We have always excelled. University medical education in this part of Romania has developed naturally and vigorously. The modernization of the country has meant an in-depth self-discovery, a clarification of objectives, and a coherent vision of the country's development. Working together, trust, unstinting dedication are principles that sustain value, duration and life. These same principles were the basis for the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine in 1970, announced as such on 10 February 1970 in the Decree establishing the Faculty of Medicine in Craiova within the University of Craiova. Even this act of birth formalizes this identifying principle of our institution, namely the spirit of partnership, inclusion, communion and collaboration. The decree specified that the Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest would provide methodological, didactic and scientific support to the new faculty. We are proud that 5 decades after this moment, we ourselves have become a strong partner, an essential pillar of Romanian university medical education.
The inauguration of the Faculty of Medicine of Craiova took place on 1 October 1970, with the new academic year, when 101 students of the first year of study were welcomed in the lecture halls, who would graduate in 1976 and enter the history of Romanian education as the first class of doctors trained in Craiova. Since then, the faculty has annually given classes of 150-200 graduates, Romanian and foreign, who came to Craiova from all over the world.
The institutional development followed the same rhythm of naturalness, necessity and serious training. Thus, in 1990 the specialization in Dentistry was established within the Faculty of Medicine of Craiova. Since 2003, what had meanwhile become the Faculty of Stomatology changed its name to the Faculty of Dentistry, specializing in Dentistry, in accordance with European Union rules. Since 2008, the Faculty of Dentistry Craiova also has a specialization in Dental Technique, accredited since 2012.
In 1996, the specialization in Pharmacy was established, namely the Faculty of Pharmacy, which proved to be a clear sign of institutional maturity. The academic year 1996/1997 brought 25 students to the lecture halls on budgeted places, accompanied by 18 other young graduates who wanted to study a second specialization. The Faculty of Pharmacy project also became a reality out of the necessity of the national modernization project and was very strongly supported by the teaching teams of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry.
In 1998, the Romanian Parliament established the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova by Law no. 119/05.06.1998 by separating it from the University of Craiova. A new age of Romanian university medical education began, a stage of great development projects, of discovering the immense potential of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova.
[see also Tudorel Ciurea, Mihai Caragea, 50 years of higher medical education in Craiova - from faculty to university, University Medical Publishing House
Craiova, 2020 + cover photo + photos from the monograph, from the history of UMFCV]