The European School of Genetic Medicine (ESGM) is the only initiative in Europe that offers advanced training in the fields of genetics and genomics in medicine.
More than 7.000 students have attended ESGM courses over the last 23 years, enabling the School to expand its course offerings to a total of 10-12 courses per year.

Still, each year the number of participants in ESGM courses increases, as does the variety of nations represented by its participants. These are typically represented by young people  (M.D. during their specialty training,  Ph.D.  candidates, post-doc, genetic nurses, etc.) with an average age of 30 years.

The primary purpose of the ESGM courses is to provide advanced training in genetics and genomics to junior scientists and health professionals from across Europe.

The secondary purpose of these courses is even more important. That is, give junior scientists plenty of opportunities to establish professional contacts with colleagues from across Europe, including ESGM faculty.

Given the current "Brain drain," it is now paramount to involve young scientists in competitive, fully-funded, European research projects at a critical moment in their careers.

The ESGM is also attracting students from an increasing number of countries from the Southern Mediterranean rim and the Middle East (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Israel, Iran, Iraq, etc)
Training scientists and medical specialists from these countries is essential for the purpose of disseminating modern genetic knowledge in the Southern Mediterranean Region and the Middle East.

Furthermore, the increased participation of female scientists and health professionals  from these countries will help to ensure that current knowledge of genetics be applied within the field of reproductive healthcare. This will increase reproductive choices, thus producing remarkable social change.

One more opportunity to attend the courses is offered by the fellowships (mostly granted by the European Society of Human Genetics), that are available for approximately 20% of students in each course.

The primary training site is the Centro Universitario EuroMediterraneo (CUEM) located  in Ronzano, on the hills surrounding  Bologna, just 3.5 km from the medieval city center.

Why did you attend or teach in an ESGM Course?

This was the question we asked students and faculty during several of the ESGM courses. Their answers will help you to understand why more than 7000 young graduates from all over the world chose to attend the ESGM courses during the past 23 years.

As you will see from these interviews the most recurrent answers were: interesting, cutting edge lecturers; getting in contact with people who share the same scientific interests; getting to know different cultural perspectives in genetics; stimulating discussions between students and faculty.

To watch and listen to students and faculty click on the photos above.