NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Report of a visit to the
Medical University of Silesia
Katowice, Poland
September 19 - 23, 1999
and
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
Brooklyn, New York
April 4, 2000
INTRODUCTION
The objective of the site visit team was to evaluate the preclinical component of the program of medical education of the Medical University of Silesia that takes place in Poland and the clinical component of the University’s program of medical education that takes place in New York State. The major purpose of the visit to the campus in Katowice was to assess that part of the University’s program of medical education, primarily the basic medical sciences, which prepares students for clinical training. The purpose of the visit to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center was to assess the clinical training which is offered to Katowice’s students, to review faculty and student records, and to meet with academic and administrative officers of the University regarding the structure for monitoring and supervising clinical training that takes place in New York State.
The Team
Bernerd Polarra, M.D., Ph.D. Thomas J. Monahan, M.A.
John E. and Aleise Price Professor of Executive Secretary
Pediatrics and Chief, General Pediatrics New York State Board for Medicine
University of South Florida Albany, NY
Tampa, FL
Rafael Olazagasti, M.D. Douglas P. Elkins, M.S.
Vice President of Medical Affairs and Assistant Executive Secretary
Network Development New York State Board for Medicine
Benedictine Hospital Albany, NY
Kingston, NY
Richard Edmonds, Ph.D. Leo Sullivan, M.D.
Albany Medical College of Medicine Consultant in Neurology
Executive Associate Dean (Ret.) Intervale NH
Albany, NY
Activities of the Team During the Evaluation
The team members reviewed individually all of the materials provided by the University prior to the visit. These included the Data Base Document, the appendices to it, and the catalog. Student and faculty records and curricular materials were examined in Katowice and at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. The team inspected academic and hospital facilities in Katowice and hospital facilities in New York State. The team members interviewed administrative officers and faculty members in Katowice and New York State. On the basis of these activities, the following observations related to appropriate sections of the Guidelines for the Evaluation of Medical Programs are presented with the respect to the four-year English program for International Students as offered by the Medical University of Silesia.
FOREWORD
In December 1998, the University contacted the Department to discuss the approval of the University for the purpose of placing students in clinical clerkships in New York State beyond 12 weeks duration. In 1999, the University requested that an evaluation of its program leading to approval be undertaken. The initial site visit to the Medical University of Silesia was carried out in Katowice in September 1999 and in New York State in April 2000.
ADMINISTRATION
The Medical University of Silesia is a State owned Institution and operates under supervision of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Poland. The University has no ”Board at Trustees.” Regional and National Government sponsored Committees represent authorities equivalent to Boards of Trustees at U.S. universities The University operates under supervision of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Poland.
The Medical University of Silesia with its headquarters in Bytom-Rokitnica was established on March 20, 1948. In March 1950, the school was given its official name - the Warynski Silesian Medical Academy. The present name, the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, was given to the school by a decree of the Senate on February 28, 1990.
The primary objective that lay behind the foundation of the school in Upper Silesia was to train and produce broadly educated physicians who would provide the best possible health services to the residents of the area’s largest industrial region characterized by rapidly increasing air and water pollution and soil contamination. Additionally, in 1948 the doctor: population ratio in the region was as low as 3.2 : 10 000 (at present the ratio amounts to 25 : 10 000). Under those circumstances the hopes and expectations related to the foundation of a medical school were very justified. It was also expected that the school would be a modern scientific center deeply involved in solving clinical problems and promoting a modern health care system.
The organizer and the first rector of the school was Professor Brunon Nowakowski, a world famous specialist in epidemiology. The beginnings were difficult as the school lacked teachers, research workers, equipment, laboratories, libraries, lecture halls and classrooms. Since there were no adequate campus buildings in Bytom Rokitnica, the school authorities decided to localize the first laboratories, clinical and theoretical departments, and administration offices in three towns of the region. The rector’s office and basic science departments were localized in the former hospital of the „Spółka Bracka i Ubezpieczalnia Społeczna” (The Bracka Company and Social Insurance Company) in Bytom Rokitnica. The first clinical departments were housed in adapted hospital buildings in Bytom and Zabrze. New science and clinical departments were then successively opened depending on the needs of the school.
During the first decade of the life of the school, four towns were considered as its possible seats, namely, Rokitnica, Zabrze, Bytom and Katowice. In December 1957, the Regional Council passed a decree concerning the ultimate localization of the school in Katowice.
