"The Latam Academy of Microbiology has been a beacon of knowledge that has illuminated my professional path," said Nancy Camacho, chemist in charge of the laboratory of the Baja California Pediatric Oncology Center of the Castro Limón Foundation in Mexico. Nancy's words reflect the feelings shared by hundreds of healthcare professionals who have participated in this revolutionary educational program, created by bioMérieux in 2020 to strengthen the understanding and practice of microbiology in Latin America.

 “With the creation of this first of its kind Academy, bioMérieux seeks to empower healthcare professionals to meet current and future challenges in the field of microbiology and brings even more value to public health”, supports Clemencia Casas, Microbiology Regional Marketing Manager and manager of the initiative. "Real-time decision making is a daily reality for healthcare professionals. Continuous education is an imperative for them to keep up to date with latest medical developments to provide optimal care to patients”, highlighted Dr. Norma Hernandez, Sr. Director of Medical Affairs for bioMérieux in Latin America.

Supported by the Pan American Association of Infectious Diseases, this educational initiative has 1,772 active students  in 18 Latin American countries on a three-year journey through three modules: Basic Microbiology, Antimicrobial Resistance and Advanced Microbiology.

A Successful Program With A High Adherence Rate

Dr. Beatriz Ariza, microbiologist at the Clinical Laboratory of the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogota, Colombia and part of the Academic Committee, celebrated the consolidation of this project with great emotion: "To see the birth, growth and consolidation of an idea into such a successful Project and today to see in the first graduates of the Academy, the fruit of all this joint effort, only fills me with immense gratitude for being part of it ".

The Academic Committee, composed of Dr. Beatriz Ariza, Ms. Remei Gordillo, Chief of Microbiology at the Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala, and Mr. Alberto Calvo, General Manager of Diagnóstico Grupo Vargas (Ganbaro/Cienvar) in Venezuela, was responsible for the successful program of studies and the search for expert speakers in the field of microbiology.

This commitment to academic excellence and the adaptability of the program were elements praised by the students, who found a learning platform with a surprising adherence rate between 65% and 80%, well above the average for virtual courses. Virtual classes and forums with experts, as well as periodic evaluations, have been vital tools for the success of this educational program.

The success of this educational program has opened new doors for the future. bioMérieux is now planning to expand the initiative to Brazil in 2024 for 200 selected students. The Latin America Academy of Microbiology promises to continue its legacy of training professionals demonstrating bioMérieux’s commitment to improving public health in the region.