Delegation from Hainan Medical University Visits Grodno State Medical University

A meeting took place at Grodno State Medical University between the University administration and a delegation from Hainan Medical University (People’s Republic of China). The visit became a continuation of the active development of international cooperation between GrSMU and educational and medical institutions of the PRC.

Representing the Belarusian side at the meeting were First Vice-Rector Andrei Viktorovich Boltach, Vice-Rector for Research Mikhail Nikolaevich Kurbat, Vice-Rector for Ideological and Educational Work Irina Andreevna Kurstak, Dean of the Medical Faculty for International Students Aleksander Aleksandrovich Stenko and Head of the International Affairs Department Svetlana Sergeevna Shparkovich. The Chinese delegation was represented by the leadership of Hainan Medical University and its affiliated hospital. 

Opening the meeting, Andrei Viktorovich Boltach welcomed the guests and noted that GrSMU is interested in expanding partnerships with Chinese colleagues.

“We are pleased to welcome the delegation from Hainan Medical University. I am convinced that this visit will mark an important step in developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of medical education and science”, noted the First Vice-Rector.

During the presentation delivered by the Belarusian side, guests were briefed on the activities and achievements of GrSMU. Over its 68-year history of development, the University has trained more than 30000 medical specialists. Today, the University comprises five faculties and the Faculty of Advanced Training and Retraining. The teaching staff includes over 540 people, including 50 Doctors of Science and professors and 246 Candidates of Science. The total student body exceeds 5000, including 1400 students enrolled in the Medical Faculty for International Students. 

The guests were also introduced to the University’s degree programs: General Medicine, Pediatrics, Medical Diagnostics and Mental Health Medicine. The parties discussed the opportunities available to international students at the University. This year, GrSMU successfully underwent international accreditation for the second time, becoming the first medical university in the country to receive such accreditation for five years. Furthermore, the University is a five-time recipient of the Prize of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for achievements in the field of quality.

Particular attention during the discussion was paid to material and technical resources of the University. GrSMU comprises 7 study buildings; 26 clinical departments of 45 specialized ones have facilities across the city. Grodno State Medical University is the only medical university in Belarus with its own multidisciplinary University Clinic. Moreover, there is a modern Simulation and Certification Center at the University, equipped with high-tech technology for the practice-oriented training of future medical professionals.

The Chinese delegation also presented Hainan Medical University and its affiliated hospital. The guests highlighted key specialized centers established at hospital, including those dedicated to oncology, cardiology and vascular medicine, neurology, nephrology, osteoarthritis and oncology, as well as surgery. All centers operate on the principle of multidisciplinary integration, providing comprehensive cycles of patient diagnosis, treatment and observation. The hospital comprises over 50 primary clinical departments. Its facilities house the province’s first medical cyclotron, helical tomotherapy system for precise radiation therapy, a CyberKnife, a robotic navigation microscope and other up-to-date equipment.

Hainan Medical University trains specialists across 25 fields of study. Its educational programs center on clinical medicine, nursing, and traditional Chinese medicine, while also covering pharmacy, rehabilitation and medical technology. The university maintains international partnerships with over 20 universities across more than 10 countries. The educational process is built on the principles of early clinical immersion and extensive practical training for students.

During a lively discussion regarding medical education in both regions, the Chinese delegation thanked their Belarusian hosts for the warm welcome and expressed particular interest in the high-tech equipment used at both the University and University Clinic. The delegation members expressed hope for future cooperation, a deeper insight into GrSMU and the opportunity to visit study buildings and clinical training sites. 

The parties exchanged presentation materials and confirmed their mutual interest in developing cooperation. Discussions focused on prospects for academic and clinical collaboration, exchange of experience and implementation of joint educational and research initiatives. The Chinese delegation expressed its intention to maintain contact and organize a return visit to gain a more detailed understanding of the activities of Grodno State Medical University.

Summarizing the meeting, Andrei Viktorovich Boltach noted that such visits help strengthen friendly ties between Belarus and China and open up new opportunities for the joint training of highly qualified medical professionals.

“Grodno State Medical University has a successful track record of training Master’s students from the People’s Republic of China. We are proud to be the first medical university to implement such a program. I am confident that our cooperation with Hainan Medical University will be fruitful and contribute to the further development of international medical education”, emphasized the First Vice-Rector. 

The parties agreed to continue the dialogue and outlined specific areas for cooperation. As part of the visit, the Chinese delegation toured the main building and visited the Departments of Normal Anatomy and of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy, as well as the GrSMU Simulation and Certification Center, noting the high quality of work of the teaching staff and the use of modern tools for medical education.