At the end of 2024, the first chapter of the successful international project SCaLPEL came to a close. This initiative supported the practical education of young surgeons and connected prominent European universities. Its results are now being built upon by SCaLPEL 2.0, which expands collaboration with new partners and fosters even deeper integration of surgical fields across Europe.
At the end of 2024, the three-year international project SCaLPEL (Surgery Collaborative and Long-term Practical Experience Learning) successfully concluded. This project, developed under the Erasmus+ program and funded by the European Union, was coordinated by the Department of Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, and connected four prominent European universities: Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Karol Marcinkowski University in Poznan, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, and our faculty.
Practical Experience and International Collaboration
The main goal of the SCaLPEL project was to provide young doctors and medical students with practical experience in surgical procedures, share advanced techniques, and foster international collaboration. To achieve this, the Department of Anatomy and the SIMU education centre at the Faculty of Medicine, MU, hosted surgical summer schools focused on neurosurgery, gastrointestinal surgery, spinal surgery, and plastic surgery—particularly popular fields. “The summer school was a great experience; the tutors were excellent. I learned so many new things,” said one of the participants. In addition to these summer schools, international participants had the opportunity to complete internships at MU's clinics, while Czech students travelled to partner universities for their internships.
Educational Materials for Future Generations
One of the major outcomes of the SCaLPEL project is the creation of educational videos and case studies, which will be made available on the MEFANET platform. These resources are intended for medical students and professionals in various healthcare fields.
A New Chapter: SCaLPEL 2.0
The successful conclusion of the first phase paved the way for SCaLPEL 2.0 (Surgery Collaborative and Long-term Practical Experience Learning 2.0), which began in November 2024. The collaboration with Sveučilište u Zagrebu continues, and the project has welcomed new partners: neurosurgeons from Medizinische Universität Innsbruck in Austria and plastic surgery specialists from Uppsala University in Sweden.
Together, they aim to deepen international knowledge exchange and further develop expertise and skills in surgical fields through internships, sharing cutting-edge techniques, and enhancing practical education within the European context.
This year, 55 students received the Dean’s Award in Czech study programs and the Excellence Award in English study programs across several categories. The awards were presented to the students by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at MU, Martin Repko, Vice-Dean Eva Brichtová, and Vice-Dean Lubomír Křivan.
At its regular meeting on March 25, 2025, the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, approved the budget for 2025.
