Following the Senate of the University of Warsaw’s approval, on 29th June, Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, UW Rector, signed the ordinance on establishing the Faculty of Medicine. Over 70  years passed for the University of Warsaw to restart the medical education.

The Ordinance No. 84 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw of 29th June 2022 on establishing the Faculty of Medicine is entering into force on 1st September 2022. The first students of medicine will commence their education on 1st October 2023.

The newly-established Faculty of Medicine is a milestone towards restoring the medical education at the University of Warsaw. It will be followed by programmes of the medical studies and an official application letter to the Minister of Education and Science asking to establish the studies of medicine at the University of Warsaw. The two working groups of the UW Rector are in charge of modelling the medical education at the university.

The Faculty of Medicine was part of the University of Warsaw between 1816-1949 with its history reaching back to 1809 (then: School of Medicine). Besides the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Warsaw comprised four other faculties: the Philosophical Faculty, the Theological Faculty, and the faculties of: Law, and Sciences and Fine Arts. Each faculty is represented by one of the five stars on the emblem of the University of Warsaw.

By the decision of the Council of Ministers, on 1st January 1950, the Faculty of Medicine and the Pharmaceutical Division formed the Medical Academy (now: the Medical University of Warsaw). Yet, the medical research works have still been continued at the UW. The newly-formed Faculty of Medicine will allow for further intensive works within medical and paramedical areas, as well as even better use of the scientific and didactic potential of the university.

“The research conducted at the University of Warsaw proves the strong connection between the humanities and medicine through interdisciplinary works. The university occupies a strong position in the physics, chemistry, biology, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, psychology, ethics and other social sciences and the humanities. Not only will the Faculty of Medicine benefit from the interdisciplinary fields of these sciences but also exploit medicine-associated areas,” Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, UW Rector, said.

Mission and aims

The mission of the Faculty of Medicine will focus on the structure and development of the Polish medicine in the scientific and practical contexts, including dynamic social and economic transformations, and current challenges and needs of the society. The education will be based on the Hippocratic principles of medicine: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. The code of medical ethics and the development of the appropriate attitude to patients become key issues of the UW education and practice of young students of medicine.

The Faculty of Medicine will first aim at the effective education in medical sciences, to be gradually supplemented with health sciences. The programmes of the studies will ensure the highest possible theoretical, clinical and practical standards of the education to follow the European Union principles and requirements for medical professions.

New technologies and humanising medicine

The humanisation of medicine will be a distinguishing feature of the medical education at the University in Warsaw. The idea concentrates on the efficient and effective doctor-patient communication, attitude and relation.

The development of the research and didactics of the Faculty of Medicine will be based on the hitherto achievements of the UW researchers and scientists in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, exact and natural sciences, as well as the interdisciplinary expansion within research and education.

Also, the innovative new technologies in medicine will be used appropriately in the study programmes, especially those related with modern instruments and methods of calculation, artificial intelligence in medicine, as well as the other most recent scientific achievements of the UW faculties, and national and international research centres. This approach will facilitate evidence-based medicine in everyday practice, and more effective and successful methods of treatment.

The Faculty of Medicine will use progressive forms of didactics designed by new standards of medical education to be introduced soon by the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Ministry of Health. This process is implied by the changes in medicine due to the progress in technology as well as new social needs and challenges.

First, the multi-stage organisation of the Faculty of Medicine will include the study programme of medicine. Due to the specific standards of medical education, the first two years will be mainly based on the academics and facilities of the University of Warsaw, to be gradually completed by the physicians and other non-UW specialists. Simultaneously, the human resources and infrastructure of the UW will be adjusted to meet the standards of the clinical education.

Education of doctors-to-be

Starting 1st October 2023, the Faculty of Medicine will receive its first full-time medical students. Future plans include programmes of medicine in English, other medicine-related programmes, postgraduate studies in medicine and health sciences.

During the first years the Faculty of Medicine will be situated in the building of the University of Warsaw Biological and Chemical Research Centre at 101 Żwirki i Wigury Street, Warsaw. A separate building for didactic purposes of the Faculty of Medicine is planned as its final location, including further clinical infrastructural needs.