In this #MedUNAV blog entry, we will explain the main details of the Cambridge University Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT). This exam is a two-hour admissions test for students that want to study Medicine in some universities around the world, among them, the University of Navarra.

The reason why the University of Navarra decides to admit students through the BMAT exam is because we want our international candidates to have a more globalized test that is not only based in a Spanish curriculum, and also because of the advantage of taking it wherever they are. The BMAT exam can only be taken by students that completed their high school outside of Spain. 

The BMAT is divided into three sections that evaluate problem solving, critical thinking, the science and mathematical knowledge of the students and writing and communication skills. The BMAT exam is taken all over the world and each year you have different opportunities to take it. Throughout this academic year, there are two options:

• The 4th of November 2020.

• The 20th of February, 2021.

Everything you need to know about the BMAT test, you can find it on their website. For example, scoring and results, dates and costs, how to register and how to prepare. Nevertheless, the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra wants to help you be more prepared. 

* Please, bear in mind that this article does not intend to be a guarantee of good preparation for the BMAT.

• What are the three sections of the BMAT?

The BMAT is a 2-hour computer based test. It consists of 3 sections: 

Section 1: Aptitude and Skills (Multiple choice)

This section is designed to test problem-solving skills and understanding arguments. It is made up of 32 questions, with 60 minutes to complete.

Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications (Multiple choice)

This section tests the ability to apply scientific knowledge. It is made up of 27 questions, with 30 minutes to complete. It includes Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.(More information)

Section 3: Writing Task

This section tests the ability to select, develop and organize ideas, and to communicate them in writing. Applicants must complete a writing essay in 30 minutes.

Remember: calculators and dictionaries cannot be used in the exam.

• Who can apply to MedUNAV by taking the BMAT exam? 

As we have mentioned, only students who are studying their high school outside of Spain can apply through this way. If your school is in Spain, you can apply to MedUNAV's online exam on April 24th, 2021.

• What is the score that I need to have in the BMAT to get into MedUNAV?

There is no pass or fail for the BMAT. You should simply aim for the best you can. Our candidates frequently ask us this question and we understand that it is difficult for you to not know if you passed or failed. The thing is, it depends on each year and their candidates. What we can tell you is that we focus more on Section 2 because it evaluates the scientific knowledge of the student. You also need to keep in mind that our way of evaluating a student is 30% GPA of penultimate year in high school and a 70% of the admission exam. 

Remember: at the University of Navarra we will only accept the first BMAT score that you send to us. 

• Is the University of Navarra an Authorized Centre for taking the BMAT? 

Yes we are, but only in February, 2021. To register, you have to contact the Authorised Centre nearest to your location and ask the Exams Officer to register you and give you a candidate entry number. You will need to give your staff information and also the name of the university/ies and the degree/s that you want to send your score to. Remember that this process can be done through the BMAT website.

• What is the UCAS number and the course code?

The UCAS number is what students use only in the United Kingdom to apply to universities. You don't need an UCAS number for the University of Navarra. You will only need your Passport or ID number. We also receive questions from candidates asking us about the Course Code, this is only if you are applying to a university/universities in the United Kingdom.

If you have any questions or doubts you can always contact us and we will be happy to help you. To register for the BMAT you can go to their website. 

Clarisa Willson
International Admissions
Phone: +34 948 425 600 (Ext. 806539)
Email: cwillson@alumni.unav.es

The School of Medicine was founded in 1954, just two years after the birth of the University of Navarra. Throughout these more than 65 years of history, #MedUNAV has distinguished itself -among other things- for being faithful and projecting its mission statement, vision and values in all areas related to its professor, training and healthcare activities.

mission statement 

The School of Medicine has as its mission statement to create and cultivate a university community, a meeting point for students and professors, where: 

• Students acquire the most advanced medical knowledge, with a deep respect for the dignity of their patients from conception to natural death, and that enables their medical and scientific development with a mentality of service to the society and the world. 

