On 26 and 27 June, the first NATON network meeting for dissection and preparation assistants took place at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. With over 60 participants from all over Germany and numerous other interested parties on the waiting list, the meeting was fully booked - a clear sign of the great need for exchange, networking and professional development in this central field of work in our network.
The two-day programme offered a successful mix of lectures, workshops and practical demonstrations: Topics such as minimally invasive tissue removal, corneal preparation, CT angiography and virtual reality CT biopsy were on the agenda, as well as peer-to-peer dialogue about everyday experiences. The practical workshops, which offered the opportunity to discuss methods together and practise them directly, were particularly appreciated.
In addition to the professional training, the network meeting was also a strong sign of appreciation for the work of those who contribute daily in the section room to making scientifically high-quality and standardised autopsies possible in the first place. The great commitment and active participation of all participants showed once again how important these professional groups are for the success of NATON.
We would like to thank everyone who made the meeting possible through their participation, contributions and support - and we are already looking forward to the next meeting, which will take place in Freiburg next year!