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 twenty-first edition of the congress will be held from April 14th to 17th, 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 "Designing the Good 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 21st anniversary, we want to explore the key aspects of life that enable the optimal functioning of the body and mind. The topics we will listen to and debate about range from intrinsic factors of the human organism, such as genetics, hormones, and metabolism, all the way to external factors like nutrition, sleep, mental health, and the individual as a member of society. 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?
Often in medicine, not enough attention is given to preventing the very onset of disease; instead, we focus on how to treat patients. We want to emphasize that future doctors like us can significantly influence society and our patients, greatly reducing doctor visits and the development of disease. Our goal is:
- Explore the foundations of health: Understand how genetics, hormones, and metabolism shape physical and mental well-being, and how long-term health can be built on that foundation.
- Promote a holistic approach: Examine how nutrition, quality sleep, mental health, and social connections collectively influence quality of life, and how future physicians can encourage the overall well-being of their patients.
- Inspire socially responsible action: Highlight the role of the individual in society, understand how community and culture shape one’s sense of fulfillment, and motivate future physicians to take proactive steps in disease prevention and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
What can you expect?
Through a carefully designed program, CROSS 21 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.