“Tbilisi Medical Academy is a place where students not only receive a medical education, but also grow professionally in a friendly and supportive environment” — this message opened the alumni meeting at Tbilisi Medical Academy, where doctors from different generations came together once again, this time as professional colleagues.

TMA hosted graduates of various generations in the Academy’s exhibition space — a place where their student journeys began, now transformed into a platform for professional connections and new opportunities.

“We have been advancing medical education in Georgia for over 30 years, creating an environment that responds to modern global challenges. With the support of international partners, the Academy has implemented a results-oriented learning model in which theoretical knowledge is closely integrated with practical experience. Our mission is to raise professionals who serve society - and you are those who know this best. It is a great honor for us to host you, implement joint projects, and share your knowledge and experience with future generations”, said Irene Shotadze, Rector of Tbilisi Medical Academy.

The main goal of the meeting was to unite TMA graduates within an informal professional network. The idea behind creating and developing the Alumni Club is to bring together graduates, students, and academic staff around a shared mission — serving society and using evidence-based knowledge to plan and implement initiatives on a wide range of relevant topics.

Several graduates reflected on their professional journeys and how the Academy became the foundation of their careers. “As a graduate of Tbilisi Medical Academy, I believe it was here that I received the foundation that shaped my professional development. I gained not only theoretical knowledge and practical experience, but also learned how to communicate effectively with patients,” said Otar Kepuladze, a graduate of the Academy and a surgeon at Carabs Medline Clinic.

Eter Kiguradze, Director of the Georgian National Screening Center, emphasized the importance of active collaboration between graduates and the Academy: “Such a close relationship between alumni and the Academy is extremely important. Graduates share their experience with students and contribute to the professional development of the new generation of doctors. Together with students, we implement several projects, particularly in the field of screening awareness. The involvement of students is crucial — they become disseminators of information and play a key role in raising public awareness.”

The meeting also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong connections not only with the Academy, but also among graduates themselves. “It is important for alumni to maintain relationships both with the Academy and with each other in order to continue sharing knowledge and implementing joint projects. These connections form a professional network that plays a significant role in the development of every doctor”, noted Eka Kikilashvili, Head of General Resuscitation at Chapidze Heart Center.

Tbilisi Medical Academy strives to create an environment for its graduates that goes beyond education — transforming into a space where professional identity, values, and connections are formed. The experience gained here continues to resonate years later, supporting the development of future generations.

The establishment of the Alumni Club marks another step in strengthening this continuous connection — an initiative that will further unite the professional community, create new opportunities for collaboration, and deepen the bond between the Academy and its graduates.