Every step you take changes your life

Michail, why Poland? How did you actually make it from sunny Greece to Warsaw?

I must admit that I had never thought about studying in Poland, I didn’t know a lot about this country. Everything started with Czechia: a friend from high school suggested that I see Prague in the summer. To keep up the momentum, I went to see Kraków as a tourist. I liked it a lot, and maybe that’s when I first thought about studying in Poland. But my life changed when I saw Warsaw (laughs). I was struck by how beautiful and open the city was. I discovered everything in it. 

What do you mean?

Warsaw is a very dynamic city, and gives you a lot of opportunities. Just like with the restaurants here – you go along a street and see great spots one after another. For six years, I’ve experienced that diversity and dynamism all the time. The city is wonderfully located at the center of Europe, anyone can find something for themselves. I simply fell in love with Warsaw. And Poland has been developing very well; you can feel it in the capital.

And the university, what did you think about it?

Of course, I did wonder what Warsaw had on offer as an academic center. My family asked me about that many times, too. The Medical University of Warsaw attracted me with its international community and a huge excellent clinical base – hospitals where you can gain hands-on experience by working with top specialists. The MUW is international, and that’s what I was looking for. I started my studies and all of a sudden, I was among people from 71 countries! That was so cool! So when someone asks me to compare the academic aspects of Warsaw to other cities in this part of Europe, Warsaw is the unquestionable Number 1!

Can you remember your first days in the city? 

I had some problems with adapting to the new environment, the different culture. And to the city as well, when I started to get to know it not as a tourist. And I was far away from my family. 

Initially, language was a considerable barrier. On the first day at university, I got lost, completely lost, because I didn’t have a phone with me. I had to ask people to translate the Polish words around me. Thankfully, I found someone who could speak English, and they helped me find a taxi. It rained heavily. On the next day, I had a fever of nearly 40 °C, I fell ill. 

I had one more experience later on, when one evening after meeting up with friends I got into the wrong taxi. I realized we were going in the wrong direction. The driver asked about my name, and it turned out someone else had booked it, we hadn’t understood each other. 

In terms of studying, what was hard for you at the start? 

At the very beginning, I mainly had to adjust to the specific academic community and the formal social standards in place here. For instance, how formally you have to address the lecturers, and what distance that creates. After a few weeks, I somehow adapted to those formalisms, because I decided that if I wanted to stay here, learn new things, I had to adjust. 
Apart from that, it was tough because I missed my home and family.

How about studying? Will your answer be: anatomy was the hardest?

Just like for everyone in the first years of studying medicine – yes, anatomy was hard, and so was physiology. Those are the two most difficult subjects, followed by histology. At the beginning, we – I mean foreign students – didn’t know completely how to learn anatomy, what to focus on. We labored over our books and cried in beds at night, and prayed – everyone to their own god – “Please, let me stay here, I don’t want to leave”. 

Was it that hard?

Yes, it was really tough. It’s not easy to study at the MUW. But strong motivation helps, at least it did help me. I knew this was where I wanted to be, the place where I could grow. Both in academic and personal terms. That this was the right time, the right people. I strove to focus on the goal; I became my own trainer.

What do you mean?

I always push myself to the limits. And that’s what I did on a regular basis over those six years. But it’s very important not to overdo it and remember to rest, let go, because we’re not just students and then doctors. We’re also humans.

So what is your advice for younger fellow students who will begin their studies this fall?

You can handle anatomy; you can even get to like it. Really! It’s a shock at the beginning, but then you need to learn it on a regular basis. And I encourage you to ask questions. During my first year, I was afraid to do so, I was a bit shy. I think that when we respect someone a lot, because someone is a professor or has a PhD, so they have achieved a lot, we may be afraid to make a bad impression, ask a stupid question. But asking questions is how you grow. With time, I became the exact opposite – I asked questions all the time. I even irritated some of the professors (laughs). 

How did you manage during the classes with patients that start in the fourth year?

By the time we got to work with patients, I had learned a bit of Polish, even if I still don’t feel confident in it, it’s a difficult language for foreigners. In Warsaw hospitals, some patients speak English, but our lecturers supported us and we also saw patients who only spoke Polish. I can’t remember having any sort of problems during those classes. Both the staff and the patients were always very open.

The clinical classes are a big jump: you finally have your patient and you need to take good care of them. You need to treat them with respect, patience, and understanding. If you can do that and you get to love it, you will be able to do this throughout your studies and then for years to come. But you know it’s not that easy. That’s why with time, many students ask themselves: ‘Why did I choose medicine?’

And why did you choose it?

I have always thought about medicine only. I come from a family of physicians, and this gave me a lot of knowledge about the profession, I knew what it was like to be a doctor on a daily basis. But at university it’s best to find a mentor if you want to learn a lot.

Did you find such a person?

Yes, I was lucky to do so. I think that I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities I got as a result. I remember that night in my third year, when I was studying for an exam and got an unexpected message from a lecturer whom I had been tormenting with questions all the time during class. They said I could get involved in a research project. At a clinic! That’s how I joined a team of open-minded and yet helpful people. That’s where I learned to aim higher and not be afraid. This is what I mentioned at the beginning: don’t be afraid to overcome your fear and the distance, keep asking questions. Learn to talk to those you meet on your student journey, and build relationships with others. This works!

How did you start to build those relationships?