In January 1958, a special committee headed by Professor R. Secomski accepted the plans, and, after the decree issued by the Council of Ministers on August 23, 1971, the school’s administrative headquarters were transferred to Katowice. 1971 marked the beginning of the dynamic development of the school:
¨ in 1971, the Faculty of Pharmacy was established with majors in pharmaceutics, medical analysis, and environmental bioanalysis and study (the letter since 1978);
¨ in 1974, the Central Teaching Hospital in Katowice-Ligota started admitting patients. Also, the Nursing Faculty in Katowice-Ligota was established, which awards master’s degrees in nursing (in 1990 the faculty was changed into a Division of the Katowice Medical Faculty);
¨ in 1975, the Clinical Teaching Center was opened in Tychy, and the second Medical Faculty was established in Katowice-Ligota. In the same year, the Interdepartmental Institute of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation was established (presently, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care);
¨ in 1977, the First Polish Institute of Ophthalmology was established as a Department of the Medical Faculty in Katowice.
In August 1995, an agreement with the Hope Medical Institute was signed for the purpose of recruiting and enrolling students in a four-year medical program to be taught in English. The first U.S. students came to Katowice in February 1996. This began a new stage in the history of the university associated with the development of a four–year English language program.
In 1998, the new medical center, i.e., Zabrze – Gliwice Medical Complex was founded. The university celebrated its 50 –year anniversary in October 1998.
The progress of the school organization was accompanied by simultaneous development in teaching and research methods as well as provisions of health services. At the end of 1998, the Medical University of Silesia had 2803 employees, including 1444 academics and researchers, and 1282 members of supporting research staff.
Over the period of 50 years of its activity (1948 - 1998), the school has produced 18, 265 physicians (M.D.) and 4259 dentists (D.D.). It was awarded 1745 master’s degrees in pharmacy, 692 in medical analysis, and 1043 in nursing. Also, a total of 2957 Ph.D. degrees have been awarded, 317 theses for the degree of associate professor and 38 degrees of honoris causa to outstanding Polish and foreign scholars.
The principal administrative and academic officers of the Medical University of Silesia are:
RECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
NAME: Tadeusz Wilczok, Ph.D.
CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER
NAME: Jan Duława, M.D., Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE VICE-RECTOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
NAME : Aleksander Sieroń, M.D., Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE VICE-RECTOR FOR CLINICAL AFFAIRS
NAME: Krzysztof Ziaja, M.D., Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE VICE-RECTOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
NAME: Danuta Bodzek, Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE VICE-RECTOR FOR POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
NAME: Maria Trusz-Gluza, M.D., Ph.D.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
NAME: Adam Sałaniekski
REGISTRAR: (PERSON WHO MAINTAINS STUDENT RECORDS)
NAME: Halina Krzsik, M.A.
CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER
NAME: Stefania Bednarek, M.A.
Staff directly concerned with administration of the four-year English–speaking program include:
Chairperson of the Admissions Committee
The Vice Rector of Academic/Student Affairs, Stainslaw Wos, M.D., Ph.D., Vice-Rector
Administrative officers for the program:
Dean Jan Duława, M.D., Ph.D.
Eugeniusz Kucharz, M.D., Ph.D. Chairman of the English Program
Prof. Ludmiła Węglarz, Ph.D.
Mr. Mahendra Patel, CEO, Hope Medical Institute
Dr. Nimisha Shukla, M.D., Asso. Prof, Albert Einstein Medical College, New York
Prof. Shokat Fatteh, M.D., Director, Anatomic Pathology, Dept. of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, North East Ohio College of Medicine
The University catalog specifies, among other things, a history of the University, members of the faculty, the departments of the Medical Faculty, the Faculty of Pharmacy and associated departments, requirements for admission to the School of Medicine; the application procedures; scholarships, accommodations and a map of the campus and surrounding areas. The University maintains several facilities in suport of the program of medical education
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BUILDINGS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS IN THE ENGLISH PROGRAM
BUILDING / COMPLETED / SQ. METERS / LOCATION / FUNCTIONCentral University Hospital / 1974 / 26124 / main campus / pre- and postgraduate training; out- and inpatient facilities; research laboratories
6TH University Hospital / 1998 / 44260 / main campus / pre- and postgraduate training; out- and inpatient facilities; research laboratories
Upper Silesia Medical Center / 1977 / 55231 / 2 miles from main campus / pre- and postgraduate training; out- and inpatient facilities; research laboratories
State University Hospital / 1998 / 30307 / 3 miles from main campus / pre- and postgraduate training; out- and inpatient facilities; research laboratories
5th University Hospital / 1978 / 31287 / 2 miles from main campus / pre- and postgraduate training; out- and inpatient facilities; research laboratories
Basic Sciences Building / 1986 / 33373 / main campus / Pre-graduate training; research facilities; in - lab patient service
Administration Building / before 1939 / 3800 / 2 miles from main campus / faculty and staff management financial payroll and development departments; student affair office, academic affair office library headquarter; University publishing house
Dormitories / 1972 and 1988 / 14741 / main campus / student and staff accommodations
LECTURE HALLS AVAILABALE FOR STUDENT USE
NAME OF LECTURE HALL / LOCATION / SEATS / A-V FACILITIESYES/NO
Szaflarski Lecture Hall / Basic Sciences Building / 110 / yes
Lecture Hall Nr 109 / Basic Sciences Building / 110 / yes
Lecture Hall Nr 1 / Central University Hospital in Katowice - Ligota / 157 / yes
Lecture Hall Nr 2 / Central University Hospital in Katowice - Ligota / 157 / yes
Lecture Hall / State University Hospital in Katowice / 120 / yes
In addition, each department has its own lecture and seminar halls for 30 seats equipped with basic audio-visual facilities.
