Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy (, or UMF Cluj) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is the oldest medical education institution in Transylvania, a continuation of the Faculty of Medicine which was founded in 1919, as a part of the Superior Dacia University. The university has over 6,000 national and international students, 2,400 resident physicians, as well as over 1,100 teachers and researchers. It was named in honor of the scientist Iuliu Hațieganu. The university is classified as an "advanced research and education university" by the Ministry of Education.
History
Higher education in Cluj dates from 1581. University life gradually developed, outlining various fields and specialties of study. Among them, medicine has played an essential part. Thus, the Medical-Surgical School was established in Cluj in 1775. Here the teacher was the well-known oculist Ioan Piuariu-Molnar, who was also the first titrated Romanian doctor. In 1816, the medical-surgical school was transformed in the Medical-Surgical High School.
The Hungarian Faculty of Medicine was founded at the very beginning of the existence of Franz Joseph University in Cluj in 1872. Between 1888 and 1901 the clinics and institutes of the Faculty were built on Mikó Street ( known today as Clinics Street).
Soon after the Union of Transylvania with Romania, medical and pharmaceutical education witnessed a major transformation. In 1919, the Romanian Faculty of Medicine was established as part of Superior Dacia University. The first dean and organizer of the Faculty was Iuliu Hațieganu, who was subsequently made rector magnificus of this university. Due to his initiative, new disciplines were created, including medical semiology, radiology, stomatology and history of medicine, which were firsts for medical education in Romania. At the same time, Professor Gheorghe Bilașcu founded at Cluj the first discipline of stomatology in Romania. Between 1919 and 1934, the Faculty of Medicine included an important department of pharmacy, founded and chaired by Professor Gheorghe Pamfil. Four years later, the Palace of University Clinics was inaugurated in 1938.
A turning point in medical and pharmaceutical education was achieved in 1948, when the Medico-Pharmaceutical Institute became independent, organized into five different faculties: General Medicine, Pediatrics, Stomatology, Pharmacy and Hygiene – the latter being active only for a single decade. The Faculty of Medicine had the largest share.
Since 1990, medical and pharmaceutical education at Cluj-Napoca evolved at a rapid pace. The same year, the Medico-Pharmaceutical Institute changed its name to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The iconic Iuliu Hațieganu became the university's namesake in 1992.
Celebrating 90 years of Romanian medical education in Cluj, UMF Cluj inaugurated in 2009 the Valeriu Bologa Museum of the History of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj, located on Avram Iancu Street 31.
Faculties
Faculty of Medicine
After the dramatic political, economical, and social changes that took place in Romania in 1989, the university has undergone significant changes in its image and organization. The spiritual life has become more dynamic, the logistic support a lot more substantial, and the methods have been improved and modernized. Each member of the teaching staff has benefited by participation in international conventions and trainings in new techniques in either a Western European country or the United States.
Owing to a large degree to the great raise in admissions of foreign students, the Faculty of Medicine of the Cluj-Napoca University of Medicine and Pharmacy has become an international institution, with a significant increase in the number of students registering in a post-graduate program.
Preexisting education spaces have been modernized and several others have been built. Students of the Faculty of Medicine have the opportunity to study under the most modern conditions, as well as to participate at courses that are held in well-equipped lecture rooms.
The Faculty of Medicine offers study programs at bachelor, master, doctoral and residency degree, as well as continuing medical training. The four programs of study at undergraduate level are: Medicine – university studies lasting six years Nursing – university studies lasting four years Radiology and Medical Imaging – university studies lasting three years Balneophysiokinetotherapy and Recovery – university studies lasting three years
Within the Faculty of Medicine are 13 master's programs with courses of study lasting one or two years.