In 2020, our Faculty will celebrate its 800th anniversary! To mark this milestone, we have put together a program featuring more than 34 events throughout the year. These events are designed for local, national, and international medical, scientific, and academic communities, as well as the general public in Montpellier. Here’s a look back at the program announced this Thursday, December 19, at a press conference.
A little history…
Founded on August 17, 1220 , our Faculty— formerly known as the “University of Medicine –Universitas Medicorum” —was established in Montpellier after Cardinal Conrad of Urach, the apostolic legate of Pope Honorius III, granted it its first charter. These statutes thus enabled the various medical schools in Montpellier to unite into a single community. This facilitated exchanges between the different medical cultures—Jewish, Arab, and Christian—that coexisted in Montpellier, then at the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations.
The medical school then flourished for eight centuries, guided by a unique academic ethos: humanism, rooted in the teachings of Hippocrates.
“Hippocrates envisioned a form of medicine that engages with science, philosophy, religion, climate, and the environment—in other words, a medicine that is a science of humanity. This enduring tradition is a hallmark of the Faculty of Medicine in Montpellier.” – Prof. Thierry Lavabre-Bertrand, Associate Dean
And today…?
While our faculty is the oldest in the world still in operation, it is nonetheless one of the most modern. This is evidenced by the 2017 opening of our new Arnaud de Villeneuve Health Campus. Equipped with the latest simulation-based teaching technologies, it allows our students to practice while adhering to the key principle of “never try it on a patient for the first time.”
But these technologies have in no way diminished the values our Faculty has upheld for eight centuries. Medical humanism thus remains a central focus of our teaching, leading us to develop—for the first time in France— workshops dedicated to the patient-caregiver relationship.
Events throughout 2020
To celebrate this anniversary and these values of humanism, multiculturalism, and scientific curiosity, we have put together a packed program of events running from January through December 2020.
Our hope? That various communities—including academics, healthcare professionals, and the people of Montpellier—will have the opportunity to (re)discover our Faculty and join us in celebrating medicine and its history through a variety of scientific, educational, and recreational events. Exhibitions will also be featured throughout the year, highlighting our heritage.
“We will be hosting high-profile events.For example, a symposium featuring leading international scientific publishers, a symposium on humanity and science that examines medicine and society as well as the public’s skepticism toward scientific facts, (…). We will also have sessions on ‘ethics and cancer,’ ‘gender equality in health,’ ‘medicinal plants,’ and a day dedicated to contemporary history and the major advances in medicine during the 20th century.” – Michel Mondain, Dean
Our students will also take center stage with the organization of an International Student Gala in June, to mark the visit of the Coimbra Group, Europe’s leading network of universities. They will also be honored at the Agnès McLaren Thesis Award ceremony in November.
Finally, there will also be fun and festive events, including the TAUST game nights and the Murder Mystery Nights at the Manoir du Crime…
For further reading…
- Watch the press conference again
- Press Kit / Program
- Midi Libre – 800th Anniversary of the School of Medicine: 10 Events You Won’t Want to Miss
- La Tribune – The Montpellier School of Medicine is set to celebrate its 800th anniversary
The School of Medicine wishes you a very happy holiday season! In observance of the holidays, the School (and all of its departments) will be closed from the evening of Friday, December 20, through January 5. In the meantime, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday break…
Annual closure: from the evening of Friday, December 20, 2019, through Sunday, January 5, 2020, inclusive.
Reopening: Monday, January 6, 2020
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2020!
This Monday, December 9, come on out to the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus! You can have all your vehicle’s safety features checked for free as part of our “Students, Road Safety, and the Environment” initiative. It’s the perfect way to drive with peace of mind as the holiday season approaches!
Renewal of a partnership with Lycée Pierre Mendès France
The safety of our students is priceless! That is why the University of Montpellier (UM) and the Faculty of Medicine are renewing their partnership with Lycée Pierre Mendès France and the Hérault Prefecture for the third consecutive year, as part of the initiative: “Students, Road Safety, and the Environment.” The event, which is completely free , will take place on our Arnaud de Villeneuve Health Campus on Monday , December 9, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free pre-inspection services for student vehicles
Students will be able to have their vehicles inspected FREE OF CHARGE as part of a pre-inspection.Students from partner high schools, supervised by their teachers, will conduct these pre-inspections. Any issues that could result in the vehicle being sent back for a re-inspection during the official technical inspection will be reported to the students who brought their vehicles in.
