22 October, 2025
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) offered free registration to medical students to support their attendance of the ERS Congress last month in Amsterdam. This offering was part of a new initiative aiming to inspire the next generation of respiratory medical professionals.
The students, coming from a wide range of medical schools across Europe, were provided with free registration for the event as well as the opportunity to assist with educational sessions, present their own research posters, and network with the Society’s Early-Career Member Committee.
Hear about their experiences:
Vedant Bhardwaj, 3rd year medical student.
“As medical students we sometimes don’t get to meet experts in respiratory medicine from across the world, I had the opportunity to meet people from Ireland, from Saudi Arabia, and I think this has been invaluable for my experience as a medical student.”
📽️ Watch a short interview with Vedant onsite at this year’s event.
Manya Ranganathan, 4th year medical student.
“The Congress has helped me broaden my knowledge of respiratory medicine, exposed me to cutting-edge research, and given me a better understanding of how evidence translates into clinical practice. As a part of the medical student initiative, I got to sit in one of the postgraduate masterclasses on COPD which was really interesting.”
Elena Kum, 3rd year MD/PhD student.
“My experience at the ERS Congress has been very enriching. There have been many interesting oral and poster sessions related to my PhD work, and I’ve even had a chance to present some of my own research. I also enjoy going to sessions in other subspecialties to further my own knowledge.”
Many of the students who attended felt that the Congress offered a unique opportunity to further explore fields they may be interested in specialising into.
Nariman Kotb Abbas Metwally, 2nd year Master’s student in Personalised Medicine.
“I think this is a great opportunity for the medical students and I encourage them to register and attend the ERS Congress. It gives you a big opportunity to learn and to feel part of a very supportive international community. You have the chance for networking with experts in the respiratory medicine field.”
Bendegúz Sramkó, 5th year medical student.
“Ideally, my future prospects are around the field of respiratory medicine, as a medical specialisation! This field is incredibly diverse, with plenty of opportunities for international procedures. I think the initiative has helped a lot to clarify the way ahead for all of us.”
The ERS Congress is the world’s largest respiratory conference, regularly attracting a global audience of respiratory professionals. For those considering a career in respiratory medicine, the opportunity to attend this event can offer unparalleled insight into the field.
The Society would like to thank all of the students who attended for their contributions to this year’s event.