ROUNDTABLES

What seems to be a normality nowadays, can quickly turn into a crisis for some patients. Pregnancies are prone to develop abnormalities and when these circumstances occur, it’s important to acknowledge what to do.

Choosing between the life of a mother and her child is one of the most difficult situations a medical team can face. In these circumstances, the decision no longer belongs to the patient and doctors have to act quickly.

When medicine, ethics and law pull in different directions, it becomes hard to define what “doing the right thing” means. Saving a life comes at a high cost, especially when there is no consent or easy solution.

If you want to have a better understanding on how such decisions are made in real-life cases, then don’t hesitate to join Assoc. Prof. Mihai Popescu, MD, PhD, DESAIC specialised in anesthesiology and intensive care, Assoc. Prof. Romina-Marina Sima, MD, PhD, specialised in obstetrics and gynecology and Snr. Lect. Filip Perde, MD, PhD, specialised in forensic medicine. You will have the opportunity to participate in a heated debate, sharing and observing different points of views.

Extremely premature pregnancies (22-25 weeks of gestation) have a high level of complexity and can lead to severe consequences for both mother and fetus. Whether to intervene in such cases remains a controversial question.

Assoc. Prof. Cătălin Cîrstoveanu, MD, PhD, expert in neonatology, Irina Mărgărint, MD, specialised in pediatric cardiovascular surgery and Asst. Lect. Oana Tarța-Arsene, MD, PhD, pediatric neurology specialist, will address some of the most delicate and provoking aspects of neonatal care.

The discussion will focus on how medical teams make the difficult decision between continuing or stopping treatment in extremely premature births, taking into account not only survival, but also long-term disabilities. Emotional, ethical and scientific challenges, involved in saving lives, will also be explored, as well as what the prognosis reveals about the quality of life.

If you want to enrich your knowledge about premature cases and explore real-life situations, discussed by experienced doctors, then you shouldn’t miss out on this roundtable!

More and more couples are affected by a worldwide problem: infertility. However, the cause of this condition is not known. Some people may think the mother is responsible for causing such a serious challenge between partners, even though recent studies oppose this speculation.

This roundtable will offer a comprehensive look at infertility, focusing on a variety of subjects, from the main contributing factors to how it impacts the identity and mental health of both women and men. The debate will also address the cultural pressure surrounding infertility and highlight the importance of medical investigations for both partners in their journey towards treatment.

These topics will be explored by Asst. Lect. Ileana Delia Săbău, MD, PhD, medical genetics specialist, Snr. Lect. Șerban Radian, MD, PhD, endocrinology expert, Corina Georgescu, MD, gynecologist and Andrei Rădulescu, MD, urologist. Prepare yourself to find out new crucial information because our guests will bring to the spotlight this major controversy.

Colorectal liver metastases represent one of the most challenging scenarios in modern oncology, where timing and strategy can make the difference between prolonged survival and missed opportunities. Should surgery be the first step, should systemic therapy take precedence, or is there a role for ablation as a primary approach?

At this roundtable, you will have the chance to explore the ideal therapeutic sequences and the most advanced minimally invasive techniques available today. From classical resection to laparoscopic surgery and radioablation, the debate will focus on the advantages, limitations, and long-term outcomes of each option.

Another critical topic will be the place of interventional radiology: is it a curative alternative or just a compromise when other methods are not possible? The discussion will balance evidence-based medicine with patient-specific considerations.

Join Prof. Lucian Negreanu, MD, PhD, specialised in gastroenterology, Assoc. Prof. Valentin Calu, MD, PhD, general surgeon, Asst. Lect. Ana Maria Popa, MD, PhD, specialised in oncology and Assoc. Prof. Cristian-Mugur Grasu, MD, PhD, expert in interventional radiology, for an insightful exchange on how to manage these complex, life-defining decisions.

Endocarditis remains one of the most complex and high-risk conditions in cardiovascular medicine. Diagnosis is not always straightforward, as some patients may lack clear signs, making it difficult to recognise the disease and start the right treatment in time.

This roundtable will discuss how to approach diagnosis when symptoms are subtle, how to adapt treatment to each case, and how antibiotic resistance is changing current practice. The preferred duration of therapy today and the problems that arise when artificial valves are involved will also be discussed.

Another key question is when medical treatment is no longer enough. How long can we wait before moving to surgery? How do we know when that point has been reached? These challenges will be addressed in a captivating dialogue that brings together perspectives from cardiology, infectious diseases and cardiovascular surgery.

Snr. Lect. Sebastian Onciul, MD, PhD, cardiology specialist, Asst. Lect. Silvia Preda, MD, PhD, cardiovascular surgeon, and Asst. Lect. Cristian-Mihail Niculae, MD, PhD, expert in infectious diseases, will bring together their perspectives on the balance between medical and surgical approaches.

As the prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases increases and personalised treatments become more prominent, short bowel syndrome is gaining greater attention. This complex condition presents significant challenges in digestion and nutrition, directly affecting a patient’s overall well-being.

