Rector Gruchała is the new chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities

26.08.2020

prof. Marcin Gruchała chairman of KRAUM, fot. Paweł Sudara

Professor Marcin Gruchała, the rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk, was elected chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities (pol. KRAUM) for the 2020-2024 term. Currently, this function is performed by prof. Przemysław Jałowiecki, Rector of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. It is worth recalling that in 2012-2016 the chairman of KRAUM was the then rector of our University, prof. Janusz Moryś.

- I am honored with the decision made by the Rectors of Polish medical universities who decided to entrust me with the responsible function of the chairman of KRAUM for the next 4 years – says prof. Marcin Gruchała, Rector of the MUG. – Thank you for trusting in me and I declare that I will represent the academic community in the spirit of partnership cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and all Polish universities.

KRAUM is made up of the rectors of all public medical schools operating in Poland. The objective of the conference is to work out a common position of the rectors and to express opinions on matters related to pre and postgraduate education in the field of medical sciences and on all other matters concerning the academic community of public medical schools. KRAUM’s tasks also includes inspiring and coordinating the cooperation of public higher medical schools and undertaking all activities that will help develop higher medical education and medical sciences within the limits of applicable law. The Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities closely cooperates with the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (KRASP).

Marcin Gruchała – university teacher, doctor, specialist in internal medicine and cardiology, professor of medical sciences. Vice-Rector for Students’ Affairs of the Medical University of Gdańsk the term of 2012-2016, Rector of the University during the term of 2016-2020.

He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical Academy in Gdańsk in 1996. He obtained the title of doctor in 2000, on the basis of the thesis entitled The role of gene polymorphism of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, atrial natriuretic factor and platelet glycoproteins in ischemic heart disease prepared under the supervision of a prof. Andrzej Rynikiewicz. He defended his habilitation thesis in 2006 based on his scientific achievements and thesis entitled Intravascular gene transfer into rabbit carotid artery with adeno-associated virus and adenovirus vectors. He specialized in internal medicine and cardiology. In 2016, the title of professor of medical sciences was granted to Marcin Gruchała.

Throughout his entire professional life he was associated with his home University – initially as a doctoral student at the 1st Clinic of Heart Diseases, then from 2000 as an assistant and adjunct. In 2010, he was awarded the title of an associate professor. Deputy coordinator of the UCK Clinical Center of Cardiology since 2012. In 1996 he underwent a three-month clinical internship at the Thorax Center of the Rotterdam University Hospital as part of the TEMPUS program, in 2000-2002 a postdoctoral scientific internship at the A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Medicine Medical University of Kuopio in Finland as a scholarship holder of the Foundation for Polish Science.

In 2008-2012 and 2012-2016 member of the Senate budget and finance committee. He was the commissioner of the MUG rector for the construction of the Non-Invasive Medicine Center. For many years a mentor of the Student Science Club, honored twice with the Red Rose Award for the best student science club in the Tri-City.

Professor Gruchała’s current areas of interest include artery disease, heart failure, heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, genetic and environmental factors of atherosclerosis and its impact, family hypercholesterolemia.

Promoter of 8 completed doctoral thesis and 3 open doctoral dissertations, supervisor of specialization in internal medicine and cardiology. Active member of the Failure Section Hearts of the Polish Society of Cardiology. Author and co-author of over 120 publications in international journals with a combined IF impact index of about 255.