Harvard Medical School’s Clinical Science Scholars Program at Semmelweis University (HMS CSS) runs from July 2025 to March 2026, with the opening workshop held at the Basic Medical Science Center in Budapest.
The HMS CSS postgraduate program started with 57 participants in 2023, increased to 72 in 2024, and reached 89 in 2025. This year, 58 participants are affiliated with Semmelweis University, and three are from other Hungarian medical schools. The program attracted participants from eight additional countries in the region: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Turkey.
The primary objective of the program is to equip participants with a solid foundation, enabling them to navigate the rapidly advancing field of medicine with a steady hand and a clear mind, as emphasized by Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, in his opening address.
Two years ago, we designed this training program to offer knowledge that is crucial for our young colleagues. It also creates an opportunity that was previously almost unimaginable. I believe nothing confirms this more – apart from alumni feedback – than the fact that this year’s applications for the 50 scholarship spots were more than three times oversubscribed. – Dr. Béla Merkely
The rector reminded the audience that progress and success in medicine and health sciences today could only be achieved through international cooperation. Outstanding results are attainable when professionals share and coordinate their knowledge. This program aims to establish scientific links across borders and continents, among other things, he noted. “Although we have different mother tongues and live on different continents, our work is based on the same values, and we share the same goals: to advance science, cure patients, and spread knowledge as widely as possible,” Dr. Béla Merkely added.
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At the beginning of the workshop, Program Directors Jamie M. Robertson and Krisztina Fischer introduced the HMS CSS staff and faculty, providing an overview of the nine-month program, including its requirements and curriculum. Jamie M. Robertson, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, emphasized that the program aimed to enhance knowledge and skills related to clinical research. These include writing research proposals and scientific articles, becoming more proficient in statistics, developing soft skills for leadership and teamwork, and gaining a network of clinical researchers. To illustrate the program’s practical nature, she mentioned that several previous participants had received research grants for proposals developed during the program.
Dr. Krisztina Fischer, an alumna of Semmelweis University and Assistant Professor of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as well as Faculty Director of the Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education program, described the program’s growth in recent years.
Rector Dr. Béla Merkely gave a lecture on developing a career in clinical research.
Over the course of four days, participants attended presentations on topics including research questions, biostatistics, statistical analysis, epidemiology, teamwork, and effective scientific communication.
The nine-month blended program consists of two in-person workshops, one virtual workshop, online lectures, webinars, group assignments, a capstone project, and several exams. It will conclude in Boston at Harvard Medical School in March 2026.
Judit Szabados-Dőtsch
Photos by Bálint Barta – Semmelweis University
