Visit of Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University, to Innsbruck (Tyrol, Austria)

On February 5-9, 2017, Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University was on an official visit to Innsbruck. On 6th of February he met with Prof.Dr. Stefan Deflorian, General Director of Tyrol Clinics and the representatives of the Administration staff. At the meeting the sides developed and signed the Letter of Intent on cooperation between the Tbilisi State Medical University and the clinics of Medical University of Innsbruck The signing ceremony was broadcasted by the local television. The journalists expressed interest and interviewed Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University and Prof. Stefan Deflorian General Director of Tyrol Clinics. Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University had a discussion with Prof. Stefan Deflorian  about the opportunity for the  establishment of telemedicine center on the base of TSMU First University Clinic. Austrian side expressed readiness to cooperate with TSMU in this direction. They are ready to provide appropriate recommendations on equipping the above-mentioned center. According to the discussions the first direction of telemedicine Center will be the cooperation between the professional teams for providing consultations to oncologic patients.  On the same day Professor ZurabVadachkoria had meeting with Prof. Wolfgang Buchberger Medical Director of Tirol Clinics. They discussed - the possibilities for development of summer training course for 4 TSMU students in Innsbruck in 2017 as well as the future plans.  It should be noted that Prof.Wolfgang Buchberger has highly praised the competence of Irakli Kokhreidze Associate Professor of TSMU.  Prof.Wolfgang Buchberger expressed his willingness to come to Tbilisi to deliver lectures for TSMU students and the faculty. On February 7, Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria met with Mr. Walfer Draxl, Director of AZW and Mrs. Walfraud Buchberger Deputy Director of AZW. At the meeting they considered Georgian-Austrian nursing program development process. Austrian colleagues presented their visions and provided recommendations concerning to the improvement of TSMU curricula. These recommendations have been already introduced to Prof. Lela Maskhulia, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Prof. Medea Jgarkava - Program Coordinator.  Austrian side will accept German-speaking TSMU students for passing nursing education program in Innsbruck in summer 2017.  Along with this, accommodation and meals will be provided for the students of the Faculty of Medicine. In early March 2017, the applicants will be interviewed via Skype. On the 7th of February, Prof. ZurabVadachkoria met with Prof.Günther Bonn, Director of the Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry. It should be noted that at present his election as the Honorary Consul of Georgia to Austria is under consideration.  Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria was highly impressed with the capabilities of this institution.  It should be emphasized that Medical University of Innsbruck has the Faculties of Medicine and Stomatology, but the Faculty of Pharmacy still belongs to the University of Innsbruck. On the same day the meeting was arranged with Mrs. Barbara Tasse, Head of International Affairs Department.  Prof. ZurabVadachkoria visited the Bionorica Scientific-Research Center where he met with Mr. Michael Walder Director of the Center and the staff of the Center: Mr. Stefan Schoubicller and Mrs. Astrid Neumann.  On 7th  and 8th of February, Rector of TSMU met with Prof. Hermann Stuppner Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy. He introduced main directions of scientific-research works of I. Kutateladze Institute of Pharmacochemistry and possible aspects of cooperation to Prof. Hermann Stuppner. Prof. Vadachkoria visited scientific labs of the Faculty and  was acquainted with the educational process. On the 8th of  February Prof. ZurabVadachkoria visited the Austrian Drug Screening Institute (ADSI) and met with Mr. Laco Kacani, CEO of ADSI. The Institute is equipped with the latest technologies. Scientific Director of ADSI is Professor Gunthen Bonn. It should be emphasized a great contribution made by Mrs. Irma Kvitsaridze, our compatriot, working in Innsbruck, Honorary Doctor of TSMU, in organization of the visit. She participated in all above-mentioned meetings. Prof. ZurabVadachkoria expresses his thankfulness to Mrs. Irma Kvitsaridze for support she provided to Tbilisi State Medical University.  Prof. ZurabVadachkoria expresses a special thanks to Prof. Gunthen Bonn, who organized the meetings at the University of Innsbruck .