Psychiatry is a remarkable field, situated at the intersection of medicine, social science and art. It is at this interface that a unique knowledge and approach to the human being is born, which allows us to better understand both mental health and the social determinants of our emotions, behaviour and experiences. Driven by interdisciplinary knowledge and empathy, our psychiatrists successfully navigate this complex jigsaw puzzle, constantly developing their skills and exchanging experiences with leading scientists from around the world.
This was the case this week, on 7 October, when Professor Piotr Gorczyca, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, attended a fascinating meeting in Berlin with Professor Jan Tomasz Gross. Professor Gross, a Polish-American sociologist and historian, is a professor at Princeton University (USA), and his works, especially on European history of the 20th century and the Holocaust, have gained international recognition. In 2021, Professor Gross was ranked 13th in Academic Influence's list of the world's most influential historians and historians.
During the meeting in Berlin, Professor Gorczyca and Professor Gross had the opportunity to discuss Professor Gross's work, as well as to exchange reflections on the legacy of Professor Antoni Kępiński, one of the most eminent Polish psychiatrists. Professor Kępiński, known for his humanistic approach to patients and his pioneering work in the field of psychopathology, remains an inspiration for many contemporary psychiatrists, and his approach to the human being as a whole - not only from a biological, but also from a psychological, social and spiritual perspective - remains relevant and extremely important in today's medical practice.
It is encounters like this, at the interface of different scientific disciplines and cultures, that allow us to grow, broaden our horizons and creatively exchange ideas that translate into even better patient care and a deeper understanding of human nature.
