OVERVIEW
Rheumatology (from Greek ῥεῦμα, rheûma, meaning “flowing current") is a subspecialty of internal medicine dedicated to the diagnosis and conservative treatment of rheumatic diseases. These disorders encompass a group of immune-mediated diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues, autoimmune connective tissue and vascular diseases, as well as degenerative and crystal-induced arthropathies.
Rheumatology training is provided during the fourth year of medical education in a modular format. The Rheumatology module includes 14 hours of practical/seminar sessions and 10 hours of lectures.
OBJECTIVES OF RHEUMATOLOGY TRAINING
The aim of rheumatology training is to familiarize students with the main nosological entities and groups of rheumatic diseases, as well as with the principles of their diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. The course builds upon the knowledge acquired during the "Propedeutics of Internal Diseases" course (third year of medical studies) and expands it within the context of the rheumatology specialty.
During the practical sessions, students enhance their skills in medical history taking and physical examination—competencies that remain fundamental in modern rheumatologic practice. Emphasis is placed on the formulation of a diagnosis and differential diagnostic plan, the interpretation of laboratory findings and imaging studies (including joint ultrasound, conventional radiography, CT, and MRI), as well as the development and implementation of a therapeutic plan at the patient's bedside. All of this is aimed at fostering clinical reasoning and developing the practical skills of future physicians.
Within the teaching unit, PhD students enrolled in the accredited doctor program in Rheumatology also undergo training. Under the guidance of a highly qualified academic staff, they develop and defend their doctoral theses.
The Clinic of Rheumatology at University Hospital "St. Marina" – Varna is an established academic center for postgraduate medical education. It serves as a training site for clinical internships, including the mandatory state internships for sixth-year medical students, culminating in the state final examination. The clinic is an accredited base for specialization in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
INDEPENDENT STUDY AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Independent study is supervised by the teaching assistant, who guides students in the selection and use of relevant literature and study methods. Educational tests, including those available in a digital environment, are provided for individual learning and practice.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN FACULTY AND STUDENTS
- Commitment of the teaching staff to students' academic progress and personalized learning approaches;
- Use of consultation hours for additional support;
- Opportunities for students to participate in research teams, scientific projects, and academic tasks.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The main outcomes of the rheumatology course, as part of internal medicine education, are aligned with its stated objectives: to provide future physicians with the theoretical and practical competencies necessary to care for patients with rheumatic diseases. This includes comprehensive history taking, appropriate use of physical and imaging techniques, accurate diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and the ability to assess the need for specialist consultation in common rheumatologic conditions.
RESEARCH AREAS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF RHEUMATOLOGY:
- Anti-cytokine therapy in inflammatory joint diseases
- Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
- Artificial intelligence in rheumatology
- Biomarkers for early diagnosis, treatment, and cardiovascular risk in rheumatic diseases
- Hand osteoarthritis – new concepts
- Musculoskeletal manifestations in psoriatic disease
- Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and progressive systemic sclerosis
Head of the Department of Rheumatology:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tsvetoslav Georgiev, MD, PhD
Academic Staff:
- Assoc. Prof. Tanya Shivacheva, MD, PhD – Associate Professor
- Svetoslav Dimitrov, MD, PhD – Chief and Administrative Assistant professor
- Simona Bogdanova, MD, PhD – Chief Assistant professor
- Zhaklin Apostolova, MD – Assistant professor
