MEDTEC School celebrates its first graduates
The result of a collaboration between 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University and Politecnico di Milano, the revolutionary program that merges Medicine and Biomedical Engineering reaches its first major milestone.
The first cycle of the MEDTEC School, the international degree course in Medicine and Surgery and Biomedical Engineering offered by 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University and Politecnico di Milano, has officially concluded. The program is designed to integrate and enhance the competencies of physicians with those typical of engineers. It is the first degree of its kind launched in Italy and Europe.
The newly graduated students, who today took the Hippocratic Oath in the Aula Magna of the Pieve Emanuele (MI) Campus, are the first European doctors to hold a dual degree: a single-cycle Master鈥檚 Degree in Medicine and Surgery awarded by 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University and a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Biomedical Engineering granted by Politecnico di Milano.
The graduation ceremony for 10 new graduates from the summer session 鈥� part of a total cohort of 37 students 鈥� took place in the presence of Luigi Maria Terracciano 鈥� Rector of 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University, and Donatella Sciuto 鈥� Rector of Politecnico di Milano. Altogether, 42 students will complete the six-year program by the end of 2025.
鈥淥ur goal,鈥� said Luigi Maria Terracciano 鈥� Rector of 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University, 鈥渉as been to train physicians with integrated skills who can improve the quality and efficiency of care through innovative solutions 鈥� from mechatronics to artificial intelligence. These professionals are capable of guiding technological evolution while preserving human connection and the patient relationship, which lies at the heart of any therapeutic journey. The transdisciplinary nature of MEDTEC reflects the growing need for a new educational approach 鈥� one that embraces the contamination of knowledge to meet the challenges of Precision Medicine. MEDTEC was the first project of its kind in Italy, and today it stands as a model that is inspiring other universities to follow suit, promoting interdisciplinary education nationwide.鈥�
鈥淭he convergence of Medicine and Engineering is a key driver of global economic and social development. In Italy, Milan and the Lombardy region are recognized as centers of excellence in both fields. This degree program is unique because it represents a true fusion of vision, skill, and purpose 鈥� fundamental elements to remain competitive on the European stage,鈥� added Donatella Sciuto, Rector of Politecnico di Milano. 鈥淚t is therefore essential that these new graduates remain a resource for our country and that the MEDTEC program continues to attract international talent, drawn by our capacity to innovate in education and invest in human capital 鈥� the real key to thriving in a time of unprecedented technological change.鈥�
Launched in 2019 as an innovative educational path, MEDTEC School is coordinated by Maria Laura Costantino 鈥� Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, and Maurizio Cecconi 鈥� Professor of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University. The program currently counts 389 enrolled students, 58% of whom are women. Its international focus is evident in the student body, with 17% coming from abroad 鈥� especially from France, Greece, and Turkey. The English-taught course offers 100 spots annually: 80 for EU students and 20 for non-EU candidates, accessible through an online admission test.
Upon completing the program, graduates may choose their own path: entering clinical practice through medical specializations, pursuing research with technical PhDs in medicine or engineering, or directly joining the industry.
An integrated knowledge approach, powered by simulation
Precision medicine, gene therapy, artificial intelligence, neuro-robotics, and big data: these are just some of the areas that modern physicians must navigate daily 鈥� challenges that require a cross-disciplinary skillset for the benefit of patients.
Throughout the entire MEDTEC School program, medical and engineering training are deeply intertwined, with students alternating between 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University and Politecnico di Milano. In the first three years, classes are held on a semester-by-semester basis at each institution. In the final three years, courses and modules taught by Politecnico professors are integrated into the 麻豆传媒AV在线看 University curriculum. This structure ensures full integration of engineering expertise into clinical education, also through co-teaching and co-tutoring in selected courses and professional training activities that are core to medical education. Beyond foundational engineering courses, key subjects in the curriculum include Automation and Mechatronics, Computer Science, Patient-Specific Modelling, and Technologies for Artificial Organs.
MEDTEC School follows a teaching approach that fosters problem-solving and case-based learning through interactive methods. For hands-on training, students benefit from one of the most advanced Simulation Centers in Europe, a 3,000-square-meter facility dedicated to clinical simulation and anatomy labs featuring 3D virtual catalogs and VR simulators. The Simulation Center is the only facility in Italy to hold full SESAM accreditation (Society for Simulation in Europe), certifying excellence in simulation-based medical education.