• The professors can carry out outstanding medical research and attendance for the benefit of their professor work, and can contribute decisively to the medical, intellectual and human training of their students through theoretical teaching and internship, as well as staff counseling. 

The School of Medicine is part of the University of Navarra, a Christian-inspired university promoted directly by St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei. In addition, a large part of the faculty of the School of Medicine carries out its healthcare activities at the Clínica Universidad de NavarraThe hospital center directly promoted by #MedUNAV in 1958 and to which it has remained inseparably linked ever since.

Vision 

We aspire to configure a School of Medicine where students assume the leading role in their professional and staff development and are trained as leaders of the medical profession motivated by the desire to serve society; where professors are a reference letter professor, research and clinical that allows us to offer students an extraordinary medical training . 

A campus and an academic environment in which, through Degree and postgraduate program training postgraduate program, as well as research and medical internship , the School is a world reference letter in the teaching a medicine made by and for the patient. 

Values 

For its part, the activity and projects of the School of Medicine are based on solid and defined values, common to the entire University of Navarra. #MedUNAV wishes to share and project these values in the hope of contributing to the enrichment and development of the medical profession and society as a whole. 

These features include the following:

work. work is a manifestation of the dignity of the person, a factor in the development the personality, a bond of union between human beings and an engine of progress. This conception of work brings with it, among other consequences, the aspiration for excellence in the performance of tasks and attention to detail.

Freedom. The University is a place of coexistence, study and friendship, open to people from all walks of life, without discrimination of religion, race, ideology, nationality, sex, etc. The University feels called to collaborate in the resolution of the problems that arise in society and, without going directly into political action or tasks that are proper to other institutions, it educates in the critical capacity that allows each person to freely form his or her own opinions and convictions in a climate of pluralism. The love of freedom and responsibility is a basic principle of academic and professional life, of research work , of medical or welfare activity. Those who perform governmental tasks in the University carry them out following the principles of collegiality and participation.

Respect. The university facilitates students' acquisition of knowledge and also the development of attitudes such as respect for others, the ability to listen, correct behavior, civic spirit and care for nature. All these habits help students prepare for professional activity and foster a sense of social responsibility among members of the academic community. Respect for privacy is part of the commitment assumed by those who work in the academic corporation.

multidisciplinarity. The mission statement of the university - to seek and transmit the truth - is a collective task that requires dialogue between specialists from different scientific areas. With this approach, the diversity of the sciences constitutes a factor of mutual enrichment, provides an overview and financial aid to overcome the excessive fragmentation of knowledge.

Responsibility. The sense of responsibility in the work is one of the attitudes that must characterize the professionals of the University of Navarra, and that we try to transmit to the students as part of the project educational. It takes the form of a sober style in the employment resources and in the care of the facilities.

Service. By the wish of its founder, the University of Navarra has from its beginnings an explicit purpose of service, and aspires to contribute to the material and moral improvement of society. This characteristic invites to know and respond to social problems and needs in fields related to its professor and research activity: medical and health attendance , programs of study current issues, university cooperation and many other initiatives of social promotion. Solidarity and volunteer activities are a fundamental part of the university spirit. The University encourages members of the academic community to participate in concrete initiatives of service to those most in need.

international outreach. Theeducational model of the University of Navarra promotes interest in other cultures and the enrichment of the international experience of students, professors, researchers, health care staff and other professionals.

My name is Boaz Miller, I am from Denver (USA) and with this post I want to share my experience about why I decided to come to come to study Medicine at the University of Navarra.

The University of Navarra brings many resources together to allow medical students to learn in a great environment. Located in a relatively small northern Spanish town where you'll find a college student everywhere you walk. The University is home to many wonderful professors that offer help in any way that they can. In the International Medical Program, classes are relatively small and the professors can really take time to answer all of the questions that arise throughout the week.

I first chose this university by superficially looking at the ranking and the prevalence of an international program for Medicine, but that was a mistake. Though, medically the university ranks well and the location is nice the University of Navarra holds far more important aspects. I have come to learn that I had made the best choice of university; from students to teachers everyone is here to learn and take extra steps to achieve their degree, and to help you and others to focus on your work and fully understand all topics. Overall, the professors want each student to succeed and give their extra to help where they can, I could not think of a better aspect of a university.

