Faculty of Health Sciences

SPECIALISATION

* Health Sciences     * Medical Biology     * Epidemiology     * Disease Prevention     * Health Promotion

As a part of Medical School of Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the Faculty of Health Sciences offers an array of highly rated programs designed to fit the diverse needs of students at all levels: Bachelor and Master degree programs in different academic courses; Physical Therapy, Nursing, Midwifery, Emergency Medicine, Electro-radiology, Public Health and Organization and Economics of Health Protection.

The faculty has the long-term experience in nursing education and in-depth perspective on health sciences. Now, it comprises of three institutes: Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Public Health, Institute of Physiotherapy with Department of Electro-radiology and the Department of Emergency Medicine.

By undertaking an interdisciplinary approach to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, short and long-term care and rehabilitation, faculty members carry out advanced research in the field of epidemiology and rehabilitation of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Other health-related research issues include reproduction, health of the young generation, ergonomics, physical activity, senatorial, palliative and hospice care. Studies in medical biology involves immunology issues, cell biology as well as physiology and pathophysiology of the digestive system. Researchers from the Institute of Public Health specialize in organization, economy and technology in health care systems.

MAJOR STUDIES AND RESEARCH PROJECTS

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Efficiency Control. The main purpose of this project was to improve the standards of preventive cardiology measures. The program was conducted as a part of the Ministry of Health Care's POLKARD program. The data obtained during the program have been used for international comparisons in a research project run by the European Society of Cardiology (the EUROASPIRE).

Economic and Psychosocial Factors and Health Status. The international research project HAPIEE (Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Eastern Europe) based on long-term simultaneous observations in four Central and Eastern European countries. This study included 36,000 people aged 45 to 69 years (more than 10,000 in Poland ).

Factors Affecting the Levels of Female Sex Hormones. This research conducted in collaboration with the Harvard University and the University of Tromsø in Norway proved that the level of female sex hormones are influenced by nutritional status. These results are important also for breast cancer prevention programs.

Changes in Dietary Habits. An analysis of the efficiency and social approval of programs that promote changes in nutritional habits (the EATWELL research project). Results of this study have been used to elaborate recommendations towards implementing pro-health nutrition habits.

Organization of the Employment of Nursing Personnel. The research aimed at formulating new assumptions for policies in employment and management of hospital nursing personnel. It has established factors and guidelines optimizing staff resources leading to improvement of the quality of patients’ care and job satisfaction of the personel. The RN4CAST research project is the first project of this type implemented in Poland. Due to international research procedures and the comparison of results obtained in twelve European countries and in the United States, the project confirmed that improving hospital employment conditions is a relatively inexpensive way of increasing the quality of care, patients safety and satisfaction, and the sustained employment of nursing personnel. This study is being currently updated in Poland.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

The Faculty members participate in research projects conducted by international scientific consortia (e.g. the 7PR UE Eatwell Consortium and UE CHANCES – Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States). Currently the PRO-SENIOR project in the framework of the Maria Curie EU Action is being launched. Also international bio-ethical studies: Ethics of biomedical research with children. Risks, benefits and rights of participants have been continued. Intensive Fulbright exchange programme has being carried with the Polish researches going abroad (Harvard Univeristy among others) and the foreign scholars coming to our Faculty.

The Faculty collaborates with different higher education institutions: the University of Texas; the Health Science Center San Antonio; the Department of Cellular and Structural Biology; the Artificial Limb Centre (CRA – Centre de Rééducation et d'Appareillage) of Institut Robert Merle d'Aubigne, Valenton (France); Harvard University; the University of Tromsø; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium); the University of Kuopio (Finland); Technische Universitat Berlin; and others.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The Faculty's scientific achievements include developing of the Charter of Rights for Elderly Participants of Clinical Tests as well as establishing a therapeutic communication model with a wide application in medicine and health sciences.

From this year (2018-2023), the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery is implementing the project "Grow and work", whose funds come from the POWER program of the Ministry of Health implemented under priority axis V, Action 5.5. Development of nursing services. The aim of the project is to increase the number of graduates in nursing and obstetrics, and to develop alumni of these faculties, whose competences and skills are adapted to the changing epidemiological and demographic needs in Poland. Moreover, the course of nursing, carried out at the Faculty of Health Sciences, was qualified for funding in 2018-2020 as part of the pro-quality subsidy of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Funds are to be devoted to the implementation of education and further development.

In the nationwide Ranking of Universities “Perspektywy” 2018 academic courses: nursing, midwifery and public health - alongside 5 other courses at the Jagiellonian University School of Medicine - won first place in the category "Ranking by Subject".

Contact: ul. Michałowskiego 12, 31-126 Kraków, wnz@cm-uj.krakow.pl

wnz.cm.uj.edu.pl