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Strengthening Bonds Between the Polish and English Departments On November 30, 2024, in the foyer in front of Aula 1000 and on the ground floor of the Clinical and Didactic Center at Pomorska Street 251, the Cultural Soirée was held, organized annually by the Council of English-Speaking Students in cooperation with the Center for the Organization and Support of Studies in English. This year, taking advantage of the coincidence of the dates of the Cultural Soirée and the Andrzejki Evening, we decided to ask for help in the preparations from two Polish student organizations: the Polish Dental Association (PTSS) and the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA Poland). Language instructors from the Center for Foreign Language Learning also joined the collaboration. Dr. Kamila Kubacka and Ms. Justyna Majkowska prepared materials for language exchange (Speak and Share) – an activity added to our scenario at the request of English-speaking students who not only want to learn Polish but also to establish relationships with Polish-speaking students. This project is part of a strategic plan to strengthen the bonds between the English-speaking and Polish-speaking communities. We are in the process of implementing this plan, which can be described with an adverb borrowed from a song by Lech Janerka – “Śmielej, śmielej…” The World in Five Flavors We don’t guess, but we know for sure that none of the participants and organizers can imagine a cultural evening without celebrating food. Discovering new flavors is reminiscent of a child’s game of “guess what it is?” So, those who wanted could play at recognizing the ingredients and spices used in the dishes. They could break down various types of fillings and the different kinds of dough that enveloped them. Only those who lined up in a “PRL-style queue” for baklava and kisir – a Turkish bulgur salad, bel puri – a spicy snack with juicy chutney sauces from India, ghorme sabzi from Iran – a herb dish with dried lime, chakalaka, or extremely spicy jollof rice and suya from Nigeria could play. And also (of course!) for Man’oushe bread or tabbouleh salad. Although it tastes best on hot days, did it matter during SUCH an evening? Of course, there couldn’t be a lack of a Polish accent in the form of bigos in both meat and meatless versions, so lovers of traditional Polish cuisine were not disappointed. Finding bigos, as well as cold and hot drinks, required some time and good orientation in the building’s layout. Those who knew what and why they needed it easily found the place where they could help their throat deal with the burning problem following the consumption of jollof rice. It is worth mentioning that this would not have been possible without the funds from the Welcome to Poland project from the National Agency for Academic Exchange. Enjoying the taste of Hunter’s stew would have been the perfect culmination of Professor Katarzyna Taran’s presentation of the individual elements of the grand (called kontusz) costume of the historical shooters from the Brotherhood of Kurk Shooters. Perhaps we wouldn’t have been preoccupied with the unanswered question – why must the leather boots, an essential element of the kontusz, necessarily be red? Autumn Evening Has Fallen. Andrzej, Tell the Maidens Their Fortune. Meanwhile, on the ground floor, in two rooms simultaneously, two additional attractions were taking place. In the room prepared for Andrzejki Fortune-Telling “Whispers of Fate,” fortune-tellers from IFMSA and PTSS, with the help of items such as a key, wax, paper hearts, apple peels, or shoes, predicted a bright future, if one can call the imminent marriage that😉. And in the room next door, students “Spoke and Shared” their knowledge of Polish and English. Two Stories of Two Countries – Nigeria and Lebanon The Cultural Soirée is not only a festival of flavors but also an ideal opportunity to showcase one’s country and culture. So, students from Lebanon and Nigeria boasted. Marwan and Adam presented must-see places with the Crusader Castle from the 13th century in Sidon, or the place of worship of the Phoenician sun god Baal in Baalbek. They didn’t forget to boast about the cedar tree. You will find it on the flag of Lebanon. It has occupied a central place on it since 1943 and is a symbol of strength, purity, and eternity. Students from Nigeria decided on a more spectacular introduction to their country’s story. “The Giant of Africa,” as Nigeria is called due to its vast land, diversity of peoples and languages, the largest population in Africa, and vast oil resources, introduced us to its world with a dance step. Bernardine talked about Nigeria. Those who were in room 01.11 know that it was enough to close your eyes and listen to the rhythm beaten on the congas to find yourself in Nigeria… Right to Left We return to the foyer in front of Aula 1000. The audience’s reactions to what the student groups from India, Turkey, and Nigeria presented changed at the pace of stop-motion film shots. It is difficult to precisely determine the proportions between the words astonishment and madness to describe the positive energy felt by those who were there and could see even a small fragment of the dappankuthu dance with choreographic elements from Bollywood cinema, the dance performance by Nigerians in an enlarged lineup, or the Turkish dance, whose Polish equivalent of the name is “The Groom’s Aunt.” During events like the Cultural Soirée, it is clear how important bonds are in collective cultures. This was also evident during the joint closing dance Dabke. Dabke is a community dance often performed at weddings and other joyful occasions. It resembles a bit of tap dancing. Anyone who wants to practice assertiveness should try saying NO to a Lebanese person when they invite you to join the dance. Five Stars The evening ended, as usual, too quickly… And although, as every year, there was no shortage of sudden twists, there is something that always and invariably pleases the organizers of this event. It is the reactions, relationships, and diversity. It was time to clean up. The chairman of the Council of English-Speaking Students climbed a ladder to take down the decorations. Five golden stars from the garland stopped at his neck. That’s how it is. Feedback on “how it was” can come from a completely different place than expected. And not only by scanning a QR code. Review written by Mrs Joanna Wieremiejewicz-Podkościelna You can find photos from the event here: Cultural Soiree 2024 | Flickr