A road safety awareness booth will also be set up in the atrium (main hall). Run by volunteers and attended by Catherine Mallet, Road Safety Coordinator for the Hérault Prefecture, the booth will offer various road safety awareness activities.
The option to retrofit at-risk vehicles
Next, vehicles in need of repair will be returned to the high school students, who will carry out the necessary repairs in their workshops. Once again, this service will be completely free of charge! It’s your chance to drive safely without breaking the bank… So come one, come all!
"Students, Road Safety, and the Environment" Campaign
– Monday, December 9, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –
Arnaud de Villeneuve Health Campus, 641 Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud – 34000 Montpellier
This is a first for our faculty! On Friday, November 22, the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine opened its doors to the business community for the first time, offering a unique, jointly developed training program designed to help industry professionals better understand the medical field.
A collaborative training program that has been underway for several months
This groundbreaking training program, led by Professor Boris Guiu, head of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Saint Eloi Hospital within the Montpellier University Hospital, and Dean Michel Mondain, was developed in collaboration with Quantum Surgical, a specialist in surgical robotics. Comprising two modules, this training program helped strengthen employees’ knowledge in the healthcare field by providing a foundational overview of surgery, anesthesia, and interventional radiology, before delving into more specialized topics such as liver cancer and percutaneous ablation.
Presentations by healthcare professionals from university hospitals and the ICM
As a result, the first session of this training program enabled 15 company employees to receive training from healthcare professionals at the Faculty’s partner institutions: Montpellier University Hospital, Nîmes University Hospital, and the ICM. This initiative reflects a strong commitment to fostering greater collaboration between healthcare professionals and those working on the technical side to shape the future of medicine.
The Faculty is attentive to the needs of technical professionals in the sector
Recognizing the major changes transforming the healthcare sector and the training needs of technical professionals in the field, the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine is now mobilizing its academic resources to meet the economic needs of the company. The Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine has therefore collaborated with Quantum Surgical to design a customized training program tailored to the company’s specific needs.
From November 18 to 22, UM is taking action against homophobia with a special theme week. Check out the week’s schedule here, including the street art workshops planned on our Nîmes campus!
Combating homophobia in the workplace
According to the annual report by the organization SOS Homophobie, 2018 was a dark year for LGBTQI+ people, marked by a surge in homophobic incidents. This violence is also evident in the workplace and has prompted the University of Montpellier to become the first French university to sign the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender commitment charter of the association l’Autre cercle.
A commitment that UM aims to reinforce during Anti-Homophobia Week, taking place from November 18 to 22, by inviting this association of LGBTQI+ professionals to a roundtable discussion on the theme “Managing Diversity.” This will be the first session of discussions with university staff, aimed at promoting diversity management in all its forms and
vigorously opposing hatred and prejudice.
Trans: shaping society
On November 20, the UM is hosting a public screening of Lukas Dhont’s film “Girl.” The story follows a young girl—born a boy—who dreams of becoming a prima ballerina. This sensitive film, which strikes a balance between social commentary and adolescent intimacy, will be followed by a discussion moderated by the Trans Division of the “Fierté Montpellier Pride” association.
Street art workshops on our Nîmes campus
Throughout the week, street art workshops aimed at raising awareness about the fight against homophobia will be offered to students and staff at the University of Montpellier. Cole, the artist leading the workshops, will also hold several exhibitions of his work at various campuses of the University of Montpellier.
During his visit to our faculty on November 14 in Nîmes, street artist COLE makes a clear statementby transforming the campus of the Faculty of Medicine with colorful creations inspired by his street art practice: “ Love has no gender or color.”Flowing, tender silhouettes and splashes of color will spread across the walls and floor, revealing an entire artistic universe that rises in support of the LGBTI+ community.
Free screening of Lukas Dhont’s film “Girl,” open to the public, on November 20 at 7 p.m. at the Aimé Schoenig Student Center, Richter Campus, Rue Vendémiaire.
Street Art Workshop at the Faculty of Medicine, Nîmes Campus: November 14, 2020.
The Faculty of Medicine will pay tribute to its fallen members as part of the November 11 commemorations. A ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the historic building, attended by Michel Mondain, Dean of the Faculty, Etienne Guibal, Gilles Morlock, and representatives of veterans’ associations.
Tribute to those who died in World War I
As part of the commemorations of the 1918 Armistice, the Dean of the Faculty, Michel Mondain, will pay tribute to the doctors and students of the Faculty of Medicine who died for France during that war. He will be joined by Etienne Guibal, son of André Guibal, a “trench doctor” and auxiliary physician in the 32nd Infantry Regiment. The ceremony will take place on November 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Atrium of the Faculty’s historic building. A wreath will be laid at the foot of the war memorial.
