Dear Members of the Medical Faculty Community, 

We would like to inform you that the next meeting of the Medical Faculty Council is scheduled on 30th April, at 1 p.m., at the Faculty of Medicine Room 144.

Agenda

1. Presentation on the Strategic Activity Plan of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University for 2022–2025

Presenter – Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dalius Jatužis

2. Approval of the Regulations for the Management of Undergraduate Study Programs at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University

Presenter – Vice-Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Assoc. Prof. Laura Nedzinskienė

3. Approval of Descriptions of Individual and Common University Study Subjects

Presenter – Vice-Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Assoc. Prof. Laura Nedzinskienė

4. Annual Publishing Report of the Scientific Journal "Acta Medica Lituanica"

Presenter – Prof. Rimantas Jankauskas

5. Changes to the Dentistry Doctoral Study Commitee Composition

Presenter – Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson of the MF Council

6. Approval of the Publication "Intensyvioji pulmonologija"

Presenter – Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson of the MF Council

7. Approval of the Publication " Vaikų pagrindinių ligų ir būklių diagnostikos bei gydymo algoritmai bei integruotos sveikatos priežiūros principai "

Presenter – Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson of the MF Council

8. Other questions

Contact person:

In the realm of modern medicine, the study of ancient DNA has emerged as a revolutionary field, blending the mysteries of human history with the cutting-edge advancements in genetics. The debate among scientists and medical professionals is focused on a pivotal question: does ancient DNA offer practical insights for contemporary health, or is it merely a window into our distant past?

The crux of this debate lies in the DNA we've inherited from our ancient relatives, notably the Neanderthals and Denisovans. These archaic humans, once roaming Earth alongside our ancestors, have left indelible marks on the genetic blueprint of modern humans. Intriguingly, up to 2% of the DNA in non-African populations today originates from Neanderthals. This genetic legacy is not a mere relic but a living part of us that influences our health, disease susceptibility, and even our interaction with the environment.

This intersection of ancient history and modern health sparks a vibrant debate within the medical community. Proponents argue that understanding the influence of ancient DNA on our genetic makeup is crucial for unraveling the origins of many diseases and developing targeted treatments. By mapping the evolutionary journey of disease-related genes, researchers aim to uncover new pathways for medical interventions, turning ancient genetic knowledge into a powerful tool for contemporary medicine.

Dr. Horia Stanescu, a distinguished medical doctor and scientist, believes that history extends beyond mere past events. He passionately contends that ancient DNA does more than pique our curiosity—it serves as a vital link to understanding the depths of our identity. Dr. Stanescu argues that this genetic heritage is not merely a relic for academic fascination but a crucial key to unlocking the mysteries of our biological and cultural evolution.

Interested? We invite you to participate in the lecture: What ancient DNA can tell us about modern disease?

Date and time: 3 May, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Venue: Science Communication and Information Centre (VU SCIC), Saulėtekio al. 5, Vilnius.

The event will be held in English.

All interested participants are welcome to attend the event; to ensure that there will be no shortage of places, please register: https://forms.office.com/e/8kYsDYv5nZ

For news about the event, please follow it on Facebook.

Contact person: Asoc. Prof. Monika Mozerė, email

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Dr Horia Stanescu is a medical doctor and researcher in Genetics and Genomics with over 20 years of international experience in biomedical research. He began his career as a specialist in Medical Genetics and spent four years at the National Human Genome Research Institute in the USA. He earned his PhD at the UCL and is currently a Principal Investigator within the UCL Division of Medicine. Dr Stanescu co-founded the Centre for Genetics and Genomics within the Department of Renal Medicine at the UCL.

His contributions have been instrumental in establishing genotype-phenotype mapping for over 40 genes linked to a wide range of disorders, including inter alia neurological, nephrological, haematological and immunological conditions. His research interests include Computational Biology, Regulatory Genomics, Comparative Genomics – with a particular emphasis on paleogenomics & Pleistocene hominins. A dedicated educator, Horia founded and currently directs the Genetics and Multiomics in Medicine MSc programme within the Division of Medicine at the UCL.

