In connection with the implementation of project Contract No.: 2024-1-BG01-KA171-HED-000209886 under the Erasmus + Program, KA 171 in the period 17 – 21 November 2025, two lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University – Sofia carried out ERASMUS + mobility for the purpose of teaching and training at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hiroshima, Japan.
Assoc. Prof. Vlayko Vodenicharov, MD, PhD, from the Department of Epidemiology and Hygiene, and Chief Asst. Prof., Dr. Alexander Gerchev, MD, from the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, participated in the mobility.
Assoc. Prof. Vodenicharov held meetings with lecturers, doctoral candidates and students from the Faculty of Medicine of Hiroshima University, during which a bilateral exchange of academic and practical experience regarding training at the two institutions took place.
As part of his teaching activities, Assoc. Prof. Vodenicharov delivered lectures dedicated to the psychosocial and ergonomic risks of remote work, considered a significant and growing problem in occupational medicine. Emphasis was placed on the impact of remote work on mental health, chronic stress, professional burnout, as well as the development of musculoskeletal disorders related to inappropriate workplace organization.
During his stay, Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Gerchev took an active part in the daily clinical activities of the Orthopedics Clinic. He participated in several orthopedic surgical interventions as part of an international team including specialists from Japan and the Republic of Korea. Particularly significant was the surgical intervention to implant an artificial ankle endoprosthesis, carried out jointly with Prof. Ikuta and his team. This type of highly specialized intervention is performed extremely rarely not only in Bulgaria, but also in global orthopedic practice, which adds additional value to the acquired clinical experience.
The implemented mobility contributed to strengthening the academic ties between the Medical University – Sofia and the University of Hiroshima, as well as to expanding the opportunities for future joint initiatives, not only within the framework of the Erasmus + Program, but also in the field of medical education, scientific research and clinical practice.
