The delegation was led by renowned cardiologist Prof. Takanori Ikeda, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Toho University and Head of the Department of Cardiology. The guests were welcomed on behalf of WUM’s authorities by Dr. hab. Jacek Sieńko, Vice Dean for Student Affairs for the English Division of the Faculty of Medicine.
In addition to Prof. Takanori Ikeda, the delegation included Prof. Yuichi Hori from the Department of Ophthalmology, Director of the Center for Global Innovation and Deputy Director of Omori Medical Center; Hideaki Fujii, Director General of the Department of Academic Affairs; and Mayu Onodera from the Department of Global Affairs and the Department of Academic Affairs.
WUM was represented at the meeting by Prof. Piotr Luliński, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Prof. Renata Główczyńska, Vice Dean for Student Affairs for the first and second years of the Faculty of Medicine; Dr. hab. Łukasz Czyżewski, WUM professor and Vice Dean for Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences; Prof. Marcin Grabowski, Head of the First Chair and Department of Cardiology; Prof. Jacek Szaflik, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology; Dr. Monika Łazicka-Gałecka from the Department of Ophthalmology; and Lidia Przepióra-Dziewulska, Head of the International Relations Office.
New prospects for cooperation between WUM and Toho University
Opening the meeting, Vice Dean Dr. hab. Jacek Sieńko noted that WUM was honored to welcome representatives of a university from Tokyo. He also emphasized the importance of international cooperation as a foundation for modern science and progress in medicine.
The discussions addressed prospects for further interuniversity cooperation, including continuing student exchanges, extending academic exchange opportunities to academic staff and early-career researchers, conducting joint research and projects, and organizing joint conferences, seminars, webinars, and educational initiatives.
One element of the planned research cooperation is visits by experts from Toho University. These visits will be made possible by WUM’s participation in the project “MERIT – Because Skills Know No Borders,” which aims to increase the number of international training opportunities and training visits by foreign experts to Poland, as well as to develop international partnerships to maximize educational and systemic outcomes. This is a key initiative implemented under the European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027 (FERS) program.
WUM’s participation in the MERIT project is the result of efforts by Prof. Michał Grąt, Vice Rector for Internationalization, Promotion and Development, and Dr. hab. Jacek Sieńko.
The Japanese delegation also toured the Banacha Campus facilities, including the Medical Simulation Center, and was invited to visit the First Chair and Department of Cardiology at UCK WUM.
Ten years of fruitful cooperation
Every year, medical students from WUM travel to Tokyo to undertake clinical placements at Toho University hospitals, including Omori Medical Center. Students from Toho University, in turn, come to Warsaw.
The exchange program enables WUM students to gain practical clinical experience in a different health care system, learn about how Japanese university hospitals operate, and observe medical procedures and treatment standards used outside Europe. It also provides an opportunity to develop intercultural skills and build international professional networks. Both WUM and Toho University wish to continue this fruitful educational cooperation and expand it to include research collaboration.
