Education and Training WG

The main objectives of the Education and Training WG are:

• Promotion and development of knowledge sharing and of training and educational activities for professionals, patients, caregivers and family members, including mobility programmes
• Assessment of the educational and training needs of ERN ReCONNET target groups

In order to reach these objectives, the WG on Education and Training manages, together with the ERN ReCONNET Coordination Team, the educational activities of the ERN ReCONNET. In particular, the WG will focus on:

• Organisation of educational webinars and accredited educational activities for the ERN ReCONNET target groups
• Development of dissemination material on rCTDs (such as leaflets)
• Support the ERN Exchange Programme

Éric Hachulla
(CHRU de Lille)

Maurizio Cutolo
(IRCCS AOU San Martino – Genoa)

ERN ReCONNET accredited e-Learning Course on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue Diseases

ERN ReCONNET offers a comprehensive accredited online training program designed to equip physicians and healthcare professionals with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to recognize and manage these conditions effectively.

Through 10 focused modules, this e-learning course enhances clinical understanding and promotes multidisciplinary coordination by combining expert insights with valuable patient perspectives—ultimately aiming to improve care quality and outcomes for individuals living with these rare and complex diseases.

Course Highlights:

• Explore the latest in diagnosis, treatment, and management of rare CTDs.
• Gain perspectives from patients living with these conditions.
• Learn from leading specialists and clinicians across Europe.
• 100% accredited online format designed for healthcare professionals and students.

The course is designed for healthcare professionals, researchers and trainees specializing in the study and treatment of rare and complex diseases of the connective tissue and musculoskeletal system.

The ERN ReCONNET e-Learning Course on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue Diseases is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®), an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS).

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded 37 European CME Credits (ECMEC®) as formal recognition of their achievement. A certificate indicating the total number of ECMEC® credits earned will be provided.

Click here to have the full overview of the accredited course: link

ERN ReCONNET Webinar Programme

ERN ReCONNET organises a wide range of educational webinars on rare and low-prevalence connective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases.

All webinars organised by ERN ReCONNET are freely available on the dedicated YouTube channel – make sure you don’t miss any of our webinars, click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel

NEW webinar Season 2025

ERN ReCONNET is glad to announce the new 2025 Webinar Season under the leadership of Prof. Maurizio Cutolo and the Genoa Team (Italy), as part of the Education and Training WG.

The events planned for this new exciting season are extremely interesting, topics are disease-related as well as transversal targeting patients and caregivers, HCPs, or both. The invited speakers are top experts in their field and they kindly share with us their knowledge and expertise. The webinars are organized in collaboration with our ePAGs representatives who actively contribute as organizers, speakers, and moderators.

Registrations to ALL our webinars are FREE and OPEN, click on the title of the webinar to open the specific registration link.
Recorded episodes are FREELY available on our ERN ReCONNET YouTube Channel. 

Click here to read more about out webinar programme: link

ERN ReCONNET Exchange Program 

The ERN ReCONNET Exchange Program offers healthcare professionals and patient advocates a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate across borders. Supported by the European Commission, the program enables participants to visit healthcare providers in other European countries to exchange knowledge and best practices related to rare and complex connective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases (rCTDs).

Whether you’re a clinician, nurse, researcher, or patient advocate, this program is designed to strengthen professional relationships, support continuous learning, and ultimately improve care for patients with rCTDs.

Who Can Participate?

• Healthcare professionals from ERN ReCONNET-affiliated institutions
• European Patient Advocacy Group (ePAG) Advocates involved with ERN ReCONNET

The exchange programme is led by Prof. Eric Hachulla and his team based at the CHRU de Lille – Department of Internal Medicine, Huriez Hospital. University of Lille (France), as part of the ERN ReCONNET Education and Training Working Group.

To learn more about our Exchange Programme, click on the following link: link

ERN ReCONNET Infographic on Videocapillaroscopy

The ERN ReCONNET Education and Training Working Group (WG) is glad to release its new flyer on nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), a new and informative document targeting patients and lay audience aimed at explaining such an important diagnostic approach.

The document was developed by the Network under the leadership of Prof. Maurizio Cutolo from IRCSS – Ospedale San Martino (co-chair of this ERN ReCONNET Education and Training WG) – Genova (Italy), Prof. Vanessa Smith from University Hospital Ghent (co-chair of the ERN ReCONNET Systemic Sclerosis Disease Group and EULAR Study Group on microcirculation in rheumatic diseases) – Ghent (Belgium), Prof. Francesca Ingegnoli from Gaetano Pini CTO (co-chair CAP-SIR SG) – Milan (Italy), therefore, it was done in collaboration with EULAR Study Group on Capillaroscopy and Microcirculation and the CAP-SIR Study Group.

Regarding the NVC approach, the test is mainly useful in rheumatology and in internal medicine, for an early or to-be-confirmed diagnosis of rare and complex connective tissue diseases such as Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD), Polydermatomyositis, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), AntiPhospholipid Syndrome (APS), and offers important information on microcirculation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLA) as well as in Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) and overlaps.

The flyer can be downloaded for free (pdf), and it will available soon in several languages.
ERN ReCONNET Capillaroscopy Flyer (pdf)

More details and info about NVC can be found here.