MEDTECH & TECAR: New Pathways for the Medicine and Care of the Future

21 September 2026 — The MEDTECH & TECAR – New Pathways for Medicine and Future Care event took place on Friday 17 September at the Veneto Region headquarters in Venice. Organized by the University of Padua’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, the gathering presented two new educational programs designed to equip healthcare professionals for an increasingly complex, technology-driven healthcare system. Both programs will open in the 2026/2027 academic year.

The National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology granted its patronage to the initiative. Professor Stefano Cosma, Coordinator of the National Center’s Technical–Financial Committee and Professor of Financial Intermediaries at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, moderated the concluding round table “From training to impact: what skills for tomorrow’s healthcare?”.

Round table participants included Mariangela Amoroso (Sanofi and member of the National Center’s Board of Directors), psychologist Elena Fiorenzato, surgeon Michele Antonello, nursing professional Enrico Pinton and student Beatrice Albanese. The discussion examined the evolving competencies required to bridge professional education with the changing needs of healthcare systems.

MEDTECH – Medicine and Health Technology
MEDTECH is a new single-cycle Master’s degree in Medicine and Surgery taught entirely in English. It integrates traditional clinical and biomedical training with bioengineering, bioinformatics, statistics, digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The curriculum spans medical informatics and big-data management, medical robotics, regenerative engineering and biomaterials, genomics- and proteomics-based precision medicine, advanced medical physics (with emphasis on imaging and innovative radiotherapy), digital health and telemedicine. The program pays particular attention to the ethical and regulatory implications of new technologies in clinical practice.

The program responds to labor-market demand for professionals who can operate at the interface of medicine, technology and innovation, whether in conventional healthcare settings, biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry or health-related IT. Internships in pharmaceutical and medical-technology companies form a core component of the program. They allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world environments, acquire industry-specific technical skills, build professional networks and develop soft skills such as teamwork, communication and time management. Graduates will be qualified to practice as physicians in public and private healthcare institutions, research centers, universities and biomedical companies in Italy and abroad, combining clinical competence with the ability to interpret and apply technological innovation while keeping the patient at the center of care.

To learn more about MEDTECH, visit the dedicated University of Padua webpage –  https://www.unipd.it/en/corsi-di-laurea/medicine-and-surgery-medtech

TECAR – Tele-Coaching for Integrated Assistance and Rehabilitation
TECAR is a Master’s program aimed at nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, dietitians and other healthcare professionals. It focuses on multidisciplinary, continuous care for people with complex neurological and neuromuscular conditions across the lifespan. The course combines rehabilitation, neuromotor, speech, nutritional and psychosocial competencies with telemedicine, tele-assessment, telerehabilitation and remote monitoring, including in home-care settings.

Students develop integrated clinical, rehabilitative, psychological, communicative and digital skills that enable them to support the patient–caregiver–healthcare professional triad. Coursework covers neurophysiology and pathology of major complex neurological conditions from childhood to aging, traditional and digital assessment tools, clear communication of complex information, and the legislative, organizational and bioethical frameworks that govern digital and community-based care models, in line with Mission 6 of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Graduates will be prepared to contribute to innovative care pathways that ensure continuity between hospital and community settings and to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.

To learn more about TECAR, visit the dedicated University of Padua webpage – https://www.biomed.unipd.it/didattica/master/master-di-primo-livello-tecar-tele-coaching-nellassistenza-e-riabilitazione

 

Latest news

National Center Joins Italy–Kenya Research Mobility Initiative

The MEDTECH & TECAR Event: Presenting New Pathways for the Medicine and Care of the Future

The Science behind the Next Generation of Cancer Vaccines

Applications Open for the 2026–2027 PharmaTech Academy

National Center secures PN RIC 2021–2027 funding to strengthen Italy’s leadership in gene therapy and RNA technologies

Save the Date: Kick-off Advanced PharmaTech Academy and Graduation Day