From October 17 to 18, 2018 at the Legia Conference Center in Warsaw, 9. Masovia Development Forum took place. This is the most important event in the Masovian province having the features of a conference and workshop devoted to the development of the region. The Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing was represented by: Ass. Prof. Dr. Piotr Henryk Skarżyński, M.D., Ph.D., Msc.,  Deputy Head of the Department of Teleaudiology and Screening, who took part in the debate “Smartcare, or How to Care for the Health and Quality of Life of Inhabitants” and Paweł Doliński, Deputy Director of the Institute for Organization and Development who participated in the strategic game and the debate summarizing “Trends and the Future of the Masovia Region”.

This year’s 2-day Forum was full of inspiring debates, speeches and meetings, as well as numerous attractions prepared by 56 Partners and Exhibitors co-creating the Forum space, divided into four thematic zones: “Region of the Future”, “EcoRegion”, “Human and Medicine” and “Tourism and Culture”.

This year, the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing also joined the group of Partners who  had over 2,500 sq m. of exhibition space for their disposal. The Institute’s stand presented the effects of scientific, research, clinical and didactic activities of the IFPS, as well as projects co-financed from EU and national funds were actively promoted. Near the Conference Center, the IFPS Mobile Hearing Center was parked, a vehicle with a high-tech doctor’s office and a soundproof chamber for hearing tests. The Forum participants could consult the specialist from the World Hearing Center and undergo a hearing test.

The debate entitled “Smartcare, or How to Care for the Health and Quality of Life of Inhabitants?”, in which the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing was represented by Prof. Piotr H. Skarżyński, was one of the highlights of the Forum. During the discussion, experiences related to the implementation of EU projects in the area of health – their strengths and weaknesses – were presented. As part of the implementation of projects from the European Social Fund, the Masovian region self-government allocated 80 million zlotys for health services related to hearing, autism, cerebral  palsy, obesity, defects of posture and support for the older. Prof. Piotr H. Skarżyński emphasized the Institute’s involvement in the hearing screening program, which was launched in the second half of 2017 and this time included the Masovia region. It is the first region in the world where the entire population of children starting school education will be tested.

– The hearing screening program for first graders from primary schools in the Masovian region in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 school year, implemented by the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing consists of 41 projects. – said Prof. Piotr H. Skarżyński during the debate – In the last school year, we tested 22,000 children from 945 schools. I would like to emphasize that not every school permitted us to conduct such tests, not all parents signed a consent to hearing tests of their children. However, this does not change the fact that the project has been very effective. Owing to it, at the beginning of school education, we can detect the hearing problems of the youngest.

Taking this opportunity Prof. Piotr H. Skarżyński also mentioned about the largest investment of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing implemented thanks to the EU funds in less than two years. That is the World Hearing Center – a modern hospital that provides medical services of the highest world quality, equipped with a unique medical equipment, with a huge technical background. It is also an educational center conducting extensive research and education activities, enabling the training of specialists from around the world, in the areas of medicine, clinical engineering, speech therapy, surdopedagogy and surdopsychology. The World Hearing Center is the most important national institution dealing with the search for new methods of diagnostics and treatment of the sensory handicaps.

The debate moderator was Grzegorz Rzeźnik, plenipotentiary of the Vice-Rector for Science in the field of development of research and innovation centers at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The discussion was also attended by: Marcin Kulicki, President of the Management Board of the Masovian Regional Hospital in Siedlce, dr hab. Anna Boguszewska-Chachulska, President of the Management Board of Genomed, Edyta Kocyk, President of Sidly and Elżbieta Szymanik, Deputy Director for the European Social Fund at the Masovian Unit of  EU Programmes Implementation.

The strategic game “Trends and Future of the Masovia Region”, in which the Institute was represented by Paweł Doliński, was kind of a simulation, during which the participants had to face the challenges of managing a complex organization – regions, municipalities or the state. During the game participants had to make many difficult decisions, among others in terms of cooperation or fighting local and global crises.

During the Forum, a lot of space was devoted to discussions about problems faced by entrepreneurs, officials, or representatives of non-governmental organizations and institutions on the labor market on a daily basis. During the 9. Masovia Development Forum we could find out how to cooperate with partners and service contractors, what we should have in mind when implementing projects with EU co-financing, and how to increase the effectiveness of undertaken activities, including the use of social media. The forum was held under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Masovian Province Adam Struzik and the European Commission.