Visit of ZSMPhU Scientists to Bern

Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University has initiated a collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern, Switzerland. This partnership is part of the International Medical Partnership Initiative, launched by Ukraine’s First Lady during the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen last year. The program aims to establish horizontal cooperation between Ukrainian medical institutions and their foreign colleagues to promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise. This initiative is implemented and supported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

Since August 2024, intensive work has been underway. A series of online events were conducted to discuss the prospects of future collaboration and plan the first visit of ZSMPhU staff to Bern. This visit became a reality thanks to the support of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Ukraine-Swiss project "Development of Medical Education," in which ZSMPhU actively participates.

The university delegation consisted of Professor Vitalii Pidlubnyi, from the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Medical Psychology; Associate Professor Maksym Kozhemiaka, from the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics; and Associate Professor Oleh Liovkin, from the Department of Disaster and Military Medicine.

During their visit, ZSMPhU representatives met with the leadership of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern, including Dean Professor Claudio Bassetti, Deputy Dean for International Cooperation Professor Aristomenis Exadaktylos, and other colleagues. Following the meeting, each ZSMPhU participant was assigned a mentor in their respective area of expertise.

Associate Professor Maksym Kozhemiaka worked under the supervision of Professor Thomas Lustenberger at the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at Inselspital University Hospital. Associate Professor Oleh Liovkin worked with Professor Aristomenis Exadaktylos at the Department of Emergency Medicine. Professor Vitalii Pidlubnyi worked under the guidance of Professor Christina Adorjan at the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Recognizing the importance of establishing international partnerships for Ukrainian higher education institutions, the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland actively supported the initiative. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Iryna Venediktova, Advisor Samvel Arustamyan, and First Secretary for Economic Affairs Volodymyr Didukh, at an official meeting with the ZSMPhU and University of Bern delegations, wished fruitful cooperation to the partner institutions.