Medical students introduce unique project

Students of the Comenius University in Bratislava improve their skills within a unique Future Medical Leaders Academy project.

Illustrative stock photoIllustrative stock photo (Source: Sme)

Patients should be cured after visiting doctors, but also satisfied with their approach. This is the main idea of the project running at the Comenius University’s Medical Faculty. During two semesters, composed of 20 trainings, students will learn more about communication, empathy, time management, working in a team, critical thinking, and leadership.

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The Future Medical Leaders Academy is unique not only in Slovakia, but also in Europe, the Comenius University informed in a press release.

The project was created in early 2016 by students Tomáš Havran, chair of the Bratislava Medical Students Association, and Marek Karman, former president of the Slovak Medical Students’ Association.

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“To build a good relation with patients is not easy; it requires the knowledge of so-called soft skills which is something medical students need to learn but, most of all, try it before starting their practice,” Havran said, as quoted in the press release.

The first semester began on March 15, 2016 with 36 students divided into three groups. The students of first to fifth year will attend one training a week, focusing on selected topics.

“We hope that the sooner the students join and acquire these skills, the sooner they will be able to apply them in hospitals,” Havran continued, adding that the project is offered additionally to the education at the Medical Faculty.

Vice-Dean of the Comenius University’s Medical Faculty Viera Štvrtinová considers the project important for students as they should know basics of rhetoric, communication, ethics and philosophy.

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“Only this can help them become mature personalities capable of helping their patients,” Štvrtinová said, as quoted in the press release.

The next two trainings will take place on April 16, 2016, starting at 9:00 at the premises of the Institute of Anatomy of the Comenius University’s Medical Faculty on Sasinkova street in Bratislava. They will focus on time management and conflicts in teams. The trainings will be held in English for both Slovak and foreign students.

The applicants need to register for the event online at fml-academy.weebly.com or in person in Bratislava Medical Students Association on Sasinkova street in Bratislava. The fee is €99 for the whole semester. Though it is now possible to register only for the next semester, the organisers plan a summer camp which should take place in early July, Havran told The Slovak Spectator.

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