Consensus Statement

Consensus Statement
International Workshop of PhD Study was organized by Jessenius Faculty of
Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, with support of European Social Fund Project and
in collaboration with ORPHEUS (Organization for PhD Education in Biomedicine and Health
Sciences in the European System). The workshop took place at Jessenius Faculty of Medicine,
Comenius University in Martin from October 5 th to 7 th , 2008.
The participants of the International Workshop on PhD Study, after presentations,
discussions and exchange of ideas and experiences, have concluded and agreed on the
following:
1) PhD programmes as the third cycle of high education according to Bologna process
is an organic part of the Medical and Health Sciences education in preclinical as
well as in clinical disciplines and other medicine related disciplines. PhD
programmes in Medicine and Health Sciences are specific in their mission of the
study and in the final target: Human Being.
2) The participants have agreed with criteria for a PhD education in Medical and
Health Sciences as are well specified in the ORPHEUS documents (The Zagreb
Declaration, 2004, Helsinki Consensus, 2007, etc.).
3) For PhD education in the Medical and Health Science disciplines, like in other
fields, research is the basis for the successful study. For research in medical
disciplines is a necessity of the collaboration with other specialists - biophysists,
biochemists, biomedical engineers, mathematicians, physicians, as well as
laboratorians, etc.
4) Education in PhD clinical programmes has many specific features - integration of
theoretical, preclinical and clinical knowledge, human subjects as an object of the
research and starting with development of clinical skills taking latter to the
specialization study.
5) During the education in PhD clinical programmes is recommended close
cooperation between clinical and theoretical disciplines. This cooperation is
essentiall and useful for participants in the research and beneficial to PhD student.
6) Participants have agreed with statement that research work of undergraduate
students is a good basis for a consecutive PhD study; it is recommended to support
this work.

7) Results accentuated the crucial role of the tutors/supervisors in quality of the PhD
education and in the combined PhD and specialization educations.
8) Unchangeable role in PhD education, in exchange of scientific results, widening
contacts among related universities and faculties have conferences of PhD students.
Participants have recommended to organize the conferences with participation of
representatives of other faculties and on the international level.
9) PhD students – as active participants in PhD programmes – they should have
opportunity to participate in the decission making process regarding PhD study. It is
recommended to start discussion with the aims to improve their social status,
financial support, and to define appropriate ratio between time dedicated to the
research work and to clinical practice of PhD candidates in clinical disciplines.
Prof. Zdravko Lackovič, MD, PhD
President of the ORPHEUS
Assoc. Prof. Dušan Mištuna, MD, PhD
Dean of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine
Prof. Kamil Javorka, MD, DSc.
Head of the Organizing Committee and
Coordinator of the ESF Project