I got my admission in the School of Medicine through the BMAT Exam. Regarding the BMAT Exam, I strongly suggest self study for at least 3 months prior, practice exams and learning time management are a must because of the 1 minute per question limit. The BMAT is a widely used test so I was able to find many practice tests and past exams that gave good understanding of what it was like on test day, though it is never really like the real thing is it? Test day was a big moment, but the one thing I went into the room with was to answer every question no mater a guess or legitimate answer. Because if you guess B, C, or D you have roughly an 80% chance of getting the question correct, it helps a lot to know this when it comes down to the time constraint.

The BMAT and the traveling was all big experience as I'm sure it would be for anyone. But after all the studying and the chaos, Pamplona is a lovely place with good people and friends to ease the entry into Medical School. Studying has become my life but I've found ways to enjoy it, and ways to remember things faster. Just focus on getting here first and the rest will fall into place, especially with the help of the international guides and the faculty.

In order to select the best students, the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra established its own admissions process from the beginning. This process has evolved over the decades, adapting to the new educational and academic situations experienced by candidates in any part of the world.

In this #MedUNAV Blog entrance we will explain how to apply for admission to the University of Navarra School of Medicine for the academic year 2021/2022.  

The first thing we would like you to know is our accessprofile :

Spanish or foreign students, preferably with a recently completed high school diploma or equivalent, with the ability to work, stable character, with enthusiasm and initiative, with capacity for compassion and solidarity. They must be in possession of a degree scroll of high school diploma (preferably Biosanitary) or the equivalent. They must also have passed the official university entrance exams (EvAU/EBAU) when required by current Spanish legislation.

Once you have decided to start the process, you should follow these five steps:

1. Prepare your first year high school diploma grades.

To apply for admission to #MedUNAV it is imperative that all candidates have a grade equal or higher than 7 (out of 10) in 1st high school diploma (or equivalent).

Don't worry if you are studying in a different educational system than the Spanish one, because the Central Admissions Service of the University of Navarra will take care of the equivalency of your grades. 

2. Register in the myUNAVPortal !

The entire admissions process is done through the miUNAVPortal . On this platform you can apply for information and admission, you will know if you have been admitted and, if necessary, you will be able to fill in enrollment process in the first year. In addition, you will have information on scholarships, grants and accommodationas well as all the activities that the School of Medicine or the University of Navarra carry out throughout the year.

3. Identify your admission profile

At #MedUNAV we differentiate three entry profiles:

• National Students: National students are considered to be those students who are studying their programs of study from the 2nd year of high school diploma (or equivalent) in an academic center based in Spain, regardless of their nationality.

• International Students: International students are considered to be those candidates who are taking their 2nd high school diploma (or equivalent) programs of study in an academic center based outside Spain, regardless of their nationality.

• International Baccalaureate (IB): Students (national and international) who are taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) can apply to the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra through the final grade obtained in the diploma, as long as the requirements established by #MedUNAV are accredited.

4. Apply for admission to #MedUNAV

The first thing to do is to fill in Admission application . To do this, you must attach the following documents to the myUNAVPortal :

- Qualifications of 1st high school diploma, or equivalent. 

- Copy of National Identity Card, NIE (Foreign Resident Identification Number) or Passport.

- ID card size photograph.

- Proof of payment of a 100 euro processing fee (non-refundable).

5. enquiry what is the admissions process?

Once you have completed the application for admission, you should know that the admissions process to the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra is different according to the profile of access:

If you are a student of nationalprofile you must take the #MedUNAV admission test. The academic test is worth 70% and the grades of the 1st high school diploma (or equivalent) are worth 30% of the final admission grade . You can see the most relevant information in the following video:

International students can choose between taking the BMAT exam or taking the #MedUNAV Admission Test. In either case, they may only apply through one of these routes.

