Throughout the current academic year, we are successively promoting our graduates who have been honoured as laureates of the Graduate Extra 2025 competition. We invite readers to become familiar with their achievements and to draw inspiration from their educational and professional choices.
In December, we present the first laureate of the Graduate Extra 2025 competition from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum — Jakub Wojtacha, MD.
Jakub Wojtacha, MD, is a graduate of the Medical Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra. In parallel with his medical studies, he also studied psychology, which enabled him to combine a clinical perspective with in-depth knowledge of human psychological functioning. During his studies, he developed across multiple dimensions — scientific, organisational and social — successfully combining research activity with involvement in student organisations and international cooperation. These efforts culminated in his receiving the prestigious Student Nobel Award in the Social Activity category in 2023.
A particularly important area of his engagement was his involvement in the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA-Poland). Since 2020, in the Zielona Góra branch of the organisation, he successively held the positions of Local Officer for Social Media, Local Officer for Public Health, Assistant to the Branch President, and subsequently served two terms as Branch President and Branch Delegate. He represented IFMSA-Poland and the University of Zielona Góra at international events such as the IFMSA European Regional Meeting 2022 in Portugal, the 72nd IFMSA General Assembly August Meeting in India, and the 74th IFMSA General Assembly August Meeting in Greece, where he served as Vice-Chair of the Polish delegation. In recognition of his organisational achievements, he was awarded the title of Best Branch President for the 2023/2024 term during the 53rd IFMSA-Poland General Assembly of Delegates in Olsztyn.
His scientific interests encompass cardiology, exercise physiology, public health, and the search for oncological and neurological biomarkers. In particular, he focuses on investigating the role of inflammatory and immunological factors and endothelial function in disease processes, as well as analysing the impact of lifestyle and physical activity on cardiovascular health and cognitive function. He is currently involved in two projects utilising artificial intelligence: KidneyUp, which explores opportunities to improve the treatment of nephrological diseases, and LAT-AI, focused on cardiological diagnostics. He is the author and co-author of numerous conference presentations, including at the 1st Congress on the Humanisation of Medicine in Warsaw, the International Conference “Challenges of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Europe”, the EFSMA Congress of Sport Medicine, and the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress. His passion for knowledge sharing is also reflected in his teaching activities, including serving twice as a speaker at the Science Camp “Science for Health”, dedicated to the most highly engaged students.
His extensive conference experience and acquired organisational skills enabled him to become a member of the organising committees of scientific events such as the 5th Academic Polish Championships in Surgical Suturing, the National Forum of Student Scientific Societies in Zielona Góra, and the Science Camp “Science for Health”, thereby supporting the scientific development of other students.
By representing the University of Zielona Góra at international events and actively participating in conferences, congresses and educational programmes, he gained opportunities not only to present research results but also to establish cooperation with foreign research institutions. At the same time, he was actively involved in promoting the University, participating in Open Days, workshops and science popularisation initiatives, during which he introduced prospective students to medical research topics and the specific nature of studies in the medical programme.
An important element of his activities was also his participation in the 2nd edition of the Medical School of Your Future camp, organised by the Polpharma Scientific Foundation for the most talented students in Poland. This initiative provided a unique opportunity to meet inspiring figures from the worlds of medicine, journalism and medical innovation, and enabled him to build valuable professional relationships with medical students from other universities, with whom he is currently collaborating on new scientific projects.
His international experience, social and scientific engagement, as well as his passion for working with patients, have shaped him as a physician, psychologist and researcher. In the future, he plans to further develop his professional career within his chosen medical specialisation and in the field of public health, combining clinical practice with scientific activity and the application of artificial intelligence tools in medicine.
Completed and Ongoing Scientific Projects:
Contact details and further information about our graduate are available on his profile.
During the ceremonial Graduate Extra 2025 Gala, held on 17 November 2025, the distinguished laureate received the statuette from the Rector of the University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Wojciech Strzyżewski; the Marshal of the Lubusz Voivodeship, Sebastian Ciemnoczołowski; the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Education, Barbara Literska, DSc, Professor at the University of Zielona Góra; and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jolanta Chmielowiec, DSc (Health Sciences), Professor at the University of Zielona Góra.
