Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
RUDN University medical students won the Second International Anatomical and Surgical Olympiad for English-speaking students, "From Vesalius to Pirogov." In a close competition with teams from 10 medical universities across Russia and the CIS, represented by 12 teams of junior and senior students, our university team took first place in the "Operative Surgery with Topographic Anatomy" category.
The RUDN University team consisted of fourth-year students majoring in General Medicine, representing various countries:
Ezemenahi Uchenna Charles (Nigeria); Gumgna Samen Boris Labon (Cameroon); Ogunjobi Mercy Temiloluwa (Nigeria); Zarei Puria (Iran).
The students were trained by Ilya Kurikhin, an assistant at the I.D. Kirpatovsky Department of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy, and Nzhang Livingston Nge, a graduate of the RUDN University Medical Institute.
Competitive tests
The Olympiad aims to integrate international students into the international educational environment and develop their clinical thinking. All stages—from intellectual quizzes to complex practical assignments—were conducted in English. The in-person stage at Reaviz Medical University proved a true challenge.
The teams had to go through a series of intense competitions:
The intellectual "Joint Game" with a time limit for response; working with exhibits in the "Anatomical Museum"; tying surgical knots for speed; applying an intestinal suture (anastomosis); solving complex clinical problems using knowledge of topographic anatomy.
This comprehensive approach allowed us to evaluate not only the depth of theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills, decision-making speed, and teamwork in conditions as close as possible to real surgical practice.
An Inside Look: Impressions of the Winners
"We were impressed by the level of preparation of the other teams: everyone demonstrated a very high knowledge of anatomy and an understanding of surgical principles. The most challenging was "Jealous Game"—we were given just one minute to answer very complex questions. The most interesting was the intestinal anastomosis; it was a test of practical skills, and we were well prepared," noted Charles Ezemenahi Uchenna.
"I remember the surgical stage very well: it was a rare chance to try my hand at practice and feel how important it is to be careful," added Puria Zarei.
"I enjoyed working with our team. This wasn't just an Olympiad—it was the beginning of a long journey. I hope we can maintain this level in the future. I had a great time communicating with the team from Ural State University. We exchanged contacts. They were well prepared for the Olympiad, and I appreciated their focus," shared Boris Labon Gumgna Samen.
"The main impression is that I want more. My only wish for the future is for there to be more such practical, 'live' assignments. They provide the most invaluable experience and bring us closer to real surgery," said Mercy Temiloluwa Ogunjobi.
The students also praised the friendly yet exciting atmosphere of the competition. Ilya Kurikhin, the team's mentor, emphasized the practical nature of the Olympiad.
"Our students had to learn to solve unexpected, complex clinical problems, in which high-quality and quick navigation of educational materials is only part of the success," emphasized Ilya Kurikhin.
The boys' second mentor noted the uniqueness of the competition.
"I assisted the team with consultations during the distance learning stage, when one of the assignments was to create and edit a training video on a 3D atlas for femoral artery ligation. I was invited to help precisely because, as a student, I frequently participated in national and international competitions. The students were well prepared, but I have nothing to compare it to, as this is a unique competition: it's conducted entirely in English, and only for students from outside Russia. Some of the competitions are unusual, and I've never seen such requirements before," said Njang Livingston Nge.
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