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The approach of autumn signals changes to the daily routine for many people. The start of an academic year in secondary schools, gymnasiums and universities brings young people into classrooms and auditoriums. But few people will be aware that it is on 1 September that residents, the medical specialists of the future, start their studies in their chosen residency programmes.
This year, the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University (VU) admitted 214 resident doctors to study in 53 medical and 6 dental residency programmes. According to Prof. Vytautas Kasiulevičius, Vice-Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Innovations, “the residency programmes in Dermatoveterology (8 candidates for every place), Cardiology (6 candidates for every place), Radiology and Gastroenterology (5 candidates for every place) were the most popular this year. The Oral Surgery, Orthodontics and Periodontology programmes were also very popular, with 4 candidates for every place”.
The study programmes shown the least interest and for which there was no competition, were Occupational Medicine (1), Geriatrics (3) and Pathology (2).
For a long time, there has been a trend towards more women choosing the medical profession. This year, 154 female versus 60 male future medical specialists will start their first year of residency. However, according to Prof. Kasiulevičius, the choices of young people have been changing. “For example, programmes such as urology, surgery or traumatology and orthopaedics, which require greater physical and psychological stamina, have been increasingly chosen by women”.
It is important to note that of the 214 residents admitted, 12 are foreign nationals from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Brazil. In addition, as many as 10 doctors-in-residence (7 state-funded and 3 non-state-funded) are transferring from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences to continue their studies in higher level courses.
Currently, a grand total of 830 residents are studying at the VU Faculty of Medicine.