The team from the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University brought home a bronze medal from the prestigious international SimUniversity 2025 competition in Valencia, Spain! Exceptional performances came from MUDr. Daniel Diabelko, MUDr. Matúš Surovčák and MUDr. Jiří Holek – all three recent graduates of General Medicine – together with student Barbora Horniaková, who is heading into her final year. The competition challenged not only their expertise and rapid decision-making, but also gave the whole team unforgettable experiences, including the real-life rescue of a human being.
The team from the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, reached the top six European teams this spring by advancing in the SimUniversity 2025 simulation challenge. The finals, focused on solving acute medical cases via simulation, took place in Valencia, Spain. Throughout, team members faced demanding scenarios that tested their ability to handle crises. “I am immensely proud of our performance. Even after we were eliminated, we didn’t rest – on the last day, we saved a man from drowning at sea. While swimming we heard an elderly gentleman calling for help. He was caught in a strong rip current, so we pulled him ashore – he was completely exhausted. He thanked us deeply and told us that without us, he would surely have drowned. Looking back, SimUniversity and the preparations for it gave us unique experiences we will carry into our medical practice. Mistakes made here, we will try not to repeat in clinical life. And above all, we’ve gained unforgettable memories and friendships that will stay with us forever,” Daniel Diabelko summed up both the pride and unforgettable moments shared by the team.
The competition had three elimination rounds: the quarterfinal included a combination of abdominal examination simulation, virtual reality, and high-fidelity simulation of acute beta blocker overdose. The semifinal challenged the team with a critical case of a child in anaphylactic shock.
“What stuck with me most was the case of the child in anaphylactic shock. It was challenging because at first we had no idea what was happening. We had to quickly sort through options, watch the signs, communicate with each other and take action without wasting any time. We had a lot going on in our heads at once, but still managed to cooperate and gradually find the correct solution,” shared Barbora Horniaková.
SimUniversity enabled students to meet colleagues from all over the world and draw inspiration from global trends in simulation medicine. “Participation in SimUniversity gave me not only the chance to improve my clinical thinking and effective team communication, but also to form friendships I truly value,” added Matúš Surovčák.
For Jiří Holek, the final in Valencia was a beautiful conclusion to not just a series of simulation contests, but his entire period of study: “The SimUniversity final in Valencia was a wonderful full stop not only on simulation competitions, but on my studies as a whole. I enjoyed the contest right up to the end and can honestly say I’m delighted with our team’s performance. Even though we’re returning to Brno with just a symbolic bronze, I’m proud of the progress we made this year under Dr Prokopová’s guidance. Those were three wonderful days which brought us new experiences, friends, and insights into global simulation medicine trends. I believe every student should try this kind of competition – especially now, given what our Simulation Centre can offer.”
Daniel Diabelko also expressed his thanks: “I would very much like to thank Dr Tereza Prokopová for her exceptional leadership in preparing us for the competition. Of course, my thanks also go to my team, AKUTNĚ.CZ, Vice-Dean Petr Štourač, and everyone who supported us along the way. I believe this experience has better prepared us for starting our clinical careers.”
We thank all our bronze medallists for their outstanding representation of the faculty and clinical competence. We wish Barbora plenty of strength in her final year and all our medics a wonderful life and professional experiences to take from Valencia and SimUniversity 2025.
The team consisting of Daniel Diabelko, Barbora Horniaková, Matúš Surovčák, and Jiří Holek has advanced to the final of the prestigious European competition SimUniversity, which focuses on managing emergency situations through medical simulations. The final will take place this June at the SESAM congress in Valencia, Spain.
