Why to choose the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava

The simulation centre SIMLEK of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava has the same modern equipment as a real hospital. It contains medical equipment and parts of pre-hospital care. The only difference is that the patients here are represented by sophisticated, modern simulators. Thus, students can try and practice various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures without fear. Thanks to this "practice training hospital", our graduates are more confident in their actions and better prepared for real-life practice. The Simulation Centre provides the necessary background and conditions for the introduction and development of practical teaching of simulation medicine in most of study programmes at the Faculty, especially the General Medicine programme.

Our Faculty administers one scholarship option - excellent study results during studies. This scholarship is awarded in the amount EUR 1000 per year to the best students according to the programme ranking based on their study results in the previous academic year. Students enrolled in the first year are not eligible for this scholarship. The ranking methodology is determined by the Dean of Faculty and may include a minimum threshold for the award of the scholarship.

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava recognizes the critical importance of mentoring and guidance for the success and satisfaction of students who have chosen to study outside their home country. Mentors (upper-year students) provide advice to incoming students, help them understand the organization of the Faculty of Medicine curriculum and orientate themselves in the new country and city, and support their personal and professional development. From the first year of study, medical students have access to faculty peer mentors and are encouraged to develop long-term relationships that will help them cope with the initial adjustment to a new environment. The basic concept of the MMP is to “pair” first-year students with experienced mentors – upper-year medical students. Students are matched with peers through the MMP, which is coordinated by Ambassador Letícia Miguel Barbosa. First-year students are assigned a peer mentor who is a key source of support to facilitate a smooth transition into the Faculty of Medicine. The peer mentor is a person that students can trust and ask for advice about their studies and life in general. However, he or she does not replace the teaching and problem-solving support provided by the Faculty through the Assistant for International Relations, the Vice-Dean for International Relations and the Vice-Dean for Studies.

Focus of the MMP

1. Seamless Transition: The primary goal is to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition for first-year medical students into their academic environment. By offering personalized mentorship, the project aims to ease the anxieties and uncertainties that often accompany the start of a rigorous medical education.
2. Guidance and Support: Through one-on-one interactions, mentors offer advice, share their own experiences, and provide practical tips on effective study strategies, time management, and coping with academic pressures. This support system aims to enhance the mentees’ learning experience and overall well-being.
3. Unity and Collaboration: The project aims to foster a sense of unity within the medical community by encouraging collaboration between students across different academic years. The exchange of knowledge and experiences creates a positive academic environment that promotes camaraderie and mutual growth.

The MMP involves pairing each group of two to three first-year medical students with a mentor from the ranks of seasoned upper-year medical students. Mentors are carefully selected based on their academic achievements, interpersonal skills, and willingness to support their mentees. Regular mentor-mentee interactions are encouraged through scheduled meetings, workshops, and networking events.

Ambassador: Letícia Miguel Barbosa
Faculty peer mentors (for the academic year 2023/2024): Letícia Miguel Barbosa, Sila Tilki, Intisar Issa, Chrystalla Georgiou

The Faculty of Medicine also strives to ensure that each incoming medical student has the opportunity to establish a personal and early relationship with one of our faculty advisors for guidance in their medical education. Students may contact the faculty advisor at critical points in their medical education. Meetings with the tutor are designed to enhance students' transition and adjustment to the Faculty, identify personal or professional obstacles early, and identify resources to overcome them. Later, students may receive career counseling, including the residency application process.

Our faculty specialist provides individual and group sessions that offer medical students the opportunity to learn proven study strategies. Upper-year students may also consult with a faculty advisor about specific specialties in which they are interested.

Duties of a tutor:

• to assist students in adapting to the University environment and teaching methods
• to arrange contact between students and the relevant Vice-Dean and/or another Faculty of Medicine official, if necessary
• to help students navigate the medical, social and psychological services provided by the Faculty/University/Hospital
• to arrange or provide counseling and guidance for students, particulrly with regard to problems related to the course or organization of studies, or in the event of a difficult social situation

A tutor, one of the senior teachers of the Faculty, is assigned to a group of students. GM students are also looked after by the Vice-Dean for Studies (Mgr. Ivona Závacká, Ph.D.), the Vice-Dean for International Relations (prof. PhDr. Darja Jarošová, Ph.D.) and their assistants (Ing. Gabriela Kovolová and Bc. Petra Brzeźniaková, DiS.).

Tutor - faculty advisor for the preclinical part of the study: doc. MUDr. MVDr. Jozef Škarda, Ph.D., PhD.

The Faculty offers a wide range of opportunities for study, research, practical internship or humanitarian missions abroad including the field programmes.

Study abroad
Students of the GM study programme can complete a one-month internship abroad within the international organization IFMSA. Every member of IFMSA CZ who has completed at least two years of medical studies can do an internship. After the second year, they can do a research internship, after the third year a clinical internship. The student completes the internship during the holidays and therefore does not miss any classes. Internships are available on almost all continents. It is paid in the form of a membership fee and it is possible to receive an exceptional scholarship.

The Faculty offers students of the GM study programme and selected medical specialties the possibility of short-term study, research and clinical internships through inter-faculty and inter-university agreements with selected foreign universities and higher education institutions.

For over 30 years, the EU has funded the Erasmus Programme, which has enabled over three million European students to spend part of their studies at another higher education institution or organization in Europe. The Faculty offers its students the opportunity to study at more than sixty foreign universities. It is also possible to do an internship at any institution in all the countries participating in the programme and institutions active in the labour market (hospitals, health centres, universities) of your choice, for a period ranging from 2 to 12 months.

The Faculty also supports student mobility through the Dean's competition for an exceptional scholarship for international mobility. Any student who meets the specified conditions can receive a scholarship. In addition to a scholarship amounting to a total of CZK 50,000, students also have the opportunity to obtain mobility credits in the category of optional subjects.

Under the VIA Exchange Programme allows students to spend one semester studying at a partner university outside the EU. We cooperate with dozens of universities in  Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. The University contributes up to 90% of the estimated expenses.

Humanitarian opportunities
Through the University’s programme OU AID, our students can go abroad to volunteer at institutions in developing countries in Africa and Asia (e.g. Tanzania, Kenya, Philippines, Ethiopia, Sumatra, Georgia). In cooperation with external partners, students can stay abroad for a minimum of 28 days. Up to 100% of the estimated costs will be covered by the programme.

The Faculty of Medicine Ostrava also has contracts with six organizations in Africa (International Humanity Malawi; Narh-Bita College Tema in Ghana; University of Antananarivo, and University of Toliara in Madagascar; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University in Tanzania). There are many opportunities for medical students and even young doctors to undertake humanitarian work that will not only enhance their clinical skills and make them more culturally competent practitioners, but also allow them to provide medical care to those who might not otherwise receive it. Our students have already gained experience of humanitarian work in the International Humanity Hospital in Fanuel (Malawi) or the University Hospital and rural health centres of the Toliara region (Madagascar).

IFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students Associations
IFMSA is one of the oldest and largest student-run non-governmental organizations in the world. It currently comprises 135 National Member Organizations from more than 123 countries and regions, representing over one million students. IFMSA CZ is the member organization in the Czech Republic. Any medical student in the Czech Republic who applies for membership can become an IFMSA member. Membership is voluntary and free of charge, allowing you to participate in clinical and research internships abroad and to help organize various projects.