First Such Conference in Poland

17.04.2025

The Medical University of Gdańsk hosted the IntMedPOL25 conference, dedicated to the topic of foreign medical graduates and their presence on the Polish labour market in the context of the healthcare workforce shortage—not only in Poland, but across Europe and globally. This was the first comprehensive event of its kind in our country, creating space for open discussion on this important issue.

The main objective of the conference was to take a holistic view of the current situation regarding the migration of medical professionals—both those coming to Poland and those leaving the country. Participants explored the factors influencing Polish doctors’ decisions to work abroad, as well as what might encourage foreign medical graduates to stay in Poland or begin their professional careers here after graduation.

A wide range of topics was discussed—from the recruitment process for studying in Poland, through learning the Polish language, to practical training in hospitals and clinics. Other key issues included future career paths for foreign graduates, language and cultural barriers, and formal requirements such as the Medical Final Examination, residency programmes, and specialisations. Visa and consular procedures were also touched upon, a topic that has recently caused much discussion in other areas of higher education.

During the discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers unanimously stressed the great value of English-language education in Poland and the importance of its further development. However, they emphasised that this must be done to the highest standards—both in terms of recruitment and the quality of education. They also reiterated that the primary mission of Polish medical universities is to train professionals to meet the needs of the domestic healthcare system. At the same time, it was suggested that the education system should be adapted to support the employment of foreign graduates in Poland and that a list of professions could be developed for which a simplified migration pathway might be considered.

The conference also featured the presentation of a survey conducted among foreign medical students at Polish universities as part of the IntMedPOL25 project. Commissioned by the MUG, the study was carried out and reported by the research agency Inny Format Sp. z o.o. and presented by Dr Jacek Kaczmarek, the main organiser of the event. In addition, Dr Fatima Zahra Znioi from the Centre for Migration Research at the University of Warsaw shared the results of a survey on post-graduation plans among final-year foreign medical students from several Polish medical universities.

One of the programme’s highlights was a panel discussion featuring Dr Jacek Kaczmarek and three foreign medical graduates who are currently working in Poland:

– Prof. Anna Shalimova from the Department of Hypertension and Diabetology at MUG (graduate of Kharkiv Medical University),

– Dr Claudia Anna Wiewióra from Tczew Hospitals (2017 MUG graduate),

– Dr Shraddha Singh from the 1st Department of Cardiology at MUG (2024 MUG graduate).

All three speakers emphasised the important role that mentors and supportive teams of colleagues have played in their professional development. They also highlighted the challenges faced by international graduates, particularly the need to be fluent in Polish—crucial for both medical practice and postgraduate training.

Prof. Shalimova shared her moving story of coming to Gdańsk, working under Prof. Krzysztof Narkiewicz, and integrating into the MUG team after being forced to flee Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. She also spoke about her involvement in the WAR-SCAR project, a social-research initiative that explores the impact of war-related and refugee-related stress on cardiovascular health and hypertension risk in Ukrainian refugee women, while also offering them medical and psychological support.

The rectors of KRAUM member universities—Prof. Wojciech Załuska, Prof. Marcin Moniuszko, Prof. Michał Markuszewski—as well as Prof. Janusz Moryś, chairman of the University Committee for the Quality of Medical Education (UKJKKL), and Dr Jacek Sieńko, Vice-Dean of the English Division at the Medical University of Warsaw, all highlighted:

– the importance of maintaining high-quality education that continues to attract foreign students,
– the need for changes in the education system if the goal is to retain more foreign graduates in Poland,
– the value of stronger international promotion of Polish medical education to attract the most talented candidates.

Thanks to contributions from international experts, participants were also able to take a broader look at the global and European scale of medical migration—including an analysis of changes in the ethnic composition of medical staff in Germany over the last 35 years and the resulting implications.

Representatives of Polish professional bodies—Dr Łukasz Jankowski, President of the Supreme Medical Council, and Dr Andrzej Tytuła, Vice-President of the Supreme Council of Nurses and Midwives—also delivered presentations. They shared the latest data on the employment of doctors and nurses in Poland, discussed migration trends among medical staff, and outlined the anticipated needs of the Polish healthcare system in the years to come.

The full list of speakers included 18 names:

– Dr Heidi L. Bludau – Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Medicine, Health and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
– Dr med. Artur Brocławski – Head of Department, Klinik am Rosengarten; Managing Director, Medizinisches Institut für transkulturelle Kompetenz, Bielefeld, Germany; MUG graduate
– Prof. Katarzyna Czabanowska – Head of the Department of International Health, Maastricht University; WHO expert
– Dr Katarzyna Dębkowska – Head of the Economic Foresight Team, Polish Economic Institute
– Dr med. Łukasz Jankowski – President of the Supreme Medical Council (9th term)
– Prof. Michał Markuszewski – Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk
– Prof. Marcin Moniuszko – Rector of the Medical University of Białystok
– Prof. Janusz Moryś – Chairman of the University Committee for the Quality of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, KRAUM
– Dr Henryka Mościcka-Dendys – Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– Dr Dominika Pszczółkowska – Researcher, Centre for Migration Research, University of Warsaw
– Prof. Anna Shalimova – Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, MUG; graduate of Kharkiv Medical University
– Dr Jacek Sieńko – Vice Dean for Student Affairs, English Division, Medical University of Warsaw
– Dr Shraddha Singh – 1st Department of Cardiology, MUG; 2024 graduate of the English Division, MUG
– Prof. Andrzej Szeptycki – Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education
– Dr Andrzej Tytuła – Vice President of the Supreme Council of Nurses and Midwives
– Dr Claudia Anna Wiewióra – Surgical resident, Szpitale Tczewskie S.A.; 2017 graduate of the English Division, MUG
– Prof. Wojciech Załuska – Rector of the Medical University of Lublin; Chairman of KRAUM
– Fatima Zahra Znioi, M.A. – Researcher, Centre for Migration Research, University of Warsaw

The event was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, KRAUM, and the Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk. The task titled “Foreign medical graduates on the Polish labour market” is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland.