USMF "Nicolae Testemitanu" assistants attend master internships in USA

Chisinau, July 2 /MOLDPRES/- Radu Rusu, a representative of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu" of the Republic of Moldova, assistant professor at the Hygiene Discipline of the Preventive Medicine Department has completed a master's program in the human nutrition at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, USA.

The two-semester program included educational activities on food culture, vitamins and minerals, nutrition research methodology. At the same time, the USMF "Nicolae Testemitanu" delegate held two public seminars on "Nutrition in Moldova", through which he promoted the national culture and traditions, focusing on the current challenges in the nutrition and public health.

Radu Rusu finished two research projects in human nutrition. The first is "Development of an algorithm to determine serum hepcidin level using the predictable capacities of serum ferritin and C-reactive protein values in the context of iron-deficiency and inflammatory anemias". The results are to be published in the American Society for Nutrition scientific journal. The second study on "Determination of plasma homocysteine concentration by ELISA laboratory method in the context of determining the degree of correlation with hepcidin" is also being published.

The University representative had the opportunity to observe the practice of dietitians at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, in the intensive care, cardiology, traumatology and neurology units, as well as to assist in the enteral feeding nasogastric tube insertion procedure.

He participated along with dietitians from the Cone Health Family Medicine Center, in the consultation of  outpatients with various chronic pathologies. He also took part in various social and cultural activities of the Guilford County community in Greensboro, where he gave two presentations at the Guilford Rotary Club's weekly meetings. He also delivered a speech at the event dedicated to the development of bilateral partnership relations between the State of North Carolina and the Republic of Moldova, at the 25th anniversary in the city of Raleigh.

"I had a broad cultural experience, which enriched me both professionally and personally. Integration into a new academic, technological and socio-cultural environment allowed me to broaden my perspective on global practices and challenges not only in nutrition, but also in human health as a whole. One of the most valuable aspects was the chance to collaborate and learn alongside experts and professionals in the field of nutrition, to participate in various courses, research projects, conferences, as well as to explore nutritional practices in the clinical environment", said Radu Rusu.

The internship was conducted under the Visiting Research Scholarship in Nutrition Program in August 2023 - May 2024.