Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
RUDN University medical students were the winners and runners-up of the XXXIV Moscow (All-Russian) Student Surgical Olympiad named after Academician M.I. Perelman. At the competition, held in Yaroslavl, participants demonstrated practical surgical skills, theoretical knowledge, and completed complex tasks.
In total, approximately 500 people from 15 teams, aged 19 to 23, competed in the Central Federal District regional stage. They completed over 30 different tasks, including nasal tip reconstruction, brain tumor removal, coronary artery bypass grafting, and a new task: layer-by-layer corneal transplantation.
The RUDN University team included 35 students from two professional student societies: REMEDY (Accreditation and Simulation Center) and RUDN SURGEONS (I.D. Kirpatovsky Department of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy). Teams were formed based on participants' professional competencies, practical skills, and theoretical knowledge. The most experienced and skilled students were selected for the team.
1st place – "Spinal anesthesia"
Elina Abdulova, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine; Daria Tupakhina, 6th year, majoring in General Medicine
2nd place – “Ensuring airway patency, tracheal intubation”
Maxim Balovnev, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine; Evgeniya Zadorozhnaya, 6th year, majoring in General Medicine
2nd place – “Theory in Cardiovascular Surgery and Vascular Surgery”
Gleb Bulgakov, 6th year, majoring in General Medicine; Daria Shelyakova, 4th year, majoring in General Medicine; Konstantin Klimov, 4th year, majoring in General Medicine
2nd place – “Reconstruction of the terminal part of the nose”
Epimakhova Olga, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine Babakova Adelina, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine Davudova Rukidzhat, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine
3rd place – Endobubble
Violetta Udovina, 4th year, majoring in General Medicine; Marina Shtanchaeva, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine
3rd place – Pirogov Anatomy
Matveev Sergey, 6th year, majoring in General Medicine; Epimakhova Olga, 5th year, majoring in General Medicine
Needle selection and dose calculation
According to Elina Abdulova and Daria Tupakhina, only five out of fifteen teams advanced to the "Spinal Anesthesia" competition following the "Airway Management and Tracheal Intubation" competition. Therefore, the women were determined not to let down their colleagues, who made their participation in this challenge possible.
"We entered the competition knowing we wouldn't have another opportunity like this. We knew we had hours of training behind us, daily theory reviews, and our friends and colleagues on the other side of the door, just as nervous as we were. In our view, our key advantage was the way we explained each step, the rationale behind each one, including the choice of needle, anesthetic, and dose calculation, as well as our knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the procedure. The model was realistic, and the passage through all structures and the presence of the spinal canal were objectively assessed based on the fluid level in the IV connected to the model, which rose when the anesthetic was administered," said Elina Abdulova and Daria Tupakhina.
The students' teammates, Maxim Balovnev and Evgeniya Zadorozhnaya, noted the difficulty of the tracheal intubation task due to the unique design of the simulation phantom.
"But thanks to well-organized, coordinated work and a clear strategy, we were able to achieve high results. We took second place out of 11 teams, beating all Moscow universities in the competition," added Maxim Balovnev.
The plan is to know all the topics
The students prepared for the Olympiad very diligently and tried to study and remember the answers to the competition's theoretical questions as much as possible.
"I wanted to provide a comprehensive answer to any question about which treatment strategy to use, I wanted to explain how to manage a patient from start to finish, so I had to read multiple volumes of textbooks and review the clinical guidelines provided by the Olympiad organizers. The questions the experts asked, frankly, weren't difficult, but they wanted to know the nuances that aren't covered in textbooks, so I had to rely on my ingenuity," Gleb Bulgakov said.
The students also strived to demonstrate their practical skills, giving 100%.
"The competition I participated in tested general practical skills in operating endoscopic equipment. Since this is a very specialized field, I had to practice every day on a simulator, which, fortunately, our PSO has," added Violetta Udovina.
"Everything was challenging, but in its own way. As future aesthetic surgeons, we were striving for the perfect image from the very beginning—to make the work look as if we were operating on a living person. The organizers provided a mock-up made of pigskin and a silicone face to simulate the flap transfer. But the main challenge wasn't even the materials. In reality, such an operation is performed in several stages, spaced a month or two apart. For us, everything was done at once, in a single session. At first, it seemed an almost absurd task. But we got used to the process. By the third training session, we were fully immersed and began refining every step: the technique, ensuring everything was anatomically correct, and every suture, ensuring it was not just strong but perfectly neat and aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately, this dual focus—on realism and beauty—won the day," Olga Epimakhova emphasized.
Capable of more
Summing up their participation in the Olympiad, RUDN students noted that there is always room for improvement, and they are confident they are capable of greater achievements. The expectations from the combined efforts of the two PSOs were fully met.
"Firstly, we had strong teams made up of goal-oriented and motivated participants, and secondly, we had the opportunity to communicate and work towards results in an environment where everyone strives to perform at their best. All participants maintained a positive atmosphere conducive to productive collaboration. Our teamwork helped us more than once. For example, in the Pirogov Anatomy competition, Sergey Matveyev and Olga Epimakhova very succinctly complemented each other's answers, regardless of the complexity of the question. The team left the jury in no doubt about their professional competence," noted the RUDN team.
"The M.I. Perelman Surgical Olympiad is the best way to go beyond the textbook. Mind-blowing cases, the thrill of the practical stages, and live feedback from surgeons. I gained tremendous experience and a boost of motivation. It's definitely something every student serious about surgery should experience at least once in their life!" shared Olga Krupina, a fourth-year student in the General Medicine program.
"My first participation in the surgical Olympiad left a powerful, vivid impression: a mixture of adrenaline and emotional control, where every second and every movement mattered. My team defended the university's honor in the Urology section. It was a huge challenge for us, as not everything always goes according to plan. But I'm incredibly proud of our work; I've never felt such a strong motivation to become stronger and more confident. It was amazing to see how theoretical knowledge translates into refined actions under pressure," said Maria Moiseeva, a third-year student majoring in General Medicine.
"This year, we demonstrated ourselves as a close-knit team and tried to give our best, but at the same time, we recognized our shortcomings and realized what we need to improve. We're looking forward to the next Perelman!" added Marina Shtanchaeva, a fifth-year student majoring in General Medicine.
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