Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University Strengthens Cooperation with Iceland
The Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Martin (JFM CU) was part of the Slovak delegation that participated in an official working visit to Reykjavík, Iceland, from 15 to 17 February 2026.
The delegation in the field of medical education and research was represented by the Dean of JFM CU, Professor Andrea Čalkovská, and the Director of the Martin Centre for Biomedicine, Professor Erika Halašová.
The official visit was organised by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. Its main agenda was a bilateral meeting between the Ministers of Health focused on further strengthening cooperation between the two countries. The negotiations resulted in the signing of a joint memorandum. During the meeting, Icelandic Minister of Health Alma Möller acknowledged the long‑standing involvement of JFM CU in educating future Icelandic doctors. The faculty has been providing education to students from Iceland for 15 years.
In the current academic year, JFM CU hosts 173 Icelandic students, with 23 enrolled in the first year. A total of 187 Icelandic physicians have successfully completed their studies in Martin to date. The programme also included a meeting with several alumni who are now practicing physicians in Icelandic healthcare institutions and spoke very positively about their studies in Martin.
Looking ahead, both sides are considering enhancing cooperation in the education of Icelandic students and expanding it to include specialisation training, which was the subject of discussions at the Landspítali University Hospital in Reykjavík.
Another important topic of the visit was cooperation in research and development. Researchers from JFM CU collaborate with Icelandic colleagues mainly in the field of new methods in regenerative medicine.
A noteworthy part of the programme was a meeting focused on spa medicine. Representatives of the Piešťany and Turčianske Teplice spa facilities participated in the discussions. JFM CU has long cooperated with Piešťany on an innovative rehabilitation programme for patients with Parkinson’s disease, while in cooperation with Turčianske Teplice there is an effort to develop a programme for patients after stroke. Interestingly, Slovak spa medicine and the healing properties of its mineral and thermal waters were featured on Iceland’s most widely read news portal mbl.is.
The working visit concluded with a meeting with the Slovak Catholic bishop Dávid Tencer and members of the Slovak community living in Iceland.
Photos: MZ SR