“Save a Life” – Polish Medics from Abroad Reunite at the WUM

This was a unique meeting that brought together medics from Poland and abroad, and gave them an opportunity to share experiences with regard to pre-hospital life-saving operations, prevention, and health education. Many renowned guests were invited, not only those working in medicine. They included representatives of the Senate, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, PhD, an engineer and astronaut, as well as Lech Wałęsa, former Polish President.

The event was organized by the Polish Medical Association and the Supreme Medical Council, under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and the President of the Capital City of Warsaw.

A Valuable Initiative

The organizers were congratulated on holding an event where such important and topical matters related to health could be discussed, and which at the same time helped build international professional cooperation and establish valuable contacts.

“I see it as a great privilege that the Senate could contribute to organizing this event,” emphasized Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, the Marshal of the Senate. “The fact that we are talking about the most valuable thing today, that is health, fits in perfectly well with the Senate’s decision to designate this year as the Year of Health Education.”

“I am very happy, because this congress proves that Polish medicine does not stay within country borders, but goes beyond, and contributes significantly to the development of medicine globally,” said Professor Rafał Krenke, the Rector of our University.

“The congress that starts today serves both as an opportunity for sharing knowledge and experience, and as proof of the unity within the Polish medical community across the world,” wrote Rafał Trzaskowski, President of Warsaw, in his letter to the organizers, read out by his Deputy, Renata Kaznowska.

Klaudiusz Komor, Vice-President of the Supreme Medical Council, read out the letter from Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of Defense, who congratulated the organizers on the inspiring event.

Multiple Countries, One Medicine. The Opening Panel

“I know that medicine is not just a profession, it is a promise. A promise that when you face fear, someone will be there for you; that when your family loses hope, someone will restore it; that when life is fading, someone will do their best to rekindle it. And you are the ones fulfilling that promise here in Poland, in Europe, in the United States, anywhere in the world,” said Senator Agnieszka Gorgoń-Komor, MD, PhD, highlighting the strength of the Polish medical community, which makes many things possible.

She also invited guests to join in the inaugural discussion panel. Its participants included: Professor Andrzej Barański, transplant surgeon from the Leiden University; Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, Minister of Health; Professor Waldemar Kostewicz, President of the Polish Medical Association; Łukasz Jankowski, President of the Supreme Medical Council; Mariola Łodzińska, President of the Supreme Council of Nurses and Midwives; Mateusz Komza, President of the National Chamber of Paramedics; Dariusz Piotr Bonisławski, President of the “Wspólnota Polska” Association; Agnieszka Stępień, PhD Hab., President of the Polish Chamber of Physiotherapists. Also present was Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, PhD, engineer and astronaut, the second Pole to go into space and the first one to stay on board the International Space Station. He talked about how astronauts deal with first aid, e.g. when circulatory arrest occurs.

“There are two techniques. You can go upside down, stand fast against the ceiling, and at the same time use your legs to do compressions. I prefer this one. I’d say that cardiac massage in the orbit or during a parabolic flight is easier, much less strenuous,” he admitted. “You can also fasten a belt to do such compressions, but that is more strenuous for your arm muscles and lower spine.”

He also encouraged young people who consider studying medicine (but not only) to persist in pursuing their dream goal.

“Throughout my career, I have learned the most in the tough moments, for example when I’d stay up in the laboratory until 2 AM, trying to design a system that wouldn’t work. I could give up then and say: «Maybe this is not the right way» – or try to persist,” he explained.

An Evening with Famous Poles

The congress also included a meeting with outstanding figures from the public academic and cultural life, whose activity has inspired generation by generation. The following guests shared their opinions on the changes currently underway globally, the importance of health prevention, and the values that are worth upholding in your life:

Lech Wałęsa, President of the Republic of Poland between 1990 and 1995, winner of the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize;
Urszula Dudziak – jazz singer, song writer and composer, writer;
and Professor Andrzej Barański, transplant surgeon, Professor at the Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Key Issues in Healthcare

The congress also included discussions on the pre-hospital life rescue systems in various countries, and on educating children, youth, and senior citizens on BLS (Basic Life Support, the basic resuscitation procedures) and sudden death prevention.