A virtual exhibition
Rheumatologist Gilles Morlock will also be in attendance. A specialist on this war, he is the author of the study “1914–1918: The Shattered Lives of the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine, ” published in 2016 for the virtual exhibition “1914/18: Medicine on the Field of Honor.” A tribute to the many doctors, professors, and students who went to the front to treat the millions of people wounded in this conflict, at the risk of their own lives. An exhibition drawn from the collections of the Anatomy Conservatory, archival documents from the Faculty of Medicine, works from the university library, and private collections. These testimonies offer a glimpse into a little-known aspect of the University during this period, which remains one of the most tragic in our history.
On October 1, 2, and 3, #ShareYourPower by donating blood! Come see the EFS team in the UPM lobby on the ADV Campus to make your donation!
Donating blood isn't rocket science!
October is here, fall is in full swing, and with the All Saints’ Day school break, Halloween is just around the corner. To encourage as many people as possible to get involved both leading up to and during the All Saints’ Day break, the EFS teams are playing on the stereotypes associated with this holiday to show everyone that donating blood is a piece of cake.
1,000 blood donations are needed every day in Occitanie
With school break approaching, they remind us that everyone’s participation is essential throughout October to meet the need for 1,000 blood donations every day in Occitanie. Don’t let your blood run cold for nothing: the rule is clear this October—donate or face a curse! Our friendly vampires are waiting to welcome your act of solidarity—with treats to boot. Non-donors, we invite you to take advantage of this spooky month to face your fear of needles: there’s no point in getting all worked up when you know this simple act saves lives. Don’t wait any longer! #ShareYourPower
Who can donate?
It is recommended that you do not come on an empty stomach and that you drink plenty of fluids before and after donating.
The main requirements for donating blood:
- To be in good health,
- Be between the ages of 18 and 70,
- Weigh more than 50 kilograms and have never received a blood transfusion.
In the following cases, donations must be postponed by:
- 7 days after completing a course of antibiotics;
- 14 days after an infectious episode;
- 4 months after an endoscopy, a piercing, or a tattoo;
- 4 months after traveling to a country where malaria is prevalent.
Where can I donate?
It couldn't be easier—just come to the UPM lobby on October 1, 2, or 3 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.!
As it does every year, the Faculty is delighted to welcome the organizers of Cin’éthique, a program born out of a collaboration between the Association Carabine Montpelliéraine (ACM) and the Languedoc-Roussillon Regional Center for Ethical Reflection, which is based within our Faculty. Its mission is to stimulate ethical reflection on health issues by comparing clinical reality with its artistic representation. Find the program for this new academic year here!
Cin’éthique Program, 2019–2020 Edition
Detailed schedule for the evening of October 1, 2020
The first Cin’éthique screening of the 2019–2020 academic year will take place this Tuesday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Anatomy Lecture Hall of the Faculty of Medicine.
The concept is simple: a film followed by a panel discussion on a health-related topic, exploring ethical considerations and bringing together perspectives from diverse backgrounds—including doctors, patients, and members of civil society. Admission is free and open to everyone.
For this screening, the film being shown will be *Ma compagne de nuit*, a 2011 film by Isabelle Brocard
- Synopsis: Julia, an architect who appears to have it all, decides to hire a housekeeper. But the young woman soon realizes that Julia has terminal cancer and needs someone to keep her company as she nears the end of her life. A powerful and deep bond gradually forms between the two women as they share these final moments of life together…
Next, a discussion on the topic “Cancer and Caregivers: Toward a Redefinition of Care?”, bringing together a panel of various stakeholders directly or indirectly affected by this issue:
- Prof. Nadine HOUEDE (Professor of Oncology, ICG – Nîmes)
- Dr. Virginie Perrotin (Ph.D. in Palliative Care, ICM – Montpellier)
- Ms. Anne-Chantal Granier (palliative care nurse, ICM – Montpellier)
- Vivre comme avant Association (Montpellier)
Through the lens of palliative care for cancer patients, we will explore the concept of the caregiver (whether professional, volunteer, parent, or family member) and the need to recognize their role, particularly in the context of chronic illnesses. Furthermore, this will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between expert knowledge and lay knowledge, as well as between professional care and “amateur” care (in the noble sense of the term).
Visit the Cin’éthique project’s Facebook page
