by InTrieste
The University of Trieste is expanding its medical training offerings with the launch of three new specialization schools in clinical immunology and allergology, pathological anatomy, and vascular surgery. The programs, which begin November 1, will bring to 38 the total number of postgraduate medical specialization schools operated by the university’s Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences — the highest figure in its history.
The additions come amid growing national demand for medical specialists and regional efforts to bolster healthcare capacity in Friuli Venezia Giulia. This year, the university will host up to 254 new medical residents, funded through scholarships provided by Italy’s Ministry of Universities and Research and the autonomous regional government.
“These programs are crucial to ensuring the sustainability of the healthcare system and responding to citizens’ needs,” said Luigi Murena, director of the department. He noted that the expansion accompanies “significant organizational and administrative responsibilities,” but reflects a commitment to providing high-level training and supporting future clinical innovation.
Meeting Emerging Healthcare Needs
The three programs reflect strategic priorities in the Italian healthcare system. The clinical immunology and allergology school — the first of its kind in Trieste and in the region — will train specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, immune deficiencies, autoimmune disorders and rare diseases. Designed as a four-year program, it includes clinical rotations in internal medicine, allergology, immunology and rheumatology, supported by laboratory training. University officials say the program addresses an ongoing shortage of specialists in the field.
Vascular surgery training is also returning to Trieste after a 17-year hiatus. The newly revived program will prepare future surgeons in both traditional and minimally invasive approaches to vascular disease. Students will have access to advanced facilities, including a hybrid operating room and a recently established university simulation center, and will participate in training and research initiatives with national and international partners.
The pathological anatomy program, meanwhile, resumes in Trieste after being jointly administered with the University of Udine since 2008. Building on a local tradition dating back to the 1970s, the program will emphasize digital pathology, computer-assisted analysis and molecular diagnostics in oncology — areas seen as central to the expansion of personalized medicine. Trainees will take part in cancer research, cytodiagnostics and screening programs, and participate in international networks, including a European master’s program in molecular pathology.
Broader Postgraduate Offerings
Trieste’s medical specialization schools form part of Italy’s post-graduate medical training system, which requires national entrance exams and typically spans four to five years depending on discipline. The university offers programs across surgical, medical and palliative care fields, including neurology, urology, orthopedics, dermatology, cardiology, gastroenterology and pulmonology.
Alongside the medical programs, the department also oversees specialization tracks for graduates in biological and pharmaceutical sciences, including pharmacology and clinical toxicology, medical genetics, and microbiology and virology. The university additionally offers all three nationally recognized specialization programs in dentistry: oral surgery, pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
A national reform currently underway will introduce government-supported scholarships for non-medical specialization programs for the first time, while maintaining university-level admissions processes. Once implemented, the reform will allow another 34 trainees to enroll in Trieste’s health science and dentistry programs.
A similar regulatory update is pending for the university’s neuropsychology school — its only specialization outside the medical faculty — which is expected to accept six residents upon completion of the review.
Looking Ahead
University officials say the expansion positions Trieste as a growing training hub for the northeast of Italy, building on the region’s investment in biomedical research and clinical innovation. “These programs allow us to prepare young professionals who will play a leading role in the opportunities offered by new technologies and scientific advances,” Professor Murena said.
With the latest additions, Trieste strengthens its role in addressing national personnel shortages in key medical fields and reinforces the region’s capacity to train specialists who will contribute to local and international healthcare systems.