Exams can often be a source of significant stress and anxiety for university students. As the pressure mounts, it's essential to equip ourselves with effective coping mechanisms to navigate these challenges successfully. In this online seminar, we'll delve into practical strategies for dealing with exam stress and anxiety. From understanding the root causes of stress to implementing mindfulness techniques, we'll explore various tools to help you not only survive but thrive during exam season.

Seminar Content:

• Understanding exam stress: What causes it and how it affects us?
• Practical coping strategies: Mindfulness, time management, and self-care techniques.
• Overcoming perfectionism: Embracing imperfection and setting realistic goals.
• Seeking support: Resources available for managing exam-related stress and anxiety.

Date: 2024.05.06
Time: 15:00-16:15

Registered participants will receive a link to the webinar hosted on MS Teams the day before the seminar, scheduled for May 6th at 15:00-16:15.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/e/JN94FtZFcw

We can all experience psychological crises at some point in our lives. Psychological crisis is something that is also experienced by those around us. How can I help them? What can we say? How should we react? In this online seminar, we will talk about how to provide emotional support to someone in difficulty, how to recognize the signs of a psychological crisis and the risk signs of suicide. Each of us can help the person next to us. Sometimes all it takes is a frank conversation.

Seminar content:

- Attentive listening - how to do it and why is it important?
- Signs of a psychological crisis and how to help during it;
- Risk signs of suicide and how to react;
- Help options for students in difficulty;

Date: 2024.04.22
Time: 15:00-16:20

Registered participants will be emailed a link to the MS Teams online seminar the day before the online seminar taking place on 22nd April at 15:00-16:20.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/e/TivFgrJxzz

Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine and Tallin Health Care College organise International Conference 'Patient-centered operating theatre management', dedicated for general practice nurses of all specializations, advanced practice nurses, midwives, nursing assistants.

Date and time: 17th of May, 2024.
Venue: Radisson Blu OLÜMPIA Hotel, 33 Liivalaia Street, 10118 Tallinn, Estonia.

Program of the conference you can find here.

Will be issued 6 hours Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine Certificates.

Registration link: https://forms.office.com/e/qSkVtPPWZ9

Inquiries: e-mail or ph. +370 680 50324.

We invite you to participate in the 76th Student Research Network Conference at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University.

The conference will be held at 1-6 p.m. We kindly invite all the students and the entire community of the Faculty of Medicine to listen to the presentations or simply join the event whenever it is convenient for you. The door is always open, you can spend as much time as you wish.

The conference programme will be announced soon.

In this conference students present the results of their work, interesting clinical cases, or analyses carried out in scientific groups together with VU MF scientists. The students’ research papers will be published in the VU MF Student Research Conference publications. Students and the first prize winners of group/cohort sections also deliver their presentations.

Presentation of research papers by the Student Research Network in the sections will take place on 13-16 May 2024.

• One section is formed where there are 10 or more papers. If there are less than 10 papers, small groups are formed into one section. Please notify the formed sections by 6 May 2024, by email: ; 
• Research papers are assessed in small groups and sections, and 3 best papers are selected. Winners of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd places will be awarded certificates.
• Only the papers that took the 1st place in the small groups and sections will be presented at the plenary conference on 17 May 2024.

Requirements for the theses:

• Requirements for the theses:

• The final date for submission of the theses is 19 April 2024;

• The theses must be submitted by email: ;

• The scope of the thesis must be up to 600 words (excluding the title, names of the authors, and titles of the parts of the thesis);

Structure of the thesis:

• The title of the thesis;
• The author(s) (indicate full name, the year);
• The supervisor(s) (indicate the position and/or pedagogical title and/or academic degree*, full name, department). The supervisor or consultant must be an employee of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University;

*Please note. First, indicate the position or pedagogical title or its abbreviation (Prof., Assoc. Prof.), then the academic degree (Dr. Habil., Dr.).

• Parts of the thesis: aim, methodology, findings, conclusions, keywords (up to 5 in alphabetical order).

Examples of the theses (LT, EN) are enclosed.

