About CROSS
Croatian Student Summit or CROSS is an international scientific congress for students and young scientists in the biomedical field. In recent years CROSS has found its place as one of the leading student congresses not only in Croatia but also in this part of Europe.
The project was initiated by the Student Council of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine in the academic year 2004/2005. The School of Dentistry, the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of the University of Zagreb were involved in the project as collaborators.
The twentieth edition of the congress will be held from April 8th to 11th, 2025 at the School of Medicine in Zagreb, Šalata 3. The congress is organized by the Student Council of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. The theme of this year's congress is "The Journey of Life“.
This year‘s CROSS
In an era of rapid social progress, medicine courageously keeps pace. However, today's medical problems are increasingly complex and often intertwined with non-medical aspects and influences.
On CROSS's 20th anniversary, we want to explore key medical challenges across all life stages – from childhood to old age – focusing on innovative approaches and contemporary methods. We aim to educate, inspire, and connect participants, preparing them for future challenges and emerging obstacles.
This congress is an opportunity for learning and a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. Together, we can shape a new era in medicine, setting boundaries that we will constantly change through collective effort.
Why this topic?
Every life stage brings medical challenges, and we want to highlight how future physicians like ourselves can best respond to them. Our objectives are:
- Identify and discuss future challenges: From new diagnostic methods to advanced therapies, we'll analyze how medicine adapts to patient needs in different life stages and how each problem must now be approached by looking at the broader picture.
- Encourage innovative thinking: We aim to inspire modern and creative thinking, reflecting the progressive spirit of the new medical professionals.
- Understand practice evolution: Through lectures and discussions, we'll provide insight into the direction medical practice is developing today, emphasizing adaptation to contemporary challenges.
What can you expect?
Through a carefully designed program, CROSS 20 will:
- Connect experts and students from various medical fields and enable knowledge exchange.
- Highlight practical solutions and guidelines for challenges awaiting us in the near future.
- Create a platform for idea exchange, connecting and establishing collaboration to shape medicine's future.
As always, our ultimate goal is for each CROSS participant to take away valuable knowledge, inspiration, and new professional contacts to enrich their development as future medical professionals.
Join us on this significant journey and be part of a story that we are confident will change the future of medicine!
What is the goal of this congress?
CROSS is a place for exchanging ideas, spreading information, establishing collaborations and partnerships and long-term acquaintances. The main goal of CROSS is to enable students and young scientists at the very beginning of their careers and scientific papers to learn the importance and the purpose of participating in congresses as part of their further education.
Participating in a student congress is an experience that broadens the horizons of students and young scientists by teaching them the value of exchanging ideas with their colleagues, by encouraging teamwork and organization, by shaping their presentation skills and by offering new acquaintances that more often than not end up lasting a lifetime.
Throughout four days of an extensive program, CROSS intends on providing its participants with interesting lectures and novelties in the field of biomedicine, practical skills through structured and detailed workshops, and a platform to present their own scientific work in terms of a poster presentation. Also, participants are invited to take part in the social program as a place of good fun, laughter and new acquaintances.
During the Congress, we hope that each participant feels welcome and accepted and that they will be inspired to further take part in the wondrous field of biomedical sciences.