The Medical University of Łódź was founded on October 1, 2002 as a merger of the Medical Academy of Łódź (founded January 1, 1950) and the Military Medical Academy of Łódź (founded July 1, 1958). It is the largest teaching hospital unit in Poland and a European research center. Structure It comprises 6 research institutes, 49 chairs, 7 fully equipped university teaching hospitals with a total capacity of 2900 beds, as well as 438,000 specialist consultations every year in specialist outpatient clinics, in addition to the collaboration with 22 international universities. Aspect At the Medical University of Lodz, students are instructed from a 250 plus Basic Science and Clinical Medicine Faculty, composed of physicians, teachers and researchers. Most faculty members of the university holds a dual MD/PhD. Degree, and all are board certified in their respective specialties. The Medical University is the biggest state medical university in Poland implementing the following basic tasks: educating students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and medicine-allied disciplines; educating research staff and conducting research work; conducting postgraduate training of highly qualified health care system staff; participating in health care programs set by the social health care system. The university made an important evolution of a unique system, based on the availability -during posted office hours- of all professors for individual consultations with students in their offices. This helps promote better interaction between students and faculty as opposed to the previous Soviet style system. University teaching activity The Process of education has been focused on preparing specialists for work in various communities and national health care systems. Our educational offer has been adjusted to requirement laid down in the resolutions validated by our Government within the European Union co-operation. Following the entry of Poland into the European Union on May 1, 2004 the University offers a chance of an automatic recognition of the Diploma of most of the faculties within all 25 countries of the European Union. Currently, over 8000 Polish Students are getting their education within medical and medicine-related areas at various faculties. Medical teaching in English was initiated in 2003/2004. Presently over 300 foreign students from various countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, but also the People's Republic of China, Iran, Republic of China (Taiwan), Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Nigeria, Sweden, Norway attend medical and dental courses. The quality of the medical curriculum is comparable among Polish universities, and subject to regular official inspections and rankings.