My name is Andres Reig, and I graduated from the 6-year MD program at MUL in 2012. Born and raised in Valencia, Spain, I moved to Poland to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor in 2006, and the 6 years I spent in Łódź can be best described as interesting, filled with learning and curiosity, and were also very fun! Many of the professors and lecturers at MUL left a permanent imprint in me, inspiring me to become the doctor and scientist I am today.

Earning my MD degree at MUL was an excellent foundation upon which to build my career. I had always wanted to become an obstetrician-gynecologist and, more specifically, my goal had always been to specialize in human reproduction and infertility treatment. After graduation, I moved to the United States to further this objective. I was offered a position as a post-doctoral researcher at Yale University School of Medicine in the department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences in Dr. Hugh Taylor’s laboratory, where I carried out basic science research in mice, involving endometrial stem cells as a potential treatment for ovarian injury resulting from chemotherapy.

After two years in the lab, I joined the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at Yale University – Bridgeport Hospital. During my 4-year residency, I served as administrative chief resident and I was happy to pay back what I received as a student at MUL by teaching the medical students of Yale University during their OBGYN rotations. I also continued to advance my research goals, studying the effect of aging on reproduction beyond the impact of embryonic aneuploidy.

Once I had completed my specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology, I applied for a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and was humbled to be accepted at IVIRMA New Jersey, one of the world leaders in fertility treatment and research. While in fellowship, I have had the privilege of helping many patients fulfill their dreams of starting or completing their families, and to be a clinical instructor for the medical students and residents at Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. I have also remained involved in research in the field of reproductive medicine, investigating in areas such as reproductive outcomes in patients with diminished ovarian reserve, the impact of pre-implantation genetic testing, and neonatal outcomes after IVF.

During this journey, I have authored several peer-reviewed publications, continued to teach and mentor medical students and residents, served as a reviewer for several journals in the field of reproductive medicine such as Fertility & Sterility, Reproductive Sciences, and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, and obtained several awards for medical teaching and research, including the 2019 Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology prize paper – not to mention I helped deliver hundreds of babies!

Having now fulfilled my dream of becoming a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and dedicating my professional life to advancing the field of reproductive medicine, I look back and realize that none of this would have been possible without my time in Łódź. As for all future doctors who will graduate from MUL, I applaud your decision of training here. Keep your goals in sight and strive to be the best you can, but don’t forget to have fun in the process!

It was not easy to say goodbye to all the people I knew during my studies in Poland, as well to the friends who became family after the four years of medical education. We came from a variety of backgrounds but we all shared the love for the Polish culture and Poland’s educational system.

Right after graduation, I went on to pursue an internship at the Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital.  Soon after, with the education I gained at MUL, it was no challenge for me to get hired at the American University of Beirut as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Dermatology.

Even when I might be considered as someone taking the “long way home,” I take pride in the time and effort put into paving the road less taken among other graduates.

My message for the new graduates is to find their passion and to be eager for taking any chance that might place them a step closer to their final goal.

Dr Vishnu Pradeep graduated from the six-year MD program at MUL in 2012. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry based at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin and is a Senior Clinical Lecturer with Trinity College Dublin. Following his studies at MUL, he completed his medical and surgical internship in Ireland. Then subsequently went on to complete his specialist training in Adult Psychiatry and Psychogeriatrics while rotating through the Mid-West Mental Health and Dublin psychiatric training schemes.

During core training, he received the regional psychiatry trainee award. While in higher training, he held academic teaching posts with University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin and was awarded the National Doctor’s Training and Planning HSE Management and Leadership Scholarship to pursue a master’s in leadership studies with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. While in training, he held leadership roles within the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Trainee Committee and was actively involved in improving post-graduate training and education in psychiatry.

He maintains research ties with the University of Limerick, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin and has published research on medical education and service development. He is currently working in a Dublin Community Adult Psychiatry team focusing on primary care psychiatric outreach service and is responsible for training Psychiatric Trainees, General Practice Trainees and Medical Students linked to Trinity College Dublin.

Dr Pradeep fondly remembers his time in MUL and is grateful for all the support he received from his supervisors and administrative staff with the faculty of medicine and various teaching hospitals in Łódź. He encourages all future graduates to work hard, stay focused and dream big!

I am Mohamad Mahdi Mortada, a medical doctor and PhD candidate in my 2^nd year in the department of Immunology and Allergy. Back to 2017 and after finishing my undergraduate studies at the Lebanese American University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology & a minor in Chemistry, I decided to continue my medical studies abroad at the Medical University of Lodz. Moving to Poland was an exciting challenge as I gained new skills which helped in my personal and professional development. Alongside with my medical studies, I ensured to participate in several events organized by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) in Germany, France, and Poland.

During my studies I developed an interest in medical research, that’s why after my graduation from the medical school in 2021, I decided to apply to the International Doctoral School and since October 2021, I am conducting my research which is focused on the assessment of inflammatory parameters and local allergic reaction in diagnosis and endotypic classification of allergic rhinitis. Currently we are in the phase of recruiting patients for the study and collecting samples for assessment. We hope that the results of our study will open new doors for the implementation of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in the management protocol of local allergic rhinitis patients and will helpfully provide new insights into phenotypical and endotypical classification of allergic rhinitis.

Finally, a message to all future doctors and researchers who would like to continue their education in Poland, you will have in the city of Łódź the chance to enjoy the friendly environment, connect with new people and discover the beautiful Polish culture.