Medical University of Białystok


The Medical University of Białystok is a medical university founded in 1950 in a historic building from the 18th century, Branicki Palace, which is the most historically important building for the city of Białystok.
The university is home to the Medical Department with a Division of Dentistry and a six-year M.D. program taught in English, Pharmacology Department with Medical Analytics Division, and a Nursing and Health Protection Department with divisions in Physiotherapy, Medical Rescue, Obstetrics, Public Health and Nursing.

Location

The Medical University of Białystok is located in Białystok, the capital of Podlaskie Voivodeship in northeastern Poland.

History

The Medical University of Białystok was created in accordance to the terms of the Council of Ministers Ordinance of February 3, 1950. The initial activities for establishing the university occurred at the beginning of 1949. The founding father of the university was Dr. Jerzy Sztachelski and Professor Tadeusz Kielanowski presided as the first rector.
The main seat of the Medical University of Białystok was in the 18th century Branicki Palace, the most magnificent and precious historic structure in Białystok. The first theoretical science departments were housed adjacent to the palace in Collegium Primum. In the second year of existence the university obtained the right to confer scientific degrees. In 1953, the first clinical departments were created, and in 1954, Collegium Universum was built to house the majority of the theoretical science departments. In 1955, the academic journal, Annals of the Medical University of Białystok, was issued for the first time and is still being published today. In 1956, another academic journal, Medyk Białostocki, was briefly published before it prematurely discontinued. In 2000, the decision to resume publication of the Medyk Białostocki was made.
The State Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Białystok was opened in 1962 and in 1968 the Division of Dentistry was created. In 1977, the Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Medical Analytics was established; there was no initial recruitment until 1987, when the first group of students began their studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy with the Division of Medical Analytics. In 1982, Collegium Pathologicum was opened and the Children's Teaching Hospital began admitting patients in 1988. In 1999, Collegium Novum was opened, with the Division of Nursing also created that same year. In 2004, the English Division was created and the inaugural class of the English-language six-year M.D. program began their studies in 2005.

People of the University

Numbers

The total number of students is 5,500. Medical studies at the university take six years to complete. Dentistry and Pharmacy take five years to complete.
The academic faculty is composed of 115 professors, 153 habilitated doctors, and approximately 800 academic teachers.
Many of the university graduates hold executives positions in other medical universities and medical center in Poland and abroad. Over 13,000 graduates have obtained a degree from the Medical University in Białystok.

Students

One of the oldest student organizations is the University Choir. It was founded in 1951 by a group of students, but today it is a mixed choir which consists of students and doctors of the university. The choir performs oratorio works as well as sacred and secular a cappella compositions. The University Choir takes part in many international festivals and competitions in both Poland and abroad. The UMB Choir won 2 gold medals, in the Sacred Music and Contemporary Music categories, at the 2019 'Mundi Cantat' International Choir Competition in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
The Students’ Scientific Society is an organization of medical students and interns engaged in the work of Students’ Scientific Circles operating in almost all departments of the university. They carry out laboratory experiments, conduct clinical research and acquire practical skills. Some of the students are co-authors of publications in Polish and foreign professional journals. The Polish Dental Students Association was founded in 1997 in Wroclaw. The main goal of the association is to create the structures that represent dentistry students and look after their business in different areas.
In the spring semester of 2018, the American Medical Student Association - Białystok Chapter was established at the Medical University of Białystok. The organization's goal is to help students which aim to become doctors in the United States in the process of taking the USMLE and their future career path. AMSA Białystok also organizes social events, fundraisers and community service programs, as well as collaborating with UMB's other student organizations, such as IFMSA Białystok and GMS Białystok e.v.

Faculty

The Medical University of Białystok Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Białystok is a teaching and research center for UMB's various departments. In addition, it offers a wide variety of health services, ranging from simple procedures to highly specialized ones, all financed by the Ministry of Health and Social Care. Approximately 55,000 patients are hospitalized at the UMB Clinical Hospital yearly, and approximately 203,000 patients are provided with consultations.
The Medical University of Białystok Children's Clinical Hospital of Ludwik Zamenhof is the second biggest hospital in the city. Its modern equipment and professional teaching staff make up an excellent teaching base for medical students. About 10,000 sick children are hospitalized here yearly. Another 120,000 are given consultations in out-patient departments.