Tag archive for: interview
The Mozart Awards for Excellence, which recognize dedication and boldness, have just been presented.
At an event bringing together economic leaders from the Occitanie region, awards were presented to regional figures in recognition of their dedicated efforts.
In 2023, our faculty honored its longest-serving member, Professor Isabelle Laffont, by awarding her the Health Prize.
Please find attached the article from Midi Libre dated November 24, 2023, along with links to various articles describing how the evening unfolded:
and videos: econews, Go Easy Agency
We're so happy for her and proud that the faculty is so well represented!
Every five years, a new dean’s office team, composed of associate deans and special advisors, is appointed by the dean to represent him or her in carrying out specific tasks. This year, Prof. Arnaud Bourdin was appointed Vice Dean in charge of relations with the Clinical Research and Innovation Delegations (DRCI) of the Montpellier and Nîmes University Hospitals. Read his interview here: learn about his background and the projects he hopes to implement as part of his role!
You were appointed by the Dean, Ms. Isabelle Laffont. Could you tell us about your background and your area of expertise?
Pulmonology is an extremely broad discipline, covering fields as diverse as vascular medicine, inflammation, oncology, allergy, immunology, aerology, or more traditionally environmental science, infectious diseases, critical care, addiction medicine, and a significant amount of technical expertise. It fosters culture, knowledge, and open-mindedness. It is by far the organ most in contact with the environment. It is a difficult organ to explore. One must be fully engaged in this interaction, driven by a desire to understand, to reason, and to generate evidence in order to grasp this multitude of topics; it is also a discipline that inspires humility, with all that this entails in terms of responsibility and ethics to make progress.
How do you plan to balance your duties as associate dean with your other professional responsibilities?
As President of the DRCI and the CRBSP, I have been committed for many years to fostering a culture of science within our faculty. Knowledge is often right there, within reach, and not all problems can be solved by ready-made formulas that cannot be taught. The issue, therefore, is not about balancing activities, but about promoting this vision as much as possible in all activities of the Faculty of Medicine.
What will your contributions and goals be? What projects do you hope to carry out in your role?
The first objective is, of course, educational: research is integral to health-related degree programs, from the assessment of knowledge to the awarding of various degrees and the roles of faculty members who conduct research. The code of responsibility, ethics, and respect for patients are deeply rooted in the humanities and social sciences of the past, and the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty must be a pioneer in this field. The second objective is to foster a culture of research within the Faculty, through its commitments as well as its human and intellectual heritage. In collaboration with the Scientific Advisory Board, the direction of major structural projects, the identification of needs, and the analysis of both successes and failures must help us progress collectively.
What motivated you to accept this appointment?
Training through research, a passion for progress, a rejection of mediocrity and the “idiopathic,” and a desire to constantly improve patient care and support—all of which require rigorous and ambitious educational and scientific policies—are the driving forces behind our motivation. Today, this is an urgent challenge for our Faculty and, more broadly, for our university hospitals, to ensure not only their legitimacy and sustainability, but also and above all their excellence.
Every five years, a new dean’s office team, composed of associate deans and program coordinators, is appointed by the dean to represent him or her in carrying out specific tasks. This year, Professor Stephan Matecki was elected chair of the Scientific Council. Read his interview here: learn about his background and the projects he hopes to implement as part of his role!
You have been elected Chair of the Scientific Council. Could you tell us about your background and your area of expertise?
I am a physiologist and head of the Pediatric Functional Testing Unit, as well as a research team within the UMR CNRS 9214–INSERM U1046 unit located at the IURC. I am also co-director of the Master’s program in Biology and Health. After completing my medical studies in Paris, I went on to do my residency and my fellowship in Physiology in Montpellier. I have always had a deep commitment to scientific education and supporting our students throughout their scientific journey. This has allowed me to develop a comprehensive support system for our youngest students through the implementation of a dual health sciences curriculum designed for all health science students. This program was recently accredited by INSERM and has been integrated into the national network of Medicine-Science programs at our School. I have also been able to develop, within the Scientific Council, this support strategy through a system of early and regular mentoring for all our candidates pursuing careers in university hospitals, who will form the core of our Faculty in the future.
How do you plan to balance your professional responsibilities with your role as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board?