This event will provide a deeper understanding of how the syndrome develops, the conditions that can trigger it, and why early recognition is essential. Discussion will focus on personalised treatment approaches and the central role of intravenous feeding in supporting patients. Moreover, it is essential to highlight how these therapies are used in different healthcare systems across Europe and worldwide, and what can be learned from their successes and disadvantages.

Assoc. Prof. Liliana-Elena Mirea, MD, PhD (Anaesthesia and Intensive Care), Snr. Lect. Dragoș Ene, MD, PhD (General Surgery) and Prof. Gabriel Constantinescu, MD, PhD (Gastroenterology), will share their expertise, bringing much-needed attention to a condition that is too often overlooked.

CBD and psychedelics remain among the most debated therapies in today’s medical landscape, positioned between public perception, controversy and emerging scientific evidence. Where does the myth end and medicine begin?

At this roundtable, we will explore the potential therapeutic value of these unconventional treatments across neurology, oncology and mental health. Are we looking at clinical realities or premature hopes? Special attention will be given to their role in treatment-resistant conditions and chronic illnesses, where conventional options may fall short.

Another critical topic will be the question of regulation, access and safety: how can these therapies be integrated into modern medicine responsibly? Who is allowed to prescribe them, under what conditions and with what limitations? The discussion will balance innovative possibilities with the need for rigorous oversight and patient safety.

Join Asst. Lect. Delia Tulba, MD, PhD specialised in Neurology, Lect. Horia Păunescu, MD, PhD specialised in Pharmacology, Asst. Lect. Irina Mihaela Cazacu, MD, PhD specialised in Oncology and George Stercu, MD specialised in Psychiatry, for an insightful dialogue on the future of CBD and psychedelics in modern medicine.

At the fragile boundary between life and death, emergency medicine and intensive care join forces in order to preserve life at all costs. Yet, there are situations where the legal perspective can weigh even more heavily than the medical one, raising complex dilemmas for all involved. 

This roundtable will examine the questions that appear in such critical contexts: how decisions are made when a patient can no longer be saved, what it means to practice medicine in the absence of clear protocols and how collaboration between medicine and law can protect healthcare professionals working under extreme stress. The discussion will also address the controversial subject of assisted suicide and the potential policies that could regulate its implementation.

Gathering perspectives from both doctors and lawyers, the session will feature Asst. Lect. Cornelia-Elena Predoi, MD, PhD, Col. Sebastian Dogaru, MD, PhD and Panghios Alin and Hagiu Elena Isabela, Lawyers in the Bucharest Bar Association. Together, they will engage in a thought-provoking debate on the limits of intervention, responsibility and humanity when it comes to difficult circumstances.

Have you ever wondered what drives a serial killer to act the way they do? Are they born with a dark predisposition or are they shaped by their environment?  The classic debate of nature versus nurture raises difficult questions. 

Could someone truly be born to kill? Some research suggests a biological tendency to violence, meaning certain genes related to aggression may make individuals more prone to cruel behavior. But genes alone don’t tell the whole story. Psychosocial factors, such as family dynamics, poverty, trauma, or cultural influences, play a critical role in shaping an individual’s behaviour.

What about psychopathy? Can a person live without empathy or remorse? Brain scans show that structural and functional abnormalities, especially in areas related to emotion and impulse control, may underlie such attitude.

If you’re curious to learn more about this fascinating topic, don’t miss the chance to hear from Prof. Bogdan Ovidiu Popescu, MD, PhD, specialised in neurology, Assoc. Prof. Viorica Radoi, MD, PhD, expert in genetics, and Lect. Dragos Pârgaru, PhD, lawyer, in a vibrant and intriguing discussion.

Nowadays, children are growing up surrounded by screens with seemingly unlimited access to digital devices. But do we really know what impact does this constant exposure have on their developing brains? 

Excessive screen time, especially on tablets and smartphones, may act as a ”trauma trigger,” potentially disrupting healthy neurological growth during critical stages of development. At this roundtable, you will discover why digital addiction is becoming an increasing concern, with lasting effects on children’s mental health, including attention difficulties, anxiety, and social withdrawal. 

How can parents balance the benefits of technology while ensuring children grow up healthy and vibrant? Join Assoc. Prof. Raluca Ioana Teleanu, MD, PhD, specialised in pediatric neurology, Assoc. Prof. Florina Rad, MD, PhD, specialised in psychiatry, and Miruna Ioani, MD, parenting influencer,  as they offer practical strategies to help understand the complexities of childhood in a digital world.

New research suggests that neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s may begin long before motor symptoms appear, possibly in the gut. Imbalances in the intestinal microbiome and chronic inflammation in the digestive tract could play a key role in triggering these disorders.

But how many cases actually begin this way? And could targeted therapies that restore gut health reduce that risk? Is it possible to prevent the onset of certain brain disorders simply by keeping the digestive system in check?

These questions have no easy answers, but if you’re looking for clarity, come and hear directly from the experts. Liviu Cozma, MD, PhD, neurologist, Snr. Lect. Daniela Tălăpan, MD, PhD, microbiologist, and Asst. Lect. Mara-Ioana Ionescu, MD, PhD, gastroenterologist, will elaborate the powerful connection between the gut and the brain, and how this relationship might reshape the future of neurodegenerative disease prevention.