General Information

In 1991, Prof. Michel Osteaux (Radiology, UZ Brussel, Brussels) founded, together with colleagues from several other European universities, the postgraduate Erasmus Courses. These were sponsored by a grant from the European Union and Schering AG (Berlin), now known as Bayer Schering HealthCare.

The main reasons for establishing these courses were to provide new radiological education to the increasing number of European radiologists and medical practitioners and to address the upcoming new technology of MRI, which had already evolved as one of the most important medical imaging methods. This new course is based on small-group training and interactive teaching, allowing all participants to substantially enhance their knowledge in a short time.

The nine courses are organ-oriented and comprise three to five-day modules of 30 to 40 hours. The number of students per module is usually limited to 60-100. Students are evaluated at the end of each module. The excellent teachers, who represent the faculty, come from different European universities.

Until 2003, teaching focused mainly on MRI, but since 2004, the new courses have also included other modalities. They inform participants about the best possible modality for different clinical questions. The courses are optimal for last-year residents and radiologists, with a basic knowledge of MRI being an absolute prerequisite.

Since 2009, more than 6,000 residents or radiologists from 46 different countries have attended 160 courses. The courses were held in 26 different European locations, usually organized by university departments. All courses are CME accredited, both locally by the host university and on a European basis by the EACCME.

The courses are decentralized and organized by module coordinators, following the recommendations of the UEMS-Curricula and European subspeciality societies.

An added benefit of the courses is fostering understanding and respect among radiologists from various European countries. Teachers of different nationalities learn to work together, forming a common European standard of knowledge and practice, while the students help disseminate this standard.