When you love what you do, you don’t keep track of the hours. But as a physiologist, my professional obligations are less demanding than those of a clinician or a surgeon. Furthermore, I believe that my roles as director of the Master’s program in Health Biology and as a research team leader are highly complementary to my duties on the scientific advisory board. A role, I should note, that is very much focused on mentoring and providing supportive guidance to our young students who aspire to careers in university hospitals.
What will your contributions and goals be? What projects do you hope to carry out in your role?
I would like to focus on promoting greater transparency regarding the scientific policy of our Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine, in alignment with the Montpellier and Nîmes University Hospitals, by highlighting its core mission—education in the health field—and its driving force: our students. I would also like to strengthen our support for young candidates through the Scientific Advisory Board, which will be based on a relationship of guidance and mentorship. The goal will be to train them to reflect on their scientific positioning—a positioning that will guide them in their future scientific careers. Support for candidates must be established as early as possible, which will allow us to better advise and guide them so they can arrive at the interview with full confidence, since their academic path and scientific positioning will have been validated in advance. Finally, I would like to continue developing dual health and medical degree programs, adapting them to the increasingly strong demand, especially since the implementation of the student’s academic track record, which will be taken into account in the matching process.
What motivated you to accept this appointment?
Above all, it’s the joy of giving our youngest students all the support they deserve. Their enthusiasm and willingness to listen are a real source of inspiration for me—almost like a breath of fresh air.
Every five years, a new dean’s office team, composed of associate deans and special advisors, is appointed by the dean to represent him or her in carrying out specific tasks. Each year, a student Vice-Dean is appointed by their peers elected to the Management Council to represent them on the Dean’s Office team. Following in the footsteps of Florian Mary and Théo Lacoste, Paul-Arthur Valet is now taking on the role of student Vice-Dean and president of Ademmoos. Read his interview here: learn about his background and the projects he hopes to implement as part of his role!
Hello Paul-Arthur, for those who don't know you, could you introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Paul-Arthur VALET. I’m 21 years old and a fourth-year medical student in Nîmes. This is the first time the vice dean has come from the Nîmes campus. In addition, I am a student representative on the management council and president of ADEMMOOS (the association of student representatives from all programs). Although my future specialty changes from one clinical rotation to the next, I plan to become a surgeon.
You were selected from among ADEMMOOS members to serve as Student Vice Dean, succeeding Théo Lacoste. How did the transition go?
The handover went smoothly, though the start of the term was a bit unusual, particularly given the situation at the national level. We had to organize a protest in collaboration with the SILR, the ACM, and the CCC, whom I would like to thank for their help. The mobilization brought together 400 students, which is a historic milestone for Montpellier-Nîmes. This was followed by the release of our VSS and student mental health surveys, which marks the starting point of a paradigm shift that we are beginning to see.
What made you want to take on this role?
I have been a member of ADEMMOOS since my sophomore year, first as VP of Communications, then as treasurer, and finally as president/VDE. I have always had a strong interest in student representation—in connecting directly with students and being able to help them. Furthermore, working with the dean’s office is very rewarding, especially as part of a supportive and attentive team.
How will you balance your duties as associate dean with your responsibilities as a student?
Let's face it, this is relatively complex, but I knew that when I took on these responsibilities. So you have to be particularly organized, but these positions (president and
VDE) are so exciting. To successfully balance everything, you have to know how to delegate, so I would like to thank the association’s board and, in particular, the general vice president, Soukaina MOUH MOUH, who was elected to the educational council and does work behind the scenes that is all the more essential.
What are your goals and priorities for this term? Do you plan to continue the "Student Well-Being" initiative launched by your predecessor?
Regarding the “Well-Being” project, we have two vice-presidents on the executive board, Emma PETON and Florent BENOIST, whom I have every confidence will fulfill the mission entrusted to them
. They have already organized booths for No Smoking Month and the “Solidarity Christmas” event, which aims to connect students from the Montpellier-Nîmes Medical Faculty who wish to gather for a Christmas meal.
Furthermore, I strongly believe in inter-association collaboration; student associations bring life to our campus and play a structural role at both of our faculty’s campuses. On a personal level, my priority is combating sexual and sexual violence and empowering victims to speak out.
What initiatives would you like to implement for students?
