”Medespera-2024” Biennial International Congress for Students, Residents and Young Doctors

Over 700 participants from 32 countries gathered at the International Biennial Congress for Students, Residents and Young Doctors MedEspera, the 10th edition, organized by Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova in partnership with the Association of Medical Students and Residents from Moldova (AMSRM). The event took place between April 24-27, 2024, and included 8 master lectures, 15 scientific sessions, a symposium and 3 round tables, 36 workshops held by well known personalities in the field of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.

In the opening of the congress, President Maria-Magdalena Vicol, student in the 6th year at Faculty of Medicine No. 1, noted that the participants, who came from different parts of the world, are united by their passion for medicine and their commitment to shaping its future together. “We stand at the forefront of innovation facing the challenges and opportunities in healthcare, and it is here, in this shared space, that we have the power to share knowledge, challenge assumptions and inspire change. This forum represents a crucial moment for students and residents in their journey to becoming leaders of medicine, while young doctors are commended for their perseverance and dedication to meeting the challenges of modern medicine. May this congress be a catalyst for professional development, a space for refining skills, sharing experience, cultivating empathy and resilience - defining qualities for exemplary providers of health services", added Maria-Magdalena Vicol.

The rector of Nicolae Testemitanu University, Prof. Emil Ceban, emphasized the relevance of the far-reaching scientific event both for the University and for the entire medical community of the country, thanks to the intellectual potential and the values ​​it promotes. In the context, Emil Ceban highlighted the fact that at Nicolae Testemitanu University, which is a member of the European academic community, higher medical studies (for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as integrated education) and postgraduate training (residency, secondary clinical and continuing medical education) are carried out in harmonious correlation with the scientific research, based on the strategic principle training through research, stipulated in the Strategy for strengthening the field of research and innovation in the years 2020-2030 and in the Strategic Development Plan of the University for the same period.

"In achieving this goal, a particularly important role belongs to young researchers, who have always constituted a valuable intellectual potential of the nation. Namely, you are the force capable of generating and implementing innovative and progressive ideas and projects. The congress represents a favorable platform for: presenting scientific results, launching innovative ideas, and identifying common interests for discussions and debates. The international dimension of the event creates new opportunities for expanding scientific cooperation. As a result, we will make progress in the training and refresher training of medical and pharmaceutical personnel; increasing the quality of medical services provided to the population and the effective development of the national health system. Thus, our aspirations of integration into the European area of ​​medical training and research will materialize", the rector pointed out.

Present at the event, Ala Nemerenco, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova, noted that MedEspera went beyond the limits of a university, throughout the world, offering exchange of experience in the scientific and educational areas, to take over good practices from foreign entities and to share the experience of the Republic of Moldova. "Even if we are a developing country, we can be proud of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, which is the most competitive university in the country and which has a respectable rating among medical education institutions of the region. I congratulate you, Mr. Rector, for this nice generation of young people who always surprise us with their achievements. I wish you great success at this congress, and the Ministry is at your disposal, so that we can have the health system that all citizens of the country and you, the healthcare workers, deserve", assured the official.

According to Alexandru Corlateanu, Head of the Research Cooperation Section, Research Department, in the last 20 years MedEspera has turned into a scientific event of the highest quality, organized by AMSRM, the most important medical student organization in the region, especially in South-Eastern Europe. "This event allows students, resident doctors and young doctors to present and discuss the best services, technologies and methods of intervention in medicine, as well as to share their own experience gained in research activities in clinics. At the same time, the congress is about communication, the meaning of science, the establishment of new links and international collaborations, new topics for discussion, interdisciplinary activity, because many disciplines are involved in the organization of workshops, round tables, and scientific sessions", Professor Alexandru Corlateanu specified.

For his part, Nikolaos Siafakas, university professor at the Department of Thoracic Medicine at the University of Crete (Greece), declared himself honored to visit the Republic of Moldova for the second time, noting that he feels at home among medical professionals. The professor has emphasized how important it is to keep up with science and to collaborate, because science unites humanity: "It is essential to understand how the universe works, while science and collaboration help us achieve this goal and unites us, and the young generation of doctors must take this into account, medicine being a particularly important scientific field". 

MedEspera is among the greatest scientific forums of our university and represents a viable platform for young researchers to promote their research projects and scientific achievements, to develop their knowledge in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and public health, and to establish relations of collaboration and friendship with their peers from other countries. 

The work of the Congress culminated with the award ceremony of the participants.

The event was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.