KMA Medical Summer School: Three Days to Experience a Career in Medicine

The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy hosted the Medical Summer School, a three-day program for 10th and 11th-grade students considering medicine as a future career. The program brought together 24 high school students eager to gain a better understanding of what it means to become a physician and how future doctors are trained.

The Summer School gave participants the opportunity to experience life as Medical School students for several days. They worked in teams, participated in strategic games, explored the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and met the people building a new model of medical education in Ukraine. Discussions focused on what makes a good physician, whether universities remain essential today, how the war is transforming medicine, and what the future of Ukraine's healthcare system may look like.

On the second day, participants visited Dobrobut Medical Network's multidisciplinary hospital at 3 Sim'i Idzykovskykh Street. There, they observed how a modern hospital operates, spoke with physicians about their profession, and took part in a hands-on medical workshop.

Throughout the three-day program, students were mentored by Mariya Kukushkina, Founding Dean of the Medical School, together with Medical School faculty members, Dobrobut medical interns, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy students and alumni, and invited guest speakers. They shared their professional experiences, answered students' questions, and provided an authentic perspective on the medical profession.

"This year marks the second time we have organized the Summer School in this format, and for us it is much more than a career guidance event. We wanted participants not simply to attend lectures about medicine but to truly experience what it feels like to be a Medical School student: working in teams, asking questions, engaging in discussions, meeting physicians, and seeing medicine as it is today. We aimed to share not only knowledge but also our personal experiences to help each participant develop their own understanding of what it means to be a modern physician and decide whether this is truly the career they want to pursue. I am sincerely grateful to all participants for their curiosity, openness, and enthusiasm. Working with such motivated young people is an inspiration for our entire team," said Mariya Kukushkina, Founding Dean of the Medical School.

The Summer School concluded with a reflection session and a certificate ceremony. For many participants, the three-day experience became an opportunity to test their motivation and take another step toward making an informed decision about their future profession.

The Medical School of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Dobrobut is a joint educational initiative of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Dobrobut Medical Network aimed at training a new generation of physicians. The project is supported by the Swiss-Ukrainian Medical Education Development Project in cooperation with international academic partners and a broad partnership ecosystem in Ukraine.