In addition to continuing existing projects such as publishing the back-to-school guides and the Internal Future Forum… I’d like to revive certain projects that had to be put on hold due to the Covid-
,
such as the “reprez’ cafés,” which were opportunities to connect with ANEMF administrators and your local elected representatives. Overall, I believe that national representation is just as fundamental as local representation; for this reason, we have assigned two members to this task: for Montpellier, Zoé DOLADILLE (ADEMMOOS) and Rémi BOURGAUX (ACM), and for Nîmes, Manon VALETTE (ADEMMOOS) and Elise DE LOTH (CCC).
Any final thoughts?
The issue that is particularly close to my heart is gender-based and sexual violence (GBV). What I hope for is greater openness in speaking out, in order to break the code of silence that
prevents victims from speaking up.
Thanks to our surveys and the responses from the faculty, people are starting to speak up; it is up to us not to betray the courage that victims have shown in speaking out.
“The tables must turn.”
Every five years, a new dean’s office team, composed of associate deans and special advisors, is appointed by the dean to represent him or her in carrying out specific tasks. This year, Professor Maurice Hayot was appointed Special Advisor for Digital Health and Innovation in Digital Education.
Read his interview here: learn about his background and the projects he hopes to implement as part of his role!
You have been appointed “Digital Health and Digital Education Innovation Coordinator” by Dean Prof. Isabelle Laffont. Could you tell us about your background and your area of expertise?
I am a physician, a physiologist in my academic discipline, and a pulmonologist in my medical specialty. I am also the head of the Clinical Physiology Department at Montpellier University Hospital, which comprises three medical teams specializing in functional, respiratory, metabolic, and pediatric testing.
The primary responsibilities of medical physiologists lie in the clinical assessment and research of the body’s major functions, as well as in providing personalized care for patients, particularly through rehabilitation. Digital tools have enriched our practice in recent years.
In the field of digital health, I have spent the past decade helping to create and co-lead several training programs as part of the “TIC et Santé Montpellier” initiative (“TIC” stands for “Information and Communication Technologies”), including:
- the Master's program in "ICT for Health," which has evolved into "Science and Digital Technology for Health,"
- the national inter-university program in telemedicine, involving seven universities in France.
How do you plan to balance your duties as a project manager with your other professional responsibilities?
Digital health has become a key focus of my work, and I will naturally continue to prioritize it in this role. I will serve as a liaison between the various stakeholders atthe University of Montpellier and its partners in the digital health sector, connecting them with our faculty, students, and faculty members.
What will your contributions and goals be? What projects do you hope to carry out in your role?
The current challenge is to provide all healthcare and social services professionals with a foundation of digital health skills covering various aspects that will impact their daily professional practice:
- health data, cybersecurity in healthcare,
- telemedicine (telemedicine and tele-care),
- e-health and digital tools,
- methods of communication between patients and healthcare providers, or among healthcare providers themselves.
Other non-healthcare professions must also receive training; a master’s degree appears to be the most appropriate level for initial training, but significant emphasis should be placed on continuing education and apprenticeships.
I intend to carry out my mission by fostering a strong sense of momentum within our faculty and acrossthe University of Montpellier, drawing on the extensive expertise we have gathered across our various departments. To that end, our flagship initiative is to establish the “University of Montpellier School of Digital Health” in collaboration with actively involved partners.
What motivated you to accept this appointment?
This issue, which may seem new to some, has always been strongly supported by theUniversity of Montpellier’s administration, as well as by the deans who have served over the past decade.
Dean Laffont has long listened to me attentively and offered encouragement in this area, even before she took on this role. Working together as a team to innovate in teaching is a powerful driving force!
Every five years, a new dean’s office team, composed of associate deans and program coordinators, is appointed by the dean to represent him or her in carrying out specific tasks. This year, Prof. Nadine Houede was appointed Associate Dean for Finance. She will soon succeed Associate Dean Messner in this role. Read her interview here: learn about her background and the projects she plans to implement as part of her role!
You were appointed by the Dean, Ms. Isabelle Laffont. Could you tell us about your background and your area of expertise?
With two doctorates in medicine and biostatistics, I had the opportunity to spend two years in Canada toward the end of my studies, which allowed me to gain solid experience in urological oncology and develop a research focus. I began my career as an oncologist at the Bordeaux Cancer Center, serving as head of the Department of Urologic Oncology and the Early-Phase Trials Unit, and as an active member of French and American medical societies specializing in oncology.