Julia Resch – Best Student from English Division! On December 5th, the Rector, Prof. Piekarski, presented a congratulatory diploma to the best student from English Division, Ms. JULIA RESCH. The meeting, held in the Rector’s office, was attended by the Vice-Dean for Studies in English, Prof. Sebastian Kłosek and Ms. Magdalena Kaczorowska, a Student’s Coordinator. Julia Resch is a student in the 6-year medical program. She came to us from Koblenz in western Germany in 2019. Over the past few years, she has actively participated in various research projects. The most significant of these was her collaboration with Prof. Gaszyński and the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at Barlicki Hospital in Łódź. Together with the clinic’s team, she conducted a study comparing the benefits of using the Miller and Macintosh laryngoscopes in patients with morbid obesity. This project earned her first place in the Surgery and Transplantation category at the JPM 2024 Conference and resulted in her first published article. Additionally, Ms. Julia is an active member of the Non-Invasive Cardiology Scientific Circle, led by Prof. Lelonek. In this role, she organizes workshops for other students and participates in a project investigating low doses of naltrexone as a potential treatment for long-term Covid-19. She also holds a research position in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at the Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Łódź. Currently, she is focusing on a research project on dysmenorrhea in adolescents. Besides her scientific and research activities, Ms. Julia has been a member of the student government for years, serving as the chairperson in the 2021/2022 academic year. She is always eager to engage in social activities, organizing social and integration events at our university. CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. JULIA!

On August 30th a symbolic transfer of power took place. Rector, Professor Radzisław Kordek, handed over the insignia of rectorial authority to the Rector (Elect), Professor Janusz Piekarski. The rectors also signed the document of the Transfer of Rectorial Authority. On September 1st, Professor Janusz Piekarski assumes the office of Rector of the Medical University of Łódź.

We warmly invite all students, doctoral candidates, researchers, and medical innovation enthusiasts to participate in the open lectures by foreign guests – professors from Harvard Medical School and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases invited to MUL as Visiting Professors. Lectures will be conducted in English. Place: WESTERN LECTURE HALL, Clinical and Didactic Center at the Medical University of Lodz Lectures: Register before June 28th to secure your spot!

On March 18, 2024, the Electoral College of the Medical University of Łódź elected the Rector of the university for the term 2024 – 2028. The elected Rector is Professor Janusz Piekarski. Previously, he held positions as Vice-Rector for Organization and Student Affairs, as well as the first deputy to the current Rector, Prof. Radzisław Kordek. During his speech, the newly elected Rector thanked for the trust placed in him and emphasized that, in accordance with his declarations, he would continue to diligently pursue the mission of developing the Medical University of Łódź. The Rector-elect will start his term on September 1, 2024.

Dear Siblings studying at MUL, In celebration of incoming International Sibling Day, we are thrilled to invite you to participate in a special project that highlights the unique bonds shared by brothers and sisters studying at our University and help us choose MUL’s Super Sibling in an event with quizzes! Best siblings will be awarded vouchers to spend time together and tighten their bonds! To join this exciting initiative, follow these simple steps: 1. Fill out the Form: Complete the form linked below to express your interest and provide some basic information about yourselves: https://forms.office.com/e/GCzY29mX1QDeadline for Form Submission: February 23rd 2024, 11:59 PM 2.  Look Out for the Survey: Once you’ve submitted the form, we’ll send you a survey with a series of questions. Share your thoughts, memories, and experiences with us! 3.  Have Fun Together: We invite all siblings who completed the Survey to participate in the International Siblings Day organised by MUL on 10th of April 2024! Details will be provided soon. Let’s showcase the bond and support that exists between siblings within our community. We can’t wait to see the wonderful stories and connections that make our university a special place for family ties! Thank you for being a part of this exciting project!