Finally, if you are studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) you can choose to apply for this pathway. In the following video you will learn about the requirements for access.

All students who meet the requirements of two or more admission profiles should note that, during an academic year, they can only apply from one profile

You can find more information on the website. There you will also find sessions and activities that will be held throughout the academic year and in which the academic and training proposal of #MedUNAV will be explained.

Likewise, for all the doubts that may arise throughout the process, you can count on the Admissions Team of the School of Medicine and on the national and international delegatenetwork of the University of Navarra.

Count on us for anything we can do to help!

The School of Medicine was founded in 1954, just two years after the birth of the University of Navarra. Throughout these more than 65 years of history, #MedUNAV has distinguished itself -among other things- for being faithful and projecting its mission statement, vision and values in all areas related to its professor, training and healthcare activities.

mission statement 

The School of Medicine has as its mission statement to create and cultivate a university community, a meeting point for students and professors, where: 

• Students acquire the most advanced medical knowledge, with a deep respect for the dignity of their patients from conception to natural death, and that enables their medical and scientific development with a mentality of service to the society and the world. 

• The professors can carry out outstanding medical research and attendance for the benefit of their professor work, and can contribute decisively to the medical, intellectual and human training of their students through theoretical teaching and internship, as well as staff counseling. 

The School of Medicine is part of the University of Navarra, a Christian-inspired university promoted directly by St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei. In addition, a large part of the faculty of the School of Medicine carries out its healthcare activities at the Clínica Universidad de NavarraThe hospital center directly promoted by #MedUNAV in 1958 and to which it has remained inseparably linked ever since.

Vision 

We aspire to configure a School of Medicine where students assume the leading role in their professional and staff development and are trained as leaders of the medical profession motivated by the desire to serve society; where professors are a reference letter professor, research and clinical that allows us to offer students an extraordinary medical training . 

A campus and an academic environment in which, through Degree and postgraduate program training postgraduate program, as well as research and medical internship , the School is a world reference letter in the teaching a medicine made by and for the patient. 

Values 

For its part, the activity and projects of the School of Medicine are based on solid and defined values, common to the entire University of Navarra. #MedUNAV wishes to share and project these values in the hope of contributing to the enrichment and development of the medical profession and society as a whole. 

These features include the following:

work. work is a manifestation of the dignity of the person, a factor of personality development , a bond of union between human beings and an engine of progress. This conception of work brings with it, among other consequences, the aspiration for excellence in the performance of tasks and attention to detail.

Freedom. The University is a place of coexistence, study and friendship, open to people of all conditions, without discrimination of religion, race, ideology, nationality, gender, etc. The University feels called to collaborate in the resolution of the problems that arise in society and, without going directly into political action or tasks that are proper to other institutions, it educates in the critical capacity that allows each person to freely form his or her own opinions and convictions in a climate of pluralism. The love of freedom and responsibility is a basic principle of academic and professional life, of research work , of medical or welfare activity. Those who perform governmental tasks in the University carry them out following the principles of collegiality and participation.

Respect. The university facilitates students' acquisition of knowledge and also the development of attitudes such as respect for others, the ability to listen, correct behavior, civic spirit and care for nature. All these habits help students prepare for professional activity and foster a sense of social responsibility among members of the academic community. Respect for privacy is part of the commitment assumed by those who work in the academic corporation.

multidisciplinarity. The mission statement of the university - to seek and transmit the truth - is a collective task that requires dialogue between specialists from different scientific areas. With this approach, the diversity of the sciences constitutes a factor of mutual enrichment, provides an overview and financial aid to overcome the excessive fragmentation of knowledge.

Responsibility. The sense of responsibility in the work is one of the attitudes that must characterize the professionals of the University of Navarra, and that we try to transmit to the students as part of the project educational. It takes the form of a sober style in the employment resources and in the care of the facilities.

