History

How was the University of Medicine established?

The University of Medicine, Tirana (UMT) is the largest public teaching center for undergraduate and postgraduate education in medical sciences in the Republic of Albania, offering the most qualified professional expertise in didactics, scientific research and the preparation of specialists in all fields of medicine.

The University of Medicine, Tirana is an important part of the scientific, intellectual and cultural history of the country. This Public Higher Education Institution carries a long-standing tradition that has its origins in the creation of Higher Education in the Republic of Albania with the establishment of the Higher Institute of Medicine in 1952, which in 1957 formed the Faculty of Medicine. The contribution and experience of the luminaries of Albanian medical science such as, Prof. Fejzi Hoxha, Prof. Nikolla Dushniku, Prof. Llambi Ziçishti, Prof. Ferdinand Paparisto, Prof. Petrit Selenica, Prof. Petro Cani, Prof. Petrit Gaçja, Prof. Pirro Goda, Prof. Ylli Popa, Prof. Pëllumb Bitri, Prof. Selaudin Bekteshi, Prof. Koço Gliozheni, Prof. Besim Elezi, Prof. Bajram Preza, Prof. Kristo Pano, and many, many others, who have laid the foundations of this University.

The University of Medicine, Tirana was founded on 23.01.2013 by Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 48, “On the establishment of the University of Medicine, Tirana (UMT)”. The establishment of the University came as a result of radical changes in the structures of public higher education institutions in Albania. The promotion of the Faculty of Medicine into a public University and the establishment of the University of Medicine, Tirana, was an indispensable need for the professional preparation of medical staff in Albania, to interpret and best orient the essential transformations and developments of the time, guaranteeing the processing, innovation, transfer and evaluation of knowledge to the advantage of the individual and society. This initiative was driven, not only by the demands of the time for the further development of Albanian education and medicine, but also by the desire to build a quality educational institution that offers an alternative and contemporary education model, different from the existing traditional models.

The University of Medicine, Tirana offers a new image and comes as a fulfillment of the indispensable demand of Albanian Medicine for a better management of teaching and centralization of medical studies in a single and complementary unit. This public University constitutes the combination of theoretical and scientific studies by honored professors with many years of experience, with the concrete skills to implement them in practice at the University Hospital Centers of the country.

The teaching tradition and professional experience of the distinguished professors are the best example that the University of Medicine, Tirana has followed over the years. Graduates of the University of Medicine, Tirana are professionally skilled and know best how to navigate the complex needs of Albanian medicine. To this end, the two branches of UMT thought, theoretical studies and practical clinical and pre-clinical skills, are closely interconnected and enable optimal adaptation for the future of our students. The University of Medicine, Tirana was not created to be just a citadel of thought for medical studies. On the contrary, this University aims to be more focused on national and nationwide developments in health and common well-being in order to be closer to the ongoing needs of the patient, not only as an institution of higher education, but also as an institution that primarily prepares specialists in all fields of medicine and to continue to create the necessary premises to best orient its students in ongoing scientific research for a healthy society.

With the creation of UMT, the Faculty of Medicine and the former Faculty of Nursing joined its structure, which were separated from the long-standing structure of the University of Tirana and became integral parts of the five main units of this university, which were divided, respectively, into five Faculties: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health and Faculty of Medical and Technical Sciences.

In 2016, the University of Medicine, Tirana underwent a reorganization, being structured into three main units: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Faculty of Medical Technical Sciences and in this form it continues to function today.

Rectors through the years

Prof. Dr. Xheladin Draçini is the current Rector of the University of Medicine, Tirana, assuming this position in August 2024. Prior to his appointment as Rector, he served as a full-time lecturer at the Department of Surgery and as a primary surgeon at the "Mother Teresa" University Hospital Center in Tirana. With a long academic and professional career, Prof. Draçini has significantly contributed to scientific research, with participation in conferences, publications in scientific journals at home and abroad, as well as authorship of monographs and textbooks. As Rector, he aims to improve academic quality and the training of specialists in the field of health sciences.

Prof. Dr. Arben Gjata is the third and current Rector of the University of Medicine, Tirana. After taking office in June 2015, in the elections held on 20 April 2016, Prof. Dr. Arben Gjata was declared the first elected Rector of this University. Prof. Gjata leads the creation of the highest professional standards and the preparation of health professionals at this important University of the country.

The second Rector of the University of Medicine, Tirana was Prof. Dr. Ali Refatllari, a well-known cardiac surgeon, who led the newly established University and contributed to the further development and international recognition of this elite University.

With the establishment of the University of Medicine, Tirana, the first Rector of this University was appointed Prof. Dr. Jera Kruja, who was the first female Rector in the History of Universities of the Republic of Albania. She contributed to the establishment of the foundations and the smooth running of the work at the newest University of the country.