The Medical University of Lodz was founded on 27th July 2002 by the Parliament of Poland. Today, over 770 students from various countries study medicine at the Medical University of Lodz. The programs are taught in the English language and accepted internationally. The university has 4 teaching hospitals with 1600 beds affiliated to constitute a department for highly specialized diagnostic and treatment services. Professor Andrzej Lewinski was the first rector of the Medical University of Lodz institutions by the agreement of the Ministry of Health. The university is also listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) which provides information about international medical schools. It is also a popular research center in the country and its traditions date back to the 1940s. The Medical University of Lodz educates future doctors and specialists in the field of medicine. Furthermore, the university also conducts research for clinical trials and has gained a leading position in research areas like molecular biology, oncology, immunology, endocrinology, and hypertension.