One of the unique features of Palacký University Olomouc is the historical background of its Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, which has trained doctors since 1573 (earlier than any other contemporary European university). Yet, it was officially reopened only in 1946, after the Second World War. This is a unique feature that sets it apart from other Central European medical schools – the program in Olomouc can be viewed as the antithesis of medicine in Prague, where the program is larger and more prestigious, rather than student-oriented. Today, the faculty welcomes approximately 80 students studying general medicine and 15-20 students studying dentistry.
The unique feature of Olomouc is that all studies are conducted at a single centre, called CENTESIMO (short for Centre for Telemedicine, Simulation and Clinical Skills). This is an integral part of the learning process – students start practising on simulators and high-fidelity mannequins during their first year of studies, before working with the patients. What should be underlined here is that, in 2019, the faculty received AMSE (Association of Medical Schools in Europe) accreditation, further proof that Olomouc meets European standards. Moreover, graduates of Olomouc perform well on the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination), and over 80 graduates are registered with the UK General Medical Council. Alums work successfully in the USA, Canada, Japan and Scandinavia.
The pedagogical structure includes three phases. The first two years involve studying foundational biomedical sciences such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, histology, cell biology, and biophysics in English, along with obligatory Czech classes required for clinical practice (which takes place in Czech). Years 3-4 are devoted to preclinical subjects, and clinical practice begins. In years 5-6, students engage in clinical practice exclusively at the associated University Hospital Olomouc (also based at the same campus). This hospital is not only a teaching facility but also a regional hospital, performing operations in emergency, surgical, and speciality clinics, thus providing students with the opportunity to meet complex patients.
Olomouc may be underestimated by international students focused on Prague; however, this is its unique feature. The town of 100,000 residents has about 25,000 university students (the highest student density in Central Europe), which gives the town a unique atmosphere. Olomouc was founded in the 10th century, and its historical centre is famous for its Baroque architecture. There is also a Moravian Theatre in the city, as well as a functioning public transport system. Rents, food and living costs in Olomouc are lower than in Prague and Vienna. Yet, Olomouc is situated within a 2- to 3-hour drive of Prague, Vienna, Krakow and Bratislava, making it a convenient place for cultural leisure.
The university's research background is not only a selling point of the institution but also a reality. Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, was a student and teacher at this university, and Bohdan Pomahač, an alumnus of this faculty, performed the first full face transplant in the USA. Nowadays, research in clinical immunology, immunogenetics, biomedical nanotechnology, and quantum optics is underway, as is collaboration with EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory). If you want to conduct your own research, this is the opportunity, and if you prefer to be engaged in the clinic, you are not obliged to conduct any research, and the faculty trains physicians, not researchers.
The English-taught general medicine program at the faculty has been running for over 30 years, and the faculty's experience with international non-Czech-speaking students is substantial and well-structured. Students are provided with various types of assistance, ranging from the buddy program and accommodation assistance to visa guidance, and culminating in integration into the international student community (400 students from over 30 countries are studying medicine and dentistry in the English programs). The curriculum is oriented toward preparing graduates for international medical practice (there is no limitation on graduates applying for jobs only in the Czech Republic). The degree obtained is MUDr (Medicinae Universae Doctor), which is equivalent to an MD or MBBS.