Would you like to start with a brief overview of your work?
“I’m a lecturer in anatomy and a neurosurgeon at the Angers University Hospital. I’ve been teaching anatomy at the University of Angers since 2014. It was my passion for anatomy that guided me towards teaching. Being well aware of the importance of having a solid anatomical background, I felt it was essential to progress in anatomy to improve my surgical practice. And to share all of this with my students. This is a subject that requires dedication, curiosity and guidance. I wanted to share my experience with the students and work with them so we could progress together.”
What are your academic background and thesis topics?
“After a clerkship at the Caen University Hospital, I chose to specialize in neurosurgery in Angers. I then did six years of residency in surgery and anatomy, where I was able to train in Angers, Tours and Marseille thanks to university exchange programs. Then, I did a four-year fellowship in neurosurgery in Angers, apart from six months in Geneva (Switzerland). At the same time, I took part in a training course run by the French medical college of anatomy professors. Every month, we take a test with senior anatomy teachers. In this way, we can develop and improve our courses before teaching them to our students. I did this for seven years before becoming a lecturer in anatomy in 2021.
My clinical thesis was on the anatomy of the jugular foramen, under the supervision of Prof. Velut (Tours). This work was of great interest to me, both from an anatomical and surgical point of view, as it introduced me to surgical techniques that I now practice on a weekly basis. My doctoral thesis focused on the anatomy of brain white fibers in the non-dominant hemisphere. I studied the structural support of visuospatial cognition in tractography MRI data and dissections (work carried out under the supervision of Prof. Menei in Angers).”
Do you see any differences between the way you were taught and the way you are teaching now ?
“Working on these theses enabled me to progress as a clinician and improve my knowledge of neuroscience. I was fortunate to be taught in a rich and consistent way. At every stage of my studies, I really appreciated the contact with the teachers who shaped my interest in anatomy. I find it much easier to work with videos and annotated quizzes than with books. So I decided to share the advice I received via digital content as a complement to lectures and dissections.”
How do you build a connection between your discipline and the way you teach it to your students?
“As a young lecturer, I want to improve the way I interact with my many students. I find it essential to get their feedback so I can adapt the resources to their needs. My goal is to get them studying anatomy every day. I think AKIVI has the potential to make this possible. I have a very positive view of the changes in anatomy teaching. I believe that training healthcare professionals is a key objective for our society. Developing new tools will enable us to complement available resources without replacing them. Every student is different. As a teacher, I think that we need to ensure that they have all the tools they need to progress.”
What's your opinion on the AKIVI app?
“I am the founder of the AKIVI app, so I might be a little biased. But on a more serious note… AKIVI’s mission is to help future healthcare workers learn about the human body by offering certified content tailored to their needs. Our vision? We want to become a company dedicated to healthcare professionals and their patients, with a positive human impact, respectful of all, and certified. Our aim is to develop a French-made digital platform, distributed internationally, which harnesses academic excellence and adapts to its users (Adaptive Learning).”
Any final thoughts you'd like to share ?
“Today, there are no major French players in human anatomy training. Leading players are either US- or Netherlands-based (Complete Anatomy was developed in Ireland and acquired by Amsterdam-based Elsevier). AKIVI will be the first Made-in-France player with a real competitive edge. Let’s not forget that France is renowned for its tradition of transmitting anatomical knowledge. The French anatomical school emerged in the late 18th century and pioneered the teaching of anatomy and surgery in France. It played an important role in the development of modern medicine, training many famous physicians and surgeons. It is essential to ensure national sovereignty when it comes to EdTech.”
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AKIVI would like to thank Dr Florian Bernard for his time to availability.
To find out more about our subject :
Find out more about the University of Angers’ support for AKIVI by reading La révolution médicale est en marche !
In 2023, the AKIVI anatomy application was awarded the Grand Ouest prize by the Banque Populaire Corporate Foundation for the 3rd year running. To mark the occasion, here’s a short video report with medical students talking about the application, and AKIVI’s founders – including Dr Florian Bernard – explaining the ins and outs of the project.
