by InTrieste
Doctors and medical residents in Trieste are undergoing advanced training in pediatric emergency care this week as part of a program designed to elevate clinical response standards and improve outcomes for critically ill children.
The course, jointly organized by the University of Trieste and the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, focuses on life-threatening pediatric conditions—including cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, respiratory failure, and severe trauma—as well as effective teamwork in high-pressure clinical environments.
About 60 pediatric residents from Trieste’s School of Specialization in Pediatrics and 15 healthcare professionals from the Burlo Garofolo Institute are participating in the training. The program brings together Italian medical expertise with international best practices, marking a rare opportunity for cross-border collaboration in a region where medical innovation often takes place behind the scenes.
The initiative is led by two leading U.S. experts in pediatric emergency care: Dr. Marc Berg of Stanford University, a global authority on pediatric simulation and a senior contributor to the American Heart Association’s resuscitation guidelines, and Dr. Brent Barber of the University of Arizona, a specialist in pediatric and neonatal cardiology. This is the first time either has taught in Trieste.
In an interview, both professors emphasized the critical role of simulation in preparing young physicians to act decisively under pressure. “Simulation allows residents to make mistakes in a safe environment,” Dr. Berg said. “It builds muscle memory, clinical judgment, and the confidence to lead in life-or-death situations.” Dr. Barber added that “pediatric emergencies are rare but intense. If you’re not ready, the cost can be high. This type of training helps clinicians respond faster and more effectively.”
“It’s about training under pressure, with real-time decision making and an emphasis on communication,” said Dr. Stefania Norbedo, a pediatric emergency physician at Burlo and faculty member at the University of Trieste, who developed and coordinated the course.
The training began on Wednesday, May 7, with a seminar at Burlo Garofolo where the American faculty presented complex clinical cases. Over the following two days, participants moved to the Center for Medical Simulation and Advanced Training (CSMAA), one of Europe’s most advanced medical simulation facilities, located at Trieste’s Cattinara Hospital campus.
There, residents engaged in immersive simulations using high-fidelity manikins capable of replicating the physiological responses of pediatric patients. Instructors introduced surprise emergency scenarios—such as cardiogenic shock, major trauma, and toxic exposure—without warning, testing participants’ reflexes and clinical reasoning in real time.
Each scenario was followed by a structured debrief, with feedback from both U.S. and Italian instructors. According to organizers, the combination of technical skills, emotional regulation, and teamwork is key to improving emergency pediatric care, particularly in hospital settings with limited resources.
As healthcare systems globally seek to expand training in pediatric emergencies, Trieste’s international collaboration highlights the growing importance of simulation-based learning and transatlantic partnerships in medical education.