STUDENT LABORATORIES
/ FACILITIES / SEATSANATOMY DISSECTING ROOM / CADAVER TABLES / 3
ANATOMY MICROSCOPIC LAB / STUDENT SEATS / 60
MICROSCOPES / 60
BIOCHEMISTRY LAB / STUDENT BENCH SPACES / 75
MICROBIOLOGY LAB / STUDENT BENCH SPACES / 50
PHYSIOLOGY LAB / STUDENT WORK SEATS / 40
PATHOLOGY LAB / STUDENT WORK SEATS
MICROSCOPES / 35
35
PHARMACOLOGY / STUDENT WORK SEATS / 100
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY LAB / STUDENT WORK SEATS / 24
PARASITOLOGY LAB / STUDENT WORK SEATS
MICROSCOPES / 40
40
BIOPHYSICS / STUDENT WORK SEATS / 74
There are numerous clinical sites in the Katowice available for instruction in the English program. The sites utilized in the program are summarized below. Clinical instruction sites for students enrolled in Four-Year Program in English
HOSPITAL / LOCATION / BEDS / OPD VISITS/YR / RESIDENCY PROGRAMSCentral University Hospital / Katowice-Ligota / 550 / 37 900 / Internal Med., Surg., Ob/Gyn, Neurology, Radiology, Anesthesiology
6th University Hospital / Katowice-Ligota / 70 / 327 / Pediatrics
Upper Silesia Med. Ctr / Katowice-Ochojec / 540 / 38 000 / Internal Medicine, Surgery
State University Hospital / Katowice / 480 / 109 000 / Internal Medicine, Surg., Otolaryngology, Dermatology
5th University Hospital / Katowice / 180 / 80 640 / Opthalmology
Provincial Specialist Hosp. / Tychy / 135 / 16 130 / Internal Medicine, Ob/Gyn
Prof. E. Michałowski Hosp. / Katowice / 27 / - / Surgery
Dr E. Hanke Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Center / Chorzów / 145 / 16 860 / Pediatrics
Dr L. Urbanowicz and Dr A. Kośny Hospital / Chorzów / 34 / - / Internal Medicine
Dr E. Cyran Provincial Neuropsychiatric Hospital / Lubliniec / 70 / 230 / Psychiatry
Health Service Institution for the Coal-Mining Industry / Sosnowiec / 255 / 12 200 / Surgery
1st Clinical Hospital (in the 2nd Faculty in Zabrze) / Zabrze / 680 / 90 940 / Internal Medicine, Surgery Pediatrics, Neurology, Radiology
* Data are not available
* * Hospital belongs to the Medical University of Silesia.
There are two library facilities available to students in the English Program. The Main Library at the Medical Faculty in Katowice and the Branch Library at the Medical Faculty in Katowice-Ligota. Each library is staffed and supervised by appropriately educated professional staff and is open an adequate number of hours to meet the needs of the students in the English Program. The holdings of the Branch Library include:
# Volumesof Books / # Volumes
of Journals / # Serial Titles
of Journals
/ # Titles
of Microfilms
/ Participates
In Interlibrary
Loans
58 788 / 4 706 / 368 / 1 116 / NO
The Branch library also contains the following facilities:
Faciltity /Square Meters
/Seating Capacity
a. Reading areas / 80.30 / 29b. Lending room including stacks / 83.90 / 6
c. Offices (they are part of other areas
specified in this table) / - / -
d. Staff workspace / 40.00 / 8
e. Storage, off-site / 223.30 / -
f. Conference rooms / - / -
g. Study carrels / - / -
h. Xerox room / 21.50 / -
i. Computer reading room / 26.00 / 3
j. Other including Audio Visual Room / 142.30 / -
The holdings of the Main Library include:
# VolumesEnd of Year / # Volumes
Added this Year / # Serial Titles
Receive End of Year / Participates
In Interlibrary Loans
186 600 / 2 383 / 591 / 251 volumes
The Main Library also contains the following facilities: