Sweden’s Karolinska Institute is one of Europe’s most prestigious medical universities, ranking 34th in Times Higher Education’s overall 2021 World University Rankings, and in 10th place in the field of medicine and health sciences.
“It is a great honor to receive the title of visiting professor, which I had the opportunity to accept in person not long ago in Stockholm, in accordance with the local epidemiological regulations.” said Dr. András Matolcsy, director of the 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research.
Dr. Matolcsy was proposed for the title by Dr. Mikael Björnstedt, director of the Clinical Pathology and Cytology Center of Karolinska Institute and an honorary doctor of Semmelweis University. The two institutions have been collaborating in various areas for more than 10 years. Under a training exchange program, residents of Semmelweis University can get a glimpse of how the Swedish center operates, while residents and specialists from Karolinska come to Semmelweis UNiversity for specialist advanced training. The two institutions have also collaborated on several publications, with research groups for example achieving significant results in diagnosing myelodysplastic syndromes or the oncological effect of selenium therapy. Furthermore, staff of the Hungarian department spend one week a month in Sweden on a rotation basis.
The previously existing education and research cooperation was further expanded last year through a cooperation agreement that was signed at the first annual Semmelweis-Karolinska pathology symposium organized by the 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research and planned to become a tradition.
Dr. András Matolcsy noted that in addition to professional experience, has has “brought home” many things in the recent years from the Swedish mindset. This can be seen in the family-friendly workplace competition that the department has won twice, but they also set up common areas in the building based on the Swedish model, where workers can relax in a pleasant and soothing environment that is isolated from work.
Pálma Dobozi
Translation: Tamás Deme
Photo source: Karolinska Institute