Currently serving as department head at Nîmes University Hospital and deputy director of the division, I lead numerous research programs at an INSERM unit in Montpellier and am committed to ensuring that research advances are made available to patients as quickly as possible.
How do you plan to balance your duties as associate dean with your other professional responsibilities?
I am fortunate to be supported by a young and dynamic team in oncology. I hold two positions associated with my academic status: Director of the Cancéropole Grand Sud-Ouest, working closely with cancer research teams, and now Vice Dean for Finance, supporting faculty and student projects.
What will your contributions and goals be? What projects do you hope to carry out in your role?
Since the Dean has placed her trust in me with this appointment, I intend to assist her to the best of my ability in the administrative duties entrusted to me, both in relation to her specific responsibilities regarding the DI and DIU and in connection with the university. I will work toward a balanced budget in order to provide students and faculty with the best possible learning environment.
What motivated you to accept this appointment?
While I should point out that working with numbers comes naturally to me, two factors motivated me to accept this position: first, my gratitude to the faculty that appointed me as a professor in 2015 and my desire to give back by dedicating all my resources to supporting its ongoing efforts; and second, the kind mentorship of my predecessor, Professor Patrick Messner.
Every five years, a new dean’s office team, composed of associate deans and program directors, is appointed by the dean to represent him or her in carrying out specific tasks. This year, Professor Gérald Chanques was appointed Associate Dean for General Affairs, Heritage, and Campus Life. Read his interview here: learn about his background and the projects he hopes to implement as part of his role!
You were appointed by the Dean, Ms. Isabelle Laffont. Could you tell us about your background and your area of expertise?
I took my high school diploma and completed my undergraduate studies in Montpellier, so you could say I’m one-quarter Parisian and three-quarters Montpellier native. I loved my studies so much that it was hard for me to choose a “specialty.” I chose anesthesiology and critical care for several reasons: first, for the interdisciplinary nature of medical knowledge, but also for the human and material resources available within our teams to provide safe care, including pain management and handling the most critical situations.
How do you plan to balance your duties as associate dean with your other professional responsibilities?
This project was developed within my hospital department alongside my colleagues and my department head, who has always supported and encouraged me throughout my professional career. My involvement with the faculty has grown gradually since my appointment eight years ago. I continue to maintain a clinical practice that constantly enriches my teaching and research. Conversely, my understanding of academic institutions shapes all my duties as a university professor. The Faculty and its unique history, as well as the University (I serve on the Committee on Education and University Life and on the disciplinary sections of the Academic Council), prompt me to reflect on every facet of my work, from patient care to teaching and innovation. The societal shift taking place in our relationships with one another—the fight against inequality, sexual and gender-based violence, and so on—represents a major and long-awaited turning point for our institutions.
What will your contributions and goals be? What projects do you hope to carry out in your role?
I gradually came to realize the importance of teaching and passing on knowledge to the younger generation, as well as the importance of having a faculty that draws on multiple campuses (Nîmes and Montpellier, modernity and heritage) and embodies a true university spirit—one that holds meaning for our patients, our students, and society at large. The Faculty has an urban history. It serves as a bridge to the general public.
Our faculty faces many challenges today regarding the organization of the institution, its campuses, and the promotion of its heritage: the university community—students, faculty, and staff—must embrace this past and future history and share it with others, including our colleagues in other university departments, our healthcare colleagues, and the general public. Among the general public are potential patients. The image we project of the faculty through our history and heritage must align with today’s demands: innovation, excellence in care, but also addressing vulnerability and access to care. All of this together defines our faculty, and we cannot rest easy unless we strive to address all these challenges. The unity of the leadership team, united around our dean, will be the strength of the institution, involving all its faculty and administration—those from previous teams and those preparing future generations.
What motivated you to accept this appointment?
My desire to contribute to a dean’s office initiative focused on community, kindness, and active listening, with ambitious goals for the institution. I was deeply grateful for this appointment, as it allows me to continue the work I have been doing for several years with Dean Mondain and Vice Dean Lavabre-Bertrand on complex projects (preparing state-regional contracts for long-term renovations to the historic building, studies for the learning center, and liaising with the Faculty and University’s general affairs offices to develop a large number of projects involving institutions, local governments, and businesses as part of the 800th-anniversary celebrations…).