At student clubs. There are more than 200 of them at the MUW. In my second year, I didn’t know what I found the most interesting, but I knew I wanted to see and learn more. So I thought: maybe I could try and join many different clubs and find out? I know this sounds a bit crazy, but how are you supposed to know what to do already at the beginning if you don’t try different things? So I tried to find my place in this medical universe of different specialisms.

For example, I belonged to the neurology club. After anatomy, which I came to love eventually, I thought that my future was in neurosurgery. It turned out to be very interesting but just not for me. Then I joined the cardiology club for a longer period of time. 

You know what student clubs gave me? Opportunities. In my second year, I had my first presentation in front of a jury. It included some professors. We had to provide a critical assessment of a certain research paper. I prepared the presentation and faced them. That’s when I realized I was able to speak with confidence in front of such a group of people! In such situations you realize that every step you take changes your life for the better. 

What was your biggest academic achievement during your studies?

The research paper I mentioned. That was an opportunity. The paper was about “The Effect of a Vegan Diet on the Cardiovascular System”. It’s a literature review rather than a case report, so something more difficult. And I had to learn first how you write this kind of paper, how it is structured. What do I begin with? What should the abstract be like? Do I put it at the beginning or at the end of the paper? I wouldn’t have succeeded without the help of the physicians from the cardiology department, who gave me some tips. They were very open. And I owe all of that to Associate Professor Aleksandra Gąsecka-van der Pol. Despite her title, she doesn’t keep people at a distance. She is understanding – after all, it’s impossible to know everything straight away.

Another significant achievement for me is the book for which I wrote a few chapters together with a professor from the USA, Michael Gibson, MS, M.D. The first chapter was titled “Distributions”, and the second one “Common Issues in Analysis”. Then there was a big paper titled “The Ketogenic Effect of SGLT-2 Inhibitors – Beneficial or Harmful?”, written under the supervision of Associate Professor Aleksandra Gąsecka-van der Pol and Professor Krzysztof Filipiak. I got opportunities, for which I’m very grateful, and I strove to make the best of them.

Over the course of my studies, I had the chance to work at the Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), where I was mentored by Dr. Ceren Eyileten Postuła and Professor Marek Postuła. Working with them truly shaped the way I see science and research. They didn’t just show me how to run experiments or write papers, they helped me understand how to think critically, how to ask the right questions, and how to look deeper. I was fortunate to be involved in major research grants, including PRELUDIUM and FIT-OBI, and what’s really exciting is that we’re still working together on ongoing projects today.

What stayed with me the most, though, is everything I learned about teamwork and collaboration. They created an environment where I felt supported and trusted, where I wasn’t afraid to speak up, make mistakes, or try something new. I learned how to communicate, how to share ideas, and how to grow alongside others. For me, it was more than academic or lab work; it felt like I was becoming part of something meaningful. And I think that’s where I really found my passion for research and the confidence to keep going.

Those topics were related to cardiology; is this the path you will take after graduating?

It took me a lot of time to find out which area of medicine was best for me. There was that fascination with neurosurgery, I also considered heart surgery. For a few years, I had the opportunity to assist at many heart surgeries. But I was never 100% sure. Actually, it was only recently that I decided to choose general surgery. This was a bit like going back to the beginnings, as during my second year I belonged to the surgery student club, and that’s when I assisted at a surgery for the first time. Club membership gives you such opportunities. I believe that general surgery is the most difficult part of medicine. It’s broad and involves both mental and physical effort. After a surgery, your body is just as tired as your psyche with what went on during the operation. But I like the fact that the surgeon can see the results of their work immediately after the surgery. 

So I understand you’ve made the choice. What are your next steps?

For now, it’s the internship, and continued training in surgery. But I would also like to be involved in medical education as well as health policy. If I get an opportunity to do so. I would like to work with others to promote health and medicine.

You did not boast about this immediately when we discussed your achievements, but you have been awarded the 2025 Interstudent title for your activities! It’s a prestigious award, received by the most committed foreign students who study at Polish universities. What exactly did you get it for?

It is indeed a great distinction, but it came as a complete surprise! The competition is organized by the Perspektywy Education Foundation as part of the “Study in Poland” program, implemented under the supervision of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, or CRASP. I got the recognition for my leadership, consistency in reaching my goals, cooperation, and my positive impact on people and my fellow students. And also for having done a lot of non-academic stuff. For example, I helped design and run global webinars on surgical education, and mentorship programs that connected international students on various continents. The jury committee appreciated that.
My mother says that when I entered the stage to collect the prize and give my speech, I was surrounded by a different light of some sort. Maybe indeed I shone with excessive emotions, as at that time I still had some exams at the university, which I had to handle somehow. That was the only speech I made without preparation, I spoke from my heart. And you know what, I nearly cried, but from that moment I’ve started to believe in myself even more. 

Did your loved ones come from Greece for the 2025 Interstudent gala?

Yes, my family was there. Because you know, I wouldn’t have managed to achieve all of that without their support. I could always count on my loved ones, even if they were far away. I’m incredibly grateful to them, as well as to my friends and fellow students. But I’m also thankful to all my mentors, who challenged me, supported me, and gave me tools to make my dreams come true.

Congratulations on your MUW diploma. And good luck for the next big step!

Interview by Agnieszka Wlazłowska-Pietrzak
Photo: Michał Teperek
MUW Communication and Promotion Office