TNMU Scientist Completed Internship at the University of Sassari (Italy) as Part of the “Erasmus+: Mobility Grants for Students and Staff from Ukraine” Program

Since October 2022 until June 2024, Oksana Yurchyshyn, Associate Professor at the Department of General Hygiene and Ecology of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, participated in the “Erasmus+: Mobility Grants for Students and Staff from Ukraine A.Y. 2022-23” program at the University of Sassari (Italy).

In the central campus building of the University of Sassari.

With the University’s Rector, Gavino Marotti, in the administrative building.

With Professor Paolo Castiglia of the Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy. He heads the Department of Hygiene and Hospital Infection Control in Sassari.

With students in the library at the Department.

With Antonella Argittu (PhD in Public Health), a researcher in general and applied hygiene at the Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy, involved in statistical data processing at the department.

During lectures with coordinator Professor Marco Dettori of General and Applied Hygiene.

Throughout her internship, Ms. Oksana had the opportunity to observe and participate in scientific research. The department boasts numerous laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for conducting research. Practical sessions for students take place in these well-equipped laboratories. Specifically, there is a water research laboratory, a microbiological laboratory, and a statistical data processing unit at the Department of General and Applied Hygiene.

During her scientific research in the water research laboratory with Stefano Pozadino, Oksana Yurchyshyn worked with a Mass Spectrometer, analyzing mineral waters from the island of Sardinia and testing the city water supply of Sassari.

One of the units within the microbiological laboratory at the hygiene department featured EZ-Stream equipment – a laboratory filtration pump designed for microbiological analysis.

Oksana Yurchyshyn attended various lectures and had a chance to participate in a pilot project to raise awareness among operators, patients, and visitors regarding hand hygiene practices, and attended events for Global Hand Hygiene Day, where results from various hospital departments in Sassari were presented.

Oksana Yurchyshyn participated in the “European Researchers’ Night 2023,” involving numerous activities aimed at promoting scientific culture through various forms of interaction with citizens in informal contexts: exhibitions, interactive and gaming laboratories, informational sessions, masterclasses, debates, coffee sessions, scientific aperitifs, and other initiatives to actively engage citizens.

The university has its own language centre offering Italian language courses for foreign students and staff participating in the Erasmus program. Ms. Oksana completed courses in Italian language at levels A1-A2 (first semester) and B1 (second semester), passed an exam, and received a B1 certificate (CEFR).

With the coordinator of Erasmus Office Felice Langi.

Oksana Yurchyshyn also took part in a conference on the Holodomor and a thematic photo exhibition on the topic of the 1932-1933 famine.

Near the Santa Caterina church.

Oksana Yurchyshyn collaborated with the Ukrainian community and volunteers to collect humanitarian aid and funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Oksana Yurchyshyn expresses her deepest appreciation to the administration of Ternopil National Medical University and the International Relations Department, particularly to its head Natalia Lisnychuk, Paolo Castiglia, Professor at the Department of General and Applied Hygiene, coordinator Marco Dettori, and Erasmus office coordinator in Sassari, Felice Langi, for the opportunity to intern at the University of Sassari under the academic mobility program for students and staff from Ukraine.