„Tuesdays with Medicine” – 12.05.2026

We can easily misjudge the behaviors of others if we only look at them through our own cultural lens, a truth that was powerfully demonstrated during a recent simulation exercise at Collegium Medicum UJK. This extraordinary meeting, held as part of the „Tuesdays with Medicine” series to celebrate International Nurses Day, offered a profound lesson in how easily we can be mistaken.

We would like to thank Dr. Folake Adelakun from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for her commitment and collaboration. We deeply appreciate her presence and active involvement, especially considering the significant time difference she had to overcome to join us.

This joint event was organized in alignment with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on March 10, 2025, between Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. We truly hope that this event is just the beginning of our international cooperation and a long-term exchange of professional experiences.

During the meeting, participants witnessed a scene that initially caused concern: a barefoot woman walking behind a man, kneeling on the ground to eat peanuts while several people hummed a melody in the background. When asked for their impressions, the audience expressed anxiety about the woman’s situation. However, the session leader, Dr. Marta Kordyzon from the UJK Institute of Health Sciences, explained that this is simply the way of life on the island of Albatross. In this matriarchal culture, women are deeply revered, and the actions observed were actually signs of respect and protection.

This eye-opening demonstration served as the perfect introduction to an inspiring lecture co-led by Dr. Marta Kordyzon and Dr. Folake Adelakun, who connected with the participants online. Their presentation, titled „The Charm of Nursing: Courage in Caring for People from Different Cultures,” sparked a vital discussion on the challenges of working in an international medical environment. Dr. Folake spoke about the essential role of the transcultural nurse, emphasizing the constant need to be open and ready to learn from every human being we encounter.

The speakers also highlighted the immense courage and empathy required to care for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, making it an unforgettable lesson in sensitivity and professionalism. This event proved once again that true medical care knows no borders.