Marshal of the Polish Senate on a visit to ”Nicolae Testemitanu” University

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova was honored by the visit of His Excellency Mr. Tomasz Grodzki, Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, accompanied by several senators and Mr. Grzegorz Opalinski, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Moldova.

The distinguished guests had a meeting with representatives of the administrative team, during which the First vice-rector Olga Cernetchi, vice-rector for didactic activity, presented brief information about the University and the partnerships with prominent institutions from Poland, touching upon aspects related to the strengthening of collaborative relationships in higher medical education and research in the field of health and medicine, in the context of integration into the European educational system.

According to the First vice-rector, our university has concluded cooperation agreements with Warsaw University of Life Sciences, the Wielkopolska Centre of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery in Poznan, the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Maria Skladowska-Curie University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, and the Medical University of Bialystok. Within the framework of these agreements, joint visits for documentation, information, and exchange of experience take place between university employees and those from partner institutions at simulation centers in dentistry, pharmaceutical centers, libraries, public health schools, student campuses, etc. "The mobility programs for teaching staff and students contributed to strengthening the capacities of beneficiaries in their specialized fields, as well as to establishing new partnerships with other specialists in this area and participation in joint projects of mutual interest”, pointed out professor Cernetchi.

Another popular program among students is the two-week summer internship, organized annually for 10-12 students from the faculties of Medicine, Stomatology, and Pharmacy in the partner institutions, starting in 2007.

In November 2022, the Ministry of Education and Research of Poland in partnership with the National Health Contact Points organized the HORIZON4Poland event in Warsaw. The aim of the event was to increase the potential for cooperation between academic institutions in creating partnerships and applying for grants under the Horizon Europe program. Employees of the Project Support Center of our university participated in this event for the purpose of developing and submitting joint research projects. Following this event, collaborative relationships were established with the Medical University of Lodz and the Polish Center for Technology Development.

H.E. Marshal Tomasz Grodzki expressed his surprise at the multilateral activity, the infrastructure, and the well-developed technical-material and information base of our university. At the same time, His Excellency specified that both Poland and the Republic of Moldova faced similar problems in the field of the health system – insufficient funding, the crisis of medical staff, the migration of young specialists, etc. "This fact, however, does not mean that we are exempt from working more, we should contribute with joint efforts to solving the deficiencies in the system and improving its functioning, for the benefit of the people," stated the Marshal of the Polish Senate.

The meeting was also attended by Stanislav Groppa, vice-rector for research, Valeriu Revenco, vice-rector for clinical activity and residency, Victoria Cravet, vice-rector for economic-financial activity, the scientific secretary of the University Senate and the deans of the faculties of Medicine no. 1, Medicine no. 2 and Pharmacy.

Marshal Tomasz Grodzki delivered a public lecture for students, resident doctors, and scientific teaching staff. The lecture about peace and democracy was motivational and encouraging for the young people who were advised to identify themselves with the country that educated and trained them as specialists and to contribute to the development of a society based on the principles of democracy and intellectual class consolidation. The message was also addressed to young people studying abroad, who were urged to return to their homeland and develop their potential in Moldova as "the sky is the limit" for them here.

The event held at Nicolae Testemitanu University is part of the agenda of the official visit undertaken by the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland to Chisinau on January 24 and 25, 2023.

Tomasz Grodzki is a professional surgeon, professor, and Habilitated Doctor of Medical Sciences. In 2011, under his leadership, a team of doctors from the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Transplantation of the Pomeranian Medical University in the city of Szczecin successfully performed the first lung transplant. In the same year, the President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski awarded him the title of Professor of Medical Sciences.

During his medical career, he held important management positions at the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2003-2004); in 2004 he became the first Polish citizen member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery – the most prestigious society of thoracic surgery in the world; president of the Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (2016-2018).

His political career began in his native city of Szczecin, where he has been elected city councilor for 3 terms. In 2015, he became a senator from the Civic Platform party. As a result of the October 2019 elections, Mr. Grodzki was re-elected senator from the left-wing Civic Coalition.

On  November 12, 2019, Tomasz Grodzki was elected Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland from the opposition Civic Coalition with 52 votes out of 100, which consists of members of the Civic Platform party, the Polish People's Party, and the Democratic Left Alliance.

PHOTO gallery: Meeting with representatives of the administrative team

PHOTO gallery: Public lecture