Service. By the wish of its founder, the University of Navarra has from its beginnings an explicit purpose of service, and aspires to contribute to the material and moral improvement of society. This characteristic invites to know and respond to social problems and needs in fields related to its professor and research activity: medical and health attendance , programs of study current issues, university cooperation and many other initiatives of social promotion. The solidarity and volunteer activities is a fundamental part of the university spirit. The University encourages members of the academic community to participate in concrete initiatives of service to those most in need.

international outreach. Theeducational model of the University of Navarra promotes interest in other cultures and the enrichment of the international experience of students, professors, researchers, health care staff and other professionals.

What happens is important, but also where. The spaces where we work, study, or disconnect are an essential aspect of our lives. And the University doesn't escape these "rules."

The School of Medicine's headquarters is located at the University of Navarra's Campus in Pamplona; Fully connected to the city, it covers 113 hectares, of which buildings occupy only 7.5%. Green - UNAV is the second Spanish institution and the first university center in the country to be awarded the Green Flag Award, international recognition for the integral management of green spaces.

A total of 4,190 trees from 173 species frame the buildings on Campus, which include the Biomedical Campus, where the Hexagon is located and hosts the Medical School, classrooms, facilities such as laboratories, and the Simulation Center. Medical students share the corridors and halls of the Hexagon with students from the schools of Nursing, Science, and Pharmacy and Nutrition.

Next to the Biomedical Campus, we also find the Science Library and the Los Castaños building, which hold other teaching spaces such as the Biochemistry laboratory and the anatomy dissection room, as well as different research facilities.

Nearby, the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) complete the activity of the health science area. The proximity of the Clínic and CIMA means that the professionals who complete patient care and research, make a short walk to the Medical School building to teach classes. Also, the Hospital Complex of Navarra, where medical students carry out part of their internships and practices, is only a few meters away.

Within a short walk from the Biomedical Campus, you will arrive at the University's center and can visit the School of Humanities, Social Sciences, the School of Architecture, The Ismael Sánchez Bella Library, Sports Center, and the Central Building, which houses the central services and some classrooms. The University of Navarra Museum is only a few steps away and it is a cultural core for the Campus and focus of activity for the city and student housing attached to the University.

Through this virtual tour, you can travel from your home and visit the Campus of the University of Navarra in Pamplona, and facilities in Madrid - comprised of the graduate building, or also known as "Alumni Building" which is located next to the headquarters of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid.

We look forward to personally welcoming you to Pamplona. All you need to do is arrange a staff visit.

Until then, we invite you to walk around the Campus from home!

What happens is important, but also where. The spaces where we work, study or disconnect are an important aspect of our lives. And the university does not escape these "norms".

The School of Medicine is headquartered on the campus of Pamplona of the University of Navarra. Fully connected to the citycovers 113 hectares, of which only 7.5% is occupied by buildings. The rest? Green. In fact, the UNAV is Spain's second largest institution and the second largest first university center in the country to be awarded the Green Flag Awardaward , which recognizes at international level the integral management of its green areas.

A total of 4,190 trees of 173 species frame the buildings. On the one hand, the biosanitary campuswhere the Hexagon Building is located: it houses the teaching of the School of Medicine, in its classrooms and in facilities such as the Simulation Center and different laboratories. Medical students share the halls and rooms of the Hexagon Building with Nursing, Science, and Pharmacy and Nutrition students.

On this side of the campus we also find the Science Library and the Los Castaños building, with other teaching spaces such as the Biochemistry laboratory or the dissection conference room of Anatomy, as well as various research sites.

Next to it, the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and the research center Applied MedicineCIMA) complete the activity of the Biosanitary area . This proximity means that the professionals who carry out their healthcare and research work in both centers can go to teach their classes just by crossing a crosswalk. In addition, the Navarra Hospital Complex, where medical students carry out part of their internships, is only a few meters away.

A short walk away are the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the School of Architecture; the Ismael Sánchez Bella Library; the Central Building, which houses the central services and some classrooms; also the sports center; the University of Navarra MuseumThe cultural core of the campus and a focus of activity for the city; and most of the senior colleges attached to the University.