There was also a discussion about saving lives on the battlefield, moderated by Professor Robert Gałązkowski, Head of the WUM Medical Emergency Department and member of the Honorary Committee for the event.

Other topics discussed included innovation in emergency medicine, the applications of artificial intelligence in medicine in various countries, and whether lifestyle may contribute to longer life. The last panel was dedicated to health education in Polish communities abroad.

Page with the list of speakers during the congress, and all additional information

Several people are standing and talking in a conference room during the event “SAVE A LIFE – World Congress of Polish Medical Communities.” In the foreground is the rector of the Medical University of Warsaw.

Six people stand in front of a navy blue wall with the inscription “SAVE A LIFE – World Congress of Polish Medical Communities.” The people are dressed elegantly. Six people are standing in front of a navy blue wall with the inscription ‘SAVE A LIFE – World Congress of Polish Medical Communities’. The people are dressed elegantly. Among them, second from the left, is the rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, next to the Minister of Health, and then Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.

Klaudiusz Komor, vice president of the Supreme Medical Chamber, at the podium, speaking during the conference.

A large group of people are sitting in red chairs in an auditorium during a conference.

Klaudiusz Komor, standing at a lectern bearing the inscription ‘Veritatis Splendor’, speaks during the conference. The logos of the organizers appear on the screen in the background: SAVE A LIFE, the Supreme Medical Chamber, and the Polish Medical Association.

Several rows of people are sitting in red chairs in the auditorium during a conference.

Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Senate, stands at the podium and speaks during the conference.

The rector of the Medical University of Warsaw stands at the podium and speaks during the conference.

Renata Kaznowska stands at the podium speaking during a conference.

Łukasz Jankowski stands at the podium and speaks during the conference.

Senator Agnieszka Gorgoń-Komor stands at the podium and speaks during the conference.

Three men are sitting next to each other on chairs during a panel discussion. They are all elegantly dressed.

Four people are sitting on chairs in a conference room during a panel discussion. One person, the Minister of Health, is holding a microphone and speaking. All of the people are elegantly dressed. A colorful wall can be seen in the background.

A person is holding a phone and recording a discussion panel in a conference room. The phone screen shows several people sitting on chairs. In the background, there is a navy blue wall with the inscription “SAVE A LIFE – World Congress of Polish Medical Communities.”

Three people are sitting on chairs in a conference room during a panel discussion. One person is holding a microphone and a red folder with the words “SAVE A LIFE” written on it. Everyone is dressed elegantly.

Several people are sitting in an auditorium during a conference. In the foreground, you can see people in elegant attire, including a gray suit. In the background, rows of red frames with photos and inscriptions hang on the wall.

Four men are sitting in a room during a panel discussion. One of them, wearing a military uniform, is holding a microphone. The others are dressed elegantly. The first person on the right is Prof. Robert Gałązkowski.

Two men in an auditorium during a panel discussion. One is wearing a military uniform with a patch and is holding a microphone. The other, an elegantly dressed man, Prof. Robert Gałązkowski, is also holding a microphone.

Two men in the auditorium during a panel discussion.

Two people are participating in a panel discussion against a backdrop with the words “Bridges to Health.” One person is seated and holding notes, while the other—the Minister of Education—is standing with a microphone and tablet. In the foreground, several people can be seen in the auditorium, some of them taking photos.

Four people are sitting on chairs in a conference room during a panel discussion. One person is holding a microphone, while the others have notes. The participants are dressed elegantly. In the background, there is a navy blue wall with the inscription “SAVE A LIFE – World Congress of Polish Medical Communities” and the organizers' logos. In the foreground, several people can be seen in the auditorium.

President Lech Wałęsa during a panel discussion. He is holding a microphone in his right hand and speaking.

Urszula Dudziak during the panel discussion.

Prof. Andrzej Barański during a panel discussion.

Ten people are sitting in the front row of the auditorium during a conference. They are dressed elegantly. In the background, you can see more rows of participants.