Science

Zan Mitrev Clinic supported and participated in the first “Congress of Students of General Medicine” at the Faculty of Medical Sciences within the University Goce Delcev, which was held in Stip. This event was an opportunity for ambitious students and young doctors to demonstrate their work through oral and poster presentations in the field of preclinical and clinical subjects, practical work in workshops and through their presence in lectures by renowned professors and doctors.

In this regard, Dr. Rodney Rosalia, a scientific researcher, quality assurance service, and Tanja Angjusheva, a sub-specialist cardiologist from Zan Mitrev Clinic, also held their workshops and delivered their lectures.

The lecture by Dr. Rodney Rosalia, who obtained a doctoral degree in tumor immunology, introduced the audience to the concept of cancer immunotherapy and its high clinical potential. The theme of the presentation was: “Using the Immune System to Fight Cancer; Cancer Immunotherapy”.

– Cancer immunotherapy is the use of an immune system for cancer treatment. Immunotherapies can be categorized as active, passive or active-passive, which refer to a combination of active and passive approaches. Cancer immunotherapy uses the fact that cancer cells express aberrant antigens on their cell surface, the so-called tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) resulting from genetic mutations that lead to carcinogenesis – stressed Dr. Rosalia.

After the lecture, Dr. Rosalia was pleased to hold a workshop together with 30 highly qualified graduate students of medicine from the University Goce Delcev. During the workshop, the students were more profoundly introduced to the topic “Therapeutic Vaccines Against Breast Cancer, Against Melanoma and Cervical Cancer”, as examples of active immunotherapy. The topic was followed by a passionate debate about the role of cytokine Interleukin-2 (IL-2) as a powerful (passive) immunotherapy for cancer in order to enhance current anti-tumor immune responses.

The workshop culminated with a discussion on the national, financial and bureaucratic obstacles that currently block the implementation of these advanced therapies in Macedonia.

Dr. Tanja Angjusheva, before a group of thirty students, held a practical workshop on the use of electrocardiography and electrocardiogram interpretation, followed by practical work with the students. The numerous questions only added to the working atmosphere for which the anticipated hour and a half were insufficient, so inevitably, to everyone’s satisfaction, the workshop’s duration was extended.

The congress was an excellent opportunity to expand the theoretical and practical knowledge, and to acquire new collegial friendships.