The two-day Student Medical Conference also featured the Student Research Groups Forum, providing a major dose of knowledge, healthy competition, and—above all—practical skill training. The conference was divided into two parts. In the first segment, students had the opportunity to attend an inaugural lecture delivered by Prof. Dariusz Patkowski, MD, PhD. Following the lecture, they faced off in the Student Surgical Skills Competition.
As an additional highlight, unique workshops utilizing advanced robotic surgery technology awaited the students. Those interested could learn the basics of robotic surgery and practice using the console of the da Vinci Xi surgical robot.
The event allowed students to explore new advancements on the one hand, and on the other, to present their own capabilities, practice, and experience a spirit of healthy competition. On the second day of the conference, students presented their scientific achievements during the Student Research Groups Forum, where 26 research papers across various medical fields were accepted. As emphasized by Prof. Marcin Zaniew, MD, PhD, the Vice-Rector for Collegium Medicum at UZ, this event carried great significance for the entire Collegium Medicum community at the University of Zielona Góra:
"This is a wonderful way to showcase our institution across Poland and highlight that we are a university actively engaged in education. For us and our staff, it serves as a form of integration—a way to demonstrate that we are active, we engage in dialogue, we are ambitious, and we take action. For the students, it is an essential preparation for their future profession. It is a type of training, a chance to test themselves in 'field conditions.' It demonstrates that these practical skills are incredibly important, and that they should prioritize them during their academic coursework."
All podium placements in the Student Surgical Skills Competition 2026 were secured by student teams representing the Collegium Medicum of the University of Zielona Góra.
