Scholarships for outstanding achievements

The Minister of Health awarded nine Polish medical university students 48 scholarships for outstanding academic and sporting achievements. Five students from Wroclaw Medical University were among the recipients: Kamila Florek, Katarzyna Rakoczy, Dorota Bęben, Maciej Tota, and Laura Jonderko. 

Kamila Florek from the Faculty of Medicine specializes in cardiology. She chairs the Student Research Club of Invasive Cardiology and participates in projects on modifying atherosclerotic changes and applying artificial intelligence to assess coronary artery stenosis. Kamila is also involved in research on advanced heart failure and the role of gut microbiota in transplant rejection processes. Her scientific development is supported by participation in international clinical and scientific exchanges. 

Katarzyna Rakoczy, also from the Faculty of Medicine, focuses on oncology, psycho-oncology, infectious diseases, and vaccinology. She has authored twelve scientific articles, mainly on cancer-related topics, and is involved in projects concerning extracorporeal circulation and the immune system. She plans to specialize in clinical oncology, continuing the scientific path she began early in her studies under the mentorship of leading researchers. 

Dorota Bęben from the Faculty of Pharmacy concentrates her research on innovative strategies for improving cancer therapies, particularly exploring the anti-cancer potential of natural substances such as hemp. She has participated in numerous international research projects and conferences and was awarded second place at the EU TalentOn hackathon for a project on diagnosing childhood osteosarcoma using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning. Dorota continues her scientific career at the Doctoral School, aiming to bridge laboratory research and clinical practice. 

Maciej Tota, a student of the Faculty of Medicine, has published articles on nephrology, dermatology, allergology, and oncology. He has been recognized multiple times with scholarships for his scientific achievements and is actively involved in many student research clubs. In addition to his academic pursuits, he has contributed to public health initiatives and international student organizations. 

Laura Jonderko from the Faculty of Pharmacy began her research activity within the Cancer Cell Biology Student Research Club and the Industrial Pharmacy Club, where she currently serves as chairwoman. She has co-authored several scientific publications and participated in prestigious research conferences. Laura has completed specialized courses at Harvard, Berkeley, Yale, and Stanford and is currently finishing her studies at La Sapienza University in Rome, further developing her scientific and pharmaceutical skills. 

The scholarships were awarded based on a points system that evaluated the students’ scientific achievements’ originality, quality, and innovation. All five WMU students received the scholarships for their remarkable contributions to scientific research.