PHOTO // Nicolae Testemițanu USMF students managed emergencies and simulated clinical cases at SimOlympic

Students from Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USMF) applied their knowledge and skills in managing simulated clinical cases inspired by real situations during the 7th edition of SimOlympic University Medical Simulation Olympiad – an event dedicated to promoting academic competition that has already become a tradition.

The Olympiad took place at the Medical Simulation Training Center (CUSIM), within the framework of the international MedEspera-2026 Congress, and brought together six teams, each consisting of five students, who managed simulated clinical scenarios, demonstrating communication, collaboration and teamwork coordination skills. Each team had a distinct medical dress code and presented itself through a two-minute video.

The competition was held in several stages: pre-selection, semi-final and final. The proposed scenarios addressed clinical situations from various medical fields and were carried out using high-fidelity simulators available at CUSIM, as well as standardized patients.

“The competition is beneficial for students to gain professional experience, which will help them in their future activity in the healthcare system. We welcome and congratulate Nicolae Testemițanu USMF – one of the most extraordinary universities in the country, which knows how to invest in quality, in international standards and experiences, and most importantly, knows how to invest in students, in preparing them for the future,” State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Andrei Romancenco said at the opening of the event.

Iurie Saratila, deputy head for educational programs and evaluation at CUSIM noted that the participants were exposed to simulated clinical situations that reproduce the dynamics of medical practice, learning to take responsibility for their decisions, manage stress, and improve their responsiveness and adaptability in clinical situations.

“Simulation exercises contribute significantly to the early professional training of future doctors, offering them a realistic transition to actual clinical practice,” he said.

The assessment was carried out by a jury composed of specialists in the field, who evaluated participants’ performance based on criteria such as communication, teamwork and case management.

Night Shift team took first place, Adrenalina – second place (both from Nicolae Testemițanu USMF), and SSCR from Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania – third place.