On February 17, 2026, the II International Scientific Conference Poland–Slovakia took place under the theme “Health as the Foundation of Sustainable Development in the European Union: Innovations, Quality of Life, and Social Challenges.” We had the pleasure of participating in this event and are happy to share our impressions from this remarkable gathering of scientific and medical communities from five European countries.
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and a Rich Scientific Programme
The event opened with an inaugural lecture on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence tools in academic teaching – a particularly timely topic given the dynamic changes taking place in medical education. The conference then proceeded in two parallel language panels, within which a total of five thematic sessions were held. Speakers from Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Lithuania, and Hungary presented their research findings, covering a broad range of topics in health sciences.
What Happened During the Sessions? Key Topics Overview
The themes of the presented research were diverse, addressing both clinical and systemic challenges. Topics included the quality of nursing care and professional burnout among medical staff, the psychological well-being of athletes and ethics in para sport, the use of medical simulation – including virtual simulation – in nursing education, innovative rehabilitation technologies such as the NefroBall system and shock wave therapy, as well as the role of neuroplasticity in physiotherapy and the ethical aspects of xenotransplantation. Particular attention was drawn to research on digital health literacy among seniors and the impact of bariatric procedures on patients’ quality of life.
International Collaboration and Acknowledgements
We are impressed by the academic level of the presented research and the commitment of all participants. We are delighted that such initiatives take place and that scientific communities from different countries are able to effectively join forces around shared challenges in public health. Congratulations to all involved institutions and speakers for creating a space where science serves the real improvement of people’s quality of life. The conference was organised by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health. Co-organisers included: the UWM Branch in Elk, the Faculty of Health Sciences of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, the Faculty of Health Sciences of Catholic University in Ružomberok, the Faculty of Nursing of Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, and the Polish Nursing Society, Branch in Olsztyn.
Conference programme available on the organiser’s website:
https://uwm.edu.pl/elk/sites/default/files/u4/ii_international_scientific_conference_10.02.2026-_programm_0.pdf