocardiographic laboratory. There were 50 ultrasound rooms, wh ere examinations were fulfilled all day long. Ultrasonography was done by specialists- sonographers, and then a physician watched images and signed a conclusion. A direct contact with patients was prohibited, but our scientist was allowed to carry out ultrasonographies within her project. All patients reacted positively. A clinic scientific base is huge, many people study there, therefore, patients were fine with it.

The slogan of all clinic team — “patient needs are paramount”. Stuff follows this principle unconditionally and each employee actions at each examination and treatment stage are directed to it. In Mayo clinic, a collective approach to work amazes. Even famous and experienced physicians aren’t shy to say that they don’t know anything. They always ready to give advice and help to colleagues. It is interesting that physicians and sonographers shift each other every day in Ultrasound Department. Their protocol is so unified that any physician can work with any other employee, with any device that eventually is a great advantage for the patient. A heavy burden is placed on nurses in inpatient care units. They confidentially talk to a patient, do the main paperwork, find out all details of patient condition. A physician has an opportunity to negotiate with a patient not only about his disease but also about anything else; it makes patient calm, feel relaxed and confident. What is more, the quality control manager is always together with a physician and a nurse at the round and ready to solve all problems.

Mayo Clinic study demonstrated that patients feel more comfortable, when physicians do not wear white coats. A decision of formal dress code was made not to distance from the patient. In addition, everybody wear chip badges, which differ by colors. Anna Soldatova had the grey one and everybody understood that she was a foreigner and occupied scientific researcher position. Mayo Clinic is open 24 hours a day. Stuff may enter any departments at any time. This is the way to show an openness in communication, to share experience. The information is shared with great pleasure in Mayo Clinic.

Implementation tactics of any scientific projects is the following: before the beginning, a researcher writes a detailed inquiry, proves materials which can be necessary for it, research relevance, does the overview of literature — and it is already almost a whole article. Then this inquiry is processed by physicians, lawyers, statistics specialists, epidemiologists and other experts. Before starting even something, more than a month passes. All information about patients in base is closed, everything is accurately regulated. It is possible to obtain data, only when you have an approved research protocol, and it is impossible to step back from this protocol. Any changes are coordinated additionally. These rules are established to protect patient personal data, and of course, to improve scientific research quality.

As for the stuff of the clinic, the working day starts at 6 a.m. Thematic lectures begin at 6:30 – 7:00 a.m. It is not unusual for them. At midday, there are lectures too and it is called ‘lunch and learn’, because the stuff has meal at that time. It is very convenient: you may eat and listen to an interesting lecture. There are 24 hours canteens almost in each block, a fitness club that is open 365 days a year, a swimming pool. All leaflets and posters in Mayo clinic remind that employees take care of patients and the Clinic takes care of employees.

Various discounts, bonuses for employees, preferential health insurance, dental help, material support for employees whose children are getting higher education, are actively introduced.

Anna has collected and shared professionalism and cultural experience. Within the traineeship, much scientific data was accumulated. Our scientific researcher is preparing this information for publications and continuing   cooperation with Mayo colleagues remotely: she is still involved in several projects. As a result, Anna carried out four scientific researches: several Mayo Clinic projects and her own, ( to that the grant had been received), simultaneously.

Apart from that, our physician shared that she was very pleased to be at home, in the native country. She considers TCRC an excellent medical facility. Many Russian scientists want to come back and, someone will probably do that. There are some difficulties and disadvantages in the USA too.

The science has much in common, differences are minimal. There is a unity between science and practice in TCRC, but the patient treatment prevails in Mayo Clinic, however, the science always goes nearby. If a discovery is made in Mayo Clinic, it is the cause for change of clinical recommendations, which are observed by the whole world. Nevertheless, it is more convenient to pursue science in Tyumen Cardiology Research Center and it is less complicated sometimes. We are similar in teamwork, in multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Patients choose Mayo Clinic for their pleasant attitude, for service. Service is everything for everyone in this clinic. Mayo Clinic treatment and equipment are at the level of any other clinic in the world.

Anna Soldatova hopes that she will be able to bring new ideas into her work in Tyumen. She has already some ideas on Tyumen State Medical University student interaction. Anna was glad to visit the best medical institution in the world, but also our scientist was nonetheless pleased to come back to her home and native team to continue her work for the greater good of our patients’ health.