"A smaller faculty in a city with several large hospitals means fewer students per patient in clinical education, and more space to learn by actually performing procedures. Not just watching someone else do them, although that is important," says Viola Kintrová, a General Medicine student, in an interview explaining why she chose to study at the Ostrava faculty out of several medical schools. Although she initially had some concerns about moving from Brno to Ostrava, she does not regret her decision, especially thanks to the great group of classmates she has. In the interview, she revealed her dreams and the specialty she hopes to pursue in the future.

Viola, have you always wanted to study medicine, and where did you apply? 

I gradually ended up in medicine, I wasn't one of those kids who treated stuffed animals from a young age, nor was I pressured by my family. I’ve always been interested in almost everything. For most of high school, I wanted to study law or a technical field. It wasn't until the end of my third year that I gradually ruled out all other options and decided on medicine. I applied for general medicine at faculties in Olomouc, Brno, Ostrava, and the 2nd Faculty of Medicine in Prague. In addition, I also applied for the paramedic program, but only in Brno.

Which year are you currently in, and how challenging is the study? Is it true that you spend six years buried in books, or is there time for extracurricular activities as well?

That’s a tough question... (smiles) I am a first-year student, but based on my own decision, I attend some courses with students from higher years. I’m kind of complicating it for myself voluntarily. The difficulty of the study is quite an individual matter. It depends a lot on how each person organizes it. In general, we definitely don’t spend all our time buried in books, that’s just not sustainable. We study a lot, especially during exam periods, almost frantically, but we also do other things. You have to sacrifice something for your studies, but not everything. It’s important to be able to relax and stay somewhat connected to the outside world, so you remain normal.

Are you involved in a student organization like IFMSA?

Yes, and I’m really happy with my decision to spend my time with IFMSA. It gives me opportunities to focus on things related to medicine, but not just books, and it also allows me to spend time with amazing people outside of school. I’m very grateful for all the people I’ve met through it.

Why did you choose Ostrava, and how do you evaluate that decision now in hindsight?

I have to say that the decision wasn’t hard. Based on the acceptance, I had to choose between a faculty I didn’t want at all, a faculty I wanted but with a less ideal program, and Ostrava, so the choice was pretty clear. However, I was really scared that I wouldn’t like it here. Looking back, I’m really happy with this decision. I enjoy coming back here, even though, of course, there are plenty of things that aren’t ideal, just like everywhere. What draws me here the most is the people, but I’m also really looking forward to clinical training, hopefully I’ll get to it soon.

And what about student life in Ostrava, how do you rate it?

I have nothing to complain about. I think everyone can find what works for them here; I can't think of anything missing. There are plenty of opportunities, it just depends on whether you want to take advantage of them.

Medicine is one of the most sought-after fields today. How did you prepare for the entrance exams? And what would you recommend to high school students who will be trying to get accepted in the coming months? How can they best prepare for the entrance exams?

I prepared through preparatory courses, and in my case, it was the Bmedic courses. I don’t want to give unsolicited advertising, but I was happy with their course. I also spent a lot of time working on model questions. I definitely recommend model questions, especially so you get used to the style in which they are asked and to familiarize yourself with the topics that frequently appear. As for literature, except for a few exceptions, you only need what you study for the high school final exams. But the universal advice would probably be that it just takes time. Especially after the high school finals, when most other students no longer have anything to worry about, it’s quite difficult to keep preparing, but it’s worth it.

Why should high school students consider studying at the medical faculty in Ostrava?

I believe our two main advantages lie in the fact that we are a small and young faculty. A smaller faculty in a city with several large hospitals means fewer students per patient in clinical education, and more space to learn by performing procedures ourselves, rather than just watching someone else do them, although that's of course important too. A nice bonus is the opportunity to go abroad. There are plenty of options, and since there aren't so many students, the chance to take part in something like this is higher. I don't think I would have been able to go abroad in my first year of studies at another faculty like I have here. Being a young faculty also means a modern environment, which isn't the most important thing, but it is pleasant. I also think the faculty is continually trying to develop and stay "young," which does come with risks, but personally, I see it very positively.

Our medical students, thanks to membership in IFMSA, go abroad for internships and placements during their holidays. Do you also plan to travel, and if so, where?

I plan to, it’s a big dream of mine. I speak several languages and I like to use them. So, European countries like Italy, France, my favorite Spain, or Portugal are attractive to me, but also Latin America. I’m more drawn to Europe for research internships, and Latin America for clinical ones. Unfortunately, these internships are a bit financially demanding, so it’s not just about whether you want to, but if I stop spending money on sneakers, I hope it’ll work out. (Laughs)

Do you already know which field you would like to specialize in after completing your medical studies?

I’m most drawn to emergency medicine; I think it suits my, perhaps too energetic, nature, and of course, I enjoy it and find it interesting. The second option is cardiology because the heart is the chapter I enjoy the most in every subject, whether it's histology, anatomy, or pathophysiology. It's not as tempting, but it is an option.