For inquiries, please contact:

The organisers would like to invite you to the 20th European Congress on Digital Pathology 2024 in beautiful Vilnius, Lithuania. They are thrilled to gather leading experts, researchers, and industry professionals in this vibrant city to explore the forefront of digital pathology. This congress promises an exceptional platform for knowledge exchange, innovative ideas, and collaborative networking. Vilnius, with its rich history, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality, provides an inspiring backdrop for this event. Organisers have no doubt, that participants all together embrace the power of digital pathology to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes here.

Date:  5–8 June, 2024.
Venue: “Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva”, Konstitucijos pr. 20, Vilnius.

President of the Congress prof. A. Laurinavičius: "Pathology serves is a valuable source of data for understanding diseases, and the integration of computational approaches opens new ways to extract meaningful insights from this data. This synergy holds great potential for advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes. I invite everyone who is interested in the topic to participate".

For more information on the event, please visit the official website of the congress.

Date: May 4, 2024.

We would like to inform you that the diploma awarding for the 2024 graduates of the VU Faculty of Medicine will take place at the Church of St. John (St. John Street 12, Vilnius). The Faculty of Medicine diplomas will be awarded at five separate ceremonies:

• June 14, 2024, at 2:00 PM for graduates of integrated Medicine and Dentistry programs conducted in English and Master's in Systems biology;
• June 18, 2024, at 10:00 AM for Bachelor's graduates of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Nursing, and Public Health programs;
• June 18, 2024, at 12:00 Master's graduates of Advanced Nursing Practice, Medical Biology, Medical Genetics, Art Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Public Health programs;
• June 25, 2024, at 2:00 PM for graduates of integrated Medicine and Dentistry programs conducted in Lithuanian and integrated Farmacy program;
• June 27, 2024, at 5:00 PM for residents.

If you have any questions, please contact: 

The Nordic Music Therapy Student Conference 2022 will take place in Lithuania for the first time. It will be held at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, on 22-24 April. The topic of this year's conference is “Expanding horizons”. Music therapists, music therapy students and graduates, teachers and guests will share their experience.

The conference is organized in a hybrid way. Both of those wishing to attend the conference live and remotely are invited to register using the links below:

Registration for live participation: https://forms.gle/tTULFpg4YSmrsQUJ9

Registration for remote participation: https://forms.gle/EHsMcMFwhwr2yd176

Participation fee - 40 Eur.

It is important to note that the conference will take place at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University (M. K. Čiurlionio St. 21, Vilnius) on April 22-23. Meanwhile, the last day of conference (24 April) will take place at Mažasis Trinapolis (Trinapolio St. 11, Vilnius).

If you have any questions, email us

We kindly invite you to participate in the online lecture „Principles of Surgery for Colorectal Cancer“ by Prof. Tomas Poškus (Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephro-Urology and Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine). The lecture is being held on the 21 February, 9 a. m. This lecture is part of the Lithuanian-Japanese initiative “From Cell Biology to Surgery and Beyond”.

ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89288825557?pwd=d2hjN0cvbC96eEhPSTM5OTEzVXRMUT09

ID: 892 8882 5557

Password: 639991

“From Cell Biology to Surgery and Beyond” initiative

Lithuanian-Japanese initiative is the new international academic initiative to help students in comprehensive understanding of a disease mechanism, selection of the appropriate surgical or systemic treatment and providing the opportunity to discuss.

The 4th and 5th year students are invited to take part in the meetings of the project implemented by Prof. Kęstutis Strupas and Dr. Aistė Kielaitė-Gulla with their colleagues surgeons from Kansai Medical University (Japan). On-line (remote) lectures of Japanese and Lithuanian academic surgeons as well as presentation of good clinical and surgical practice will be offered during these meetings.

Lectures on pancreatic, hepatic, colorectal and gastric as well as pediatric surgery have been anticipated. Twice per month held lectures will be illustrated with 3D visual aids and video fragments of the surgeries. Students will have an opportunity to ask questions and to discuss the selected topics during the on-line meetings a well as to integrate the achievements of scientific research.