Professor D-r Grigor Gorchev:

       "We live in a time of quick travel, extensive and broadening contacts between countries and people. More effective means of communication also contribute to sharing the remarkable achievements in the field of medicine, and the necessity of keeping abreast with these achievements poses increasing demands on teaching today the doctors of tomorrow.
       Selection and training of medical students is of utmost importance: throughout their stay at the university they are expected to work hard, so that upon graduation they will have acquired medical knowledge, practical skills and sophistication in computers and languages. To meet these goals, The University of Medicine in Pleven constantly reviews and updates the curriculum, making it relevant to the health needs of today.
       It is a matter of considerable pride that our University has been recognized as being at the forefront of basic and applied research in health-related disciplines. In 2004, the University will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a Jubileum Scientific Conference "30 Years UM - Pleven". From the point of view of history, this is only a brief episode. But as an experience of three generations of students, teachers and doctors, nurses, paramedical and administrative staff this is a successful period of ambitions and achievements, of overcoming difficulties and solving problems. Thus, the Institute has reached its maturity age, and has built its image of a leading higher medical school, respected by the public, enjoying the support and respect of the state and of educational institutions in the country.
       The most remarkable event in 2003 was the successful Accreditation of the University of Medicine and the structures within it: the institution itself, the specialty of medicine, and the university hospital. This could not have been achieved without the efforts and professional merits of all Institute professors and assistant professors, heads of departments and clinics, postgraduate research workers and students. The Accreditation is a good reason to pride ourselves in what has been achieved. It is a good evaluation of our achievements, and is at the same time the foundation for the future tasks set: to improve both in quality and quantity the activities of the institution.
       During the period of accreditation, it was clearly stated that the Institute plays a leading role among other medical universities in Bulgaria.
       Here was established the first Department of General Medicine in the country, and the education program designed for the specialty was recognized as a contribution in the process of both training students and postgraduates, and the health reform that is taking place in Bulgaria.
       Together with the Medical University - Sofia, we were the first to start a Faculty of Health Care. The specialty was recognized and now we have state-supported students, and the first alumni have received their bachelor's diplomas.
       The University of Medicine of Pleven was the first to introduce teaching foreign students in English. The experiment proved worthwhile, despite the many problems that had to be solved, which was done with the efforts and understanding of both teachers and students, whose aims are identical: high academic achievements. The University Center of Oncology is a unique structure in the country, with outstanding results in its therapeutic and research activities. In 2003-2004, it was reconstructed and modernized, together with the other major clinic in Pleven - the Gynecology Clinic. This has become possible because of the sophisticated approach to health needs and the application of new methods, which have helped to set a good example how university education and health policy can work in the same direction.
       There is a newly-set structure in the University - that of the Nursing Colleges. For the one year since their integration, they have proved efficient in the training of junior medical staff thanks to the experience and professionalism of the teaching staff. Training programs are designed to meet the requirements in the country and abroad, which gives us hope for the future of the Colleges as teaching institutions."