The international conference - Strengthening Connections between European Universities and University Hospitals was held in Olomouc, Czech Republic, with the participation of a delegation from Tbilisi State Medical University led by Professor Irakli Natroshvili, Rector of TSMU.

“We attended numerous insightful presentations that are highly beneficial for our university and for enhancing our understanding of modern medical education. The reports focused on three key areas. The first was the importance of using contemporary methods in medical education, including problem-based learning and patient-observation-based assessment practices. A major emphasis was also placed on clinical teaching, particularly on the necessity of close collaboration between universities and clinical institutions. Additionally, considerable attention was given to the issue of patients’ trust in physicians. It was revealed that in European countries, public trust in doctors has significantly declined — from 58% to 43%. Therefore, it was discussed that medical education must incorporate elements aimed at restoring patients’ confidence in physicians to previous levels,” — stated Professor Irakli Natroshvili, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University.

Participation in this conference provides TSMU with the opportunity to establish new partnerships with leading European universities and university hospitals and to engage in discussions with their leadership on enhancing theoretical and clinical training for students, as well as developing new educational standards. Tbilisi State Medical University was officially invited to the event by Professor Harm Peters, President of the Association of Medical Schools in Europe (AMSE).

During the conference, Professor Madalena Patrício, former President of AMEE, expressed her interest in visiting TSMU and participating in the forthcoming International Conference on Medical Education. Professor Patrício is scheduled to deliver a lecture on “Revisiting Ethics and Professionalism towards Transformative Medical Education” on October 30–31.