Through this virtual tourYou can visit these spaces on the campus of the University of Navarra in Pamplona from home. Also the MadridThe Alumni Building, which consists of the postgraduate program building. Known as the Alumni building, it is located next to the site of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid.

We look forward to welcoming you soon in Pamplona and greeting you personally. To do so, it will be enough to arrange a visit staff.

Until then, we invite you to walk around the campus from home!

Hello!

I am José Olmedilla, I am from Madrid and next year I will start my fifth year of Medicine + International Program.

As a student of the School of Medicine at the University of Navarra, I have been asked to describe the day-to-day life of the students during this period of pandemic and confinement, from the suspension of on-site classes (how far away March 13 is now!) until May 18, the date of the last exam of the regular exam.

First of all, I would like to begin by thanking the School of Medicine as a whole, from the students to the Dean, Dr. Secundino Fernandez, but especially the members of the administrative office of the School of Medicine. administrative office and Dr. José Hermida, Associate Dean of Students, who from the very beginning thought of us, the students, so that we would not lose any class day and everything would go on as planned despite the difficult circumstances.

On March 12 we received an email informing us of the suspension of face-to-face classes and a day later we were notified that teaching would continue through the ZOOM platform. In addition, they confirmed that the class schedules would be maintained: if on Tuesdays at 4 pm there would be Gynecology, on Tuesdays at 4 pm there would continue to be Gynecology class , and so on with the rest of the subjects.

In these early stages of the confinement, the students requested that the classes be recorded and that the videos be uploaded to the ADI Virtualclassroom for later viewing in case we could not attend the class live, and this was done.

I would also like to highlight the admirable availability of the professors and their commitment to us. I say this because most of them are physicians and we cannot even imagine how much effort it has meant for them to have to combine clinical care with preparing and teaching the classes.

As the exams approached - which we medical students see as being close to the end of March - some of us were asked to collaborate in choosing the ideal platform to take the exams. I remember that on March 25 Dr. Hermida sent us an e-mail with this request, barely 10 days after the suspension of classes, and more than a month before the start of the exams. I would like to emphasize this fact, because it was the students themselves who expressed our needs and who chose the best method to be evaluated at the request of the School... We did not even have to ask for it. This is the subject of initiatives that make the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra the best in the world, and I say this with total conviction and certainty.

15 days before the first final examination , we already had a platform (Proctorio) that had all the guarantees to avoid fraud and did not suppose a degree program of obstacles for the students when taking their exams. In addition, we were all able to take a test beforehand to familiarize ourselves with the new system.

Thus, when the exams arrived, we knew exactly how to proceed; few problems were encountered and those that were, were solved quickly. We have all witnessed how, 15 minutes before each exam, there was a ZOOM session open with administrative office staff to solve any problem at the beginning and how, during the exam itself, there were up to four phone lines available to be able to quickly communicate any incident and solve it on the spot. These facts are a sample of the levels of submission, commitment and professionalism that we have at MedUNAV.

I will leave many things in the "digital inkwell" from which I write, such as individual cases that I cannot vouch for, or facts that I simply forget, but I believe that what I have stated faithfully sample what we have experienced.

I would like to conclude as I began, with my thanks to all the members of the School of Medicine, who have done an unbeatable work , with no room for uncertainty or chaos and counting on the students for everything.

Hello everyone! 

I introduce myself: I'm Carmen Garau, I'm from Palma and I just finished sixth grade. The truth is that, after so many years studying, you imagine a thousand times how it will be the day you finally graduate, your last class, your last exams in the 4A02classroom ... Of course, you never expect something like this, and although it has been a different ending due to the incidence of Coronavirus, it has also been very special.  

First of all, I would like to emphasize that we have not lost a single class, and I know that the School of Medicine and the University of Navarra as a whole have worked very hard to make this possible. Few students from other universities have been as lucky as we were.

At the beginning of the confinement we all had doubts, since few knew the platforms we used (such as Zoom, Panopto or Proctorio). In addition, exam time was approaching and we had to combine the more intensive study schedule with the classes. Many of us went back home and also had to integrate into our family life again.

