IV International Oncology Congress in Spain

Yes, We Can!

"Knowing methodology of research and finding a good mentor are keys to a good student work", says Majda Br?i?, student of the Faculty of Medicine from Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina. "And like professor Di Angio from United States said, it doesn't take much to fall in love with research - you only have to ask yourself 'why', raise your head, open your eyes, and you're already standing on the shoulders of giants"


By LEJLA MAZLIC
from Tuzla, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA


Students from Faculty of Medicine Tuzla took active participation on IV International Oncology Congress for students, held in Pamplona, Spain. Among twenty research works, Bosnia and Herzegovina students won the 2nd place with their work: "Epidemiological characteristics of childhood tumours".

More than 400 students were present in this meeting, from all Spanish universities, but also Costa Rica, United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Bosnian representatives were Majda Brcic, Adnan Grabic, Jasmina Lisicic, Jelena Lucic, Amra Nadarevic, Mirza Omerbašic, Tomislav Stjepic i Altijana Šaric.

They've done two research works - "Epidemiological characteristics of childhood tumours" and "Morfologic characteristics and biological potential of meningiomas" which were under the mentoring of prof. Dr. Ermine Iljazovic-Latifagic and mr.sci.med Zinaide Karasalihovic from University of Tuzla.

"When we went through registration process, the organizing committee told us that we will be a real attraction for them, because they obviously do not have realistic image of Balkan at all. The statement hurt me a bit... so I personally made an effort to be the attraction they were looking for, as successful as it gets", said Majda Brcic, student of Third Year at the Faculty of Medicine in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the presentation, the whole group of eight B&H students started receiving continuous compliments and praises from professors and students. "It's just then that I've realized how good we were", says Majda.

Whole time during the presentation, she says that she simply wanted to make it good and she wasn't thinking of winning some award. They just had one goal - to show what they know. And pretty much they succeeded. "When they announced that we won the second place, we were just so happy and excited. We felt accomplished!"

Students were, together with professor Giulio J. Dangio and doctor Audrey E. Evans - two eminent persons in children's oncology field, accepted by Ms. Yolanda, Mayor of Pamplona, who regaled them and handed them symbolic presents. She also invited them to visit this city in the time of Festival San Fermin.

As a message to all the other students, Majda Brcic says that internet serves as a great database for results comparison and finding dates of Congresses of various themes all around Europe: "Knowing methodology of research and finding a good mentor are keys to a good student work. And like professor Di Angio from United States said, it doesn't take much to fall in love with research - you only have to ask yourself 'why', raise your head, open your eyes, and you're already standing on the shoulders of giants".


(Published: 10.05.2008.)

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