This is the story of the prestigious Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus), an Italian university dedicated exclusively to health and medical sciences. Accredited by ANVUR (the Italian National Agency of Evaluation for University and Research), UniCamillus educates and empowers students worldwide to become versatile physicians and health professionals.
Gianni Profita is currently serving as the Rector Magnificus of UniCamillus University. With over three decades of leadership and management experience across different institutions, he demonstrates his visionary approach and commitment to excellence while substantially impacting organizations and communities.
The Key Inspiration: Genesis of UniCamillus University
Gianni Profita founded UniCamillus based on his previous experience in public administration and through various personal and professional relationships established during his career. These experiences led him to develop an international university that upholds a high standard of excellence and focuses strongly on providing opportunities for young people from developing countries. The goal is to help them acquire skills and knowledge that can also contribute to improving conditions in their home countries. Consequently, UniCamillus was created to train excellent and versatile medical practitioners and healthcare professionals, equipping them to apply their skills effectively even in the most difficult contexts.
UniCamillus’s Crucial Role: Shaping the Global Healthcare Workforce
At UniCamillus, Gianni Profita and his team prioritize providing students with the best chance to achieve their dreams of becoming medical practitioners or healthcare professionals. To support this mission, they have invested in new facilities that have expanded their Rome campus. This includes the addition of laboratories, computer rooms, a multifunctional auditorium, and multiple student spaces—all aimed at improving the university experience. The team is committed to projects that improve people’s lives, and in the coming years, they plan to continue training professionals who place human values and the protection of patients’ sensitivities at the forefront of their work as well as at the service of people’s health.
Balancing Traditional Academic Values with Modern Needs
UniCamillus draws inspiration from the legacy of Saint Camillus De Lellis, who, in the late 16th century, defined the organizational criteria for efficient health care and pioneered what are now universally accepted principles of respect and dignity for the patient. The University, however, is secular and welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds, fostering a multicultural environment that enriches the educational experience. The programs at UniCamillus are built on interdisciplinary educational models as advocated by the WHO. There is ongoing academic interaction between students and tutors from various programs, aiming to develop professionals who can collaborate effectively in a work setting. This team-oriented approach ensures that once they are in the field, graduates are well-prepared to provide the highest quality of care for patients.
Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Learning Experiences
UniCamillus University is dedicated to providing students with the best chance to achieve their dream of becoming medical practitioners or healthcare professionals. “Our investments in new facilities—such as the recent expansion of our Rome campus to include laboratories, computer rooms, a multifunctional auditorium, and various student spaces—are all focused on improving the university experience for our students,” adds Gianni Profita.
The Significance of AI and Virtual Reality in Medical Education and Training
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to be a valuable resource for universities, making education more accessible to students, tutors, and researchers. However, it is essential to use AI appropriately and with awareness of the risks associated with its misuse. UniCamillus strongly believes that cutting-edge IT tools, including AI, can play an increasingly central role in the teaching of medical sciences. AI can be utilized in various ways, such as research, simulations, graphics, design, drafting texts in different languages, and enhancing daily operations at UniCamillus. To maximize the benefits of these technologies, it is crucial to establish an educational partnership that involves students, researchers, tutors, institutions, and civil society. This collaborative effort will help ensure that everyone can use new technologies responsibly and consciously.
Integrating Advanced Technology for Students with Limited Access
UniCamillus students benefit from state-of-the-art equipment available in the Institution’s multimedia and multifunctional classrooms and laboratories. The University offers a significant number of scholarships to deserving and motivated EU and non-EU students who do not have sufficient financial resources. UniCamillus recognizes the importance of supporting future medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, and technicians who will confront health emergencies affecting significant parts of the world.
Evolution in the Traditional University Model with Online Education
Gianni Profita firmly believes that a remote-learning university model, which includes streaming lectures and other forms of distance education, can support traditional teaching but cannot replace it. That is why UniCamillus University primarily focuses on in-person teaching. Given that the institution specializes in medical and scientific subjects, it is difficult to imagine training medical practitioners and healthcare professionals without live lectures, workshops, or the opportunity for daily interaction with fellow students and future colleagues on the wards. UniCamillus believes that, shortly, universities that provide face-to-face teaching will continue to be highly valued in terms of the educational experience they offer to students.
Significant Skills for Success in a Changing World
UniCamillus places human values above all else, alongside technical skills and familiarity with new technologies that facilitate increasingly sophisticated interventional procedures. Gianni Profita says, “I firmly believe that in today’s rapidly evolving world, medical practitioners and all healthcare professionals must serve as reliable points of reference. This is why we train our students in the principles of respect for the human dimension and its dignity, just as Saint Camillus De Lellis, our inspirational figure, did.”
Integrating Inclusivity and Accessibility
The ongoing digital transformation, which Gianni Profita believes is nearly complete, is a significant driver for promoting inclusion and accessibility for everyone, both in academic settings and beyond. In the field of medical sciences, it has become much easier to combine diverse educational experiences, fostering the collective development of scientific knowledge and enhancing the sharing of research results. Encouraging interaction among individuals is the most effective way for society to overcome social obstacles, break down cultural barriers, and eliminate prejudice and discrimination.
The Future Roadmap of UniCamillus: Over the next five years
In the last two years UniCamillus has opened new campuses, one in Venice and one in Cefalù, near Palermo, Sicily, proof of how much focused the University is on increasing its numbers, thus contributing more substantially to the education of new healthcare professionals. Looking ahead, UniCamillus University will continue to train professionals who put human values and the protection of patients’ sensitivities in their work. Many of the research projects and investments supported by UniCamillus focus specifically on the widely recognized Transcultural Educational Synergy in Health Sciences project, which is part of the NextGenerationEU Transnational Initiatives in Education.