Initially the classes were given live by Zoom: the teacher sent us by email the link to the classroom a few minutes before and then the class was given. I think this way of teaching is very useful if there is a reduced issue of students, as it allows you to have a direct contact with the teacher and you can ask questions during the class. There are about 190 of us in class and it was difficult for everyone to connect at the same time; in the end the classes were long and overlapped with the next one, in addition to the difficulty to follow the slides.

As a result of this experience, in a few days most of the teachers switched to using Panopto or Power Point with audio and uploaded them to the ADI Virtualclassroom during their normal class schedule . I think this system is much more convenient for everyone: for the teachers it allows them to record the classes, adapt to the schedule, correct errors or avoid technical failures of the live broadcast; and for us it allowed us to organize our studies much better, change the speed of the classes, and be able to see the slides at the same time, among other things.

In addition, something that I have commented with my colleagues is that, as the classes were recorded, it was very easy to see again any part of the class if you had any doubt during the study of the topic. I would like to highlight the Oncology classes by Dr. Leire Arbea, and the Pediatrics classes by Dr. Rocío Sánchez Carpintero.

When classes ended, between the hard socio-sanitary status caused by the Covid-19 and the mails announcing that we were left without the long-awaited end of degree program (no pasaclases, no paellada, no graduation and no end of Degree trip), it was time to study. I must say that I personally have not lived a complicated status at home, since we have all been fine, but there have been classmates who have lost their loved ones without being able to say goodbye to them, or families with enormous economic difficulties. I can imagine how difficult it must have been to study and take the exams for them. Therefore, they sent us an email from the University of Navarra to know eachstaff status and to be at our disposal.

The exams were another of those unknowns, although after the initial scare we got used to the new online format with Proctorio. But it was not only the students who were affected, the teachers had to change the evaluation criteria; in addition, many were in the hospital working and dealing with the consequences of this pandemic.

For all this I would like to thank again the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra and in particular the secretaries, who have been pending during all the exams, and teachers, now colleagues, who have made that we could finish in the best possible way.

Dr. Nuria Lacuey (MED'07) is currently working at the Epilepsy department of University Hospitals in Cleveland. After finishing his programs of study at Medicine in the University of Navarra In 2007, Nuria Lacuey applied for the spanish medical residency program and completed the residency program in Neurology at the Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona.

With a deep clinical and research vocation towards one of the most prominent diseases of the nervous system such as epilepsy, he did not hesitate to work hard until he was able to develop his degree program in this field in the United States.

Why did you decide to study medicine?

What motivated me to study medicine was my passion for science, so I decided to follow in my sister's footsteps. This degree program allowed me (and allows me) to enjoy my passion in the deepest and most human sense, that of helping others. 

After graduating and working for some time in Spain, you decided to work abroad. Do you think that the University of Navarra prepared you for this challenge?

The University of Navarra gave me the opportunity to meet people from many parts of Spain and even from other countries. Some of my professors had trained in international hospitals and shared their experiences. In addition, the UNAV allowed us to train for a year in another European country. I think that, in a way, this kept my mind more open, with more options for the future. 

What has been your professional career?

Since I was a second year resident I had a special interest in epilepsy and research, so, when I finished the residency program, I decided to take the exams to access the US system and do the subspecialty in "Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology".

What is your day-to-day life like nowadays?

work in the Epilepsy department at University Hospitals of Cleveland where we evaluate patients who have epileptic seizures and assess the possibility of surgical treatment to cure them. Much of my time is devoted to research using brain stimulation techniques for the treatment of epilepsy and other diseases. This specialization program requires an accurate knowledge and understanding of the brain. It is an open field, where much remains to be done.

What do you think the University of Navarra contributed to your professional training ?

The University of Navarra has been a great support. Professors, advisors and clinical tutors were always close to me, even when I finished my degree program. The University of Navarra provided me, in addition to good medical training , with ethical values that have been essential during my professional degree program .