The first international PhD student successfully defended a dissertation at the Medical University of Plovdiv. Dr. Matteo Pacini, a urology resident in Pisa, Italy presented his research work on the topic: “Diagnostic improvements in prostate cancer: the impact of PI-QUAL score and correct biopsy strategy on surgical management and functional outcomes”
At the official defense, the Rector’s leadership was represented by Prof. Maria Tokmakova, MD, PhD – Vice-Rector for Research, and Prof. Vesselina Goranova-Marinova, MD, PhD – Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.
Based on a signed cooperation agreement with the University of Pisa, Italy, a joint PhD program in Urology was initiated at the Department of Urology and General Medicine. The doctoral program is accredited by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency and offers training in English as well.
From the MU-Plovdiv side, Dr. Pacini’s scientific supervisor is Assoc. Prof. Petar Antonov, MD, PhD, from the Department of Urology and General Medicine, while from the University of Pisa his supervisor is Assoc. Prof. Alessandro Zucchi, MD. His scientific consultant is Prof. Dr. Silvia Tsvetkova-Trichkova, PhD, from the Department of Imaging Diagnostics.
As part of the cooperation with the University of Pisa, outgoing mobility was carried out by Assoc. Prof. Petar Antonov, MD, PhD and Assoc. Prof. Atanas Ivanov, MD, PhD for training in robotic and minimally invasive urology, while incoming mobility was realized by Assoc. Prof. Alessandro Zucchi, MD on the same subject.