contacts
Ing. Gergana Trifonova – Technical secretary
Plovdiv, 26 Lyuben Karavelov St., Building 2, floor 4, room 408
e-mail : [email protected]
e-mail : [email protected]
Phone: 00359 32 200 966
Education
The educational process is conducted in accordance with modern curricula and programs adapted to the specific context of Bulgaria.
Council of Ministers Decree No. 257 of November 1, 2010, effective as of November 9, 2010, amends and supplements the Ordinance on the Unified State Requirements adopted by Decree No. 248. It defines the content of the academic training required for acquiring higher education in the specialty “Midwife.”
The Bachelor’s degree program in Midwifery, leading to the professional qualification of “Midwife,” has a duration of four academic years, comprising no fewer than 4,735 academic hours. The education includes both theoretical and clinical training. A key focus of the midwifery training is the clinical preparation, which is carried out through clinical practice and pre-graduation internship.
Academic Staff
Habilitated Academic Staff
Assoc. Prof. Milena Sandeva, PhD – Head of Department, Coordinator for E-learning
Non-habilitated Academic Staff
Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Boris Kuzmanov, PhD – Quality Assurance Coordinator, Coordinator for Monitoring and Measurement Resources (MMR)
Chief Assistant Professor Marieta Vladimirova, PhD – Coordinator for Academic Affairs, Website Content Update Coordinator
Assistant Professor Dr. Mirela Aladjova
Assistant Professor Zlatina Nikolova-Rancheva – Research Activities Coordinator
Assistant Professor Lyubomira Georgieva – International Cooperation and Project Activities Coordinator
Senior Instructor Teodora Dimitrova Momchilova
Lecturer Darina Ruschukova – Postgraduate Education Coordinator
Instructor Adela Neshkova Petrova
Prof. Dr. Petar Petrov, D.Sc. – Honorary Lecturer
Maria Neycheva – Honorary Lecturer
Tsvetana Tsvetanova– Honorary Lecturer
History
In 1945, a School for Midwives was established in the city of Plovdiv. In 1954, following its merger with the School for Nurses, the foundation of the United Medical School was laid. From 1972 to 1997, midwifery education was conducted at the Secondary Medical Institute in Plovdiv. In 1997, in accordance with the Higher Education Act and contemporary European trends, the secondary medical institutes were restructured into medical colleges and incorporated into the structure of medical universities. This marked the first crucial step in aligning the midwifery profession in Bulgaria with European standards.
According to the Ordinance on the Unified State Requirements (USR) for obtaining higher education in “Nurse” and “Midwife” with a Bachelor’s degree in regulated professions, adopted by Decree No. 248 of the Council of Ministers in 2005 (promulgated in the State Gazette, issue 95 of 2005, amended and supplemented in issue 82 of 2006), higher education in the specialties “Nurse” and “Midwife” is acquired in faculties and/or branches of higher education institutions accredited under the procedures of the Higher Education Act. Pursuant to these provisions, from September 1, 2006, the “Midwife” specialty became part of the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University – Plovdiv. The academic leadership of MU-Plovdiv implemented organizational and structural changes regarding the training of nurses and midwives and established the Department of Nursing and Midwifery Care within the Faculty of Medicine. The department’s first heads were Assoc. Prof. Dr. N. Krasteva, PhD – from its founding in 2006 to 2009, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. D. Kichukova, PhD – from 2009 to 2014.
By decision of the Academic Council of the Medical University – Plovdiv (Protocol No. 5/10.07.2014), the Department of Nursing and Midwifery Care was transferred as a structural unit from the Faculty of Medicine to the Faculty of Public Health within the same university.
Following Academic Council Decision No. 6/25.09.2014 and Rector’s Council Decision No. 16/07.10.2014, structural changes were made to the department, resulting in the creation of two separate departments – the Department of Nursing Care and the Department of Midwifery Care. From 2016 to 2021, the Department of Midwifery Care was headed by Prof. Dr. Blagovest Pehlivanov, DMSc, and since April 2021, its head has been Assoc. Prof. Milena Gancheva Sandeva, PhD.
General information
The Bachelor’s degree program in Midwifery spans four academic years, consisting of eight semesters, with a total of 4,675 academic hours and the acquisition of no fewer than 240 ECTS credits in accordance with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
The education in the regulated profession of “Midwife” is carried out at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH), a core unit within the structure of the Medical University – Plovdiv. The faculty was established by a decision of the Academic Council in 2007 and institutionally legitimized by a resolution of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria in 2009.
The Faculty of Public Health at MU-Plovdiv ranked first in the professional field “Public Health” in 2022, third in “Healthcare” in 2023, and second in 2024, according to the Bulgarian University Ranking System.
By decision of the Accreditation Council of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (Protocol No. 21/05.08.2021), the Midwifery program at MU-Plovdiv received programmatic accreditation with an overall score of 9.18 and a capacity of 120 students.
By another decision of the Accreditation Council (Protocol No. 13/12.09.2024), the program was reaccredited with an overall score of 9.19 and a maintained capacity of 120 students.
All students enrolled in the Midwifery program have access to training and internships in a wide range of healthcare facilities and institutions equipped with modern, high-tech diagnostic units.
The educational program aims to prepare healthcare professionals capable of meeting women’s health needs at a high professional level, while also promoting and supporting reproductive health. The curriculum integrates core medical, biological, and clinical knowledge with specific professional competencies, enabling future midwives to practice effectively within the healthcare system.
In recent years, there has been a persistent trend of a shortage of midwifery professionals in Bulgaria. The ratio of midwives per 10,000 population stands at 4.3. Given the downward trend in this indicator, projections suggest that it may soon fall below the critical threshold of two midwives per 10,000 people. Ongoing monitoring reveals that this trend is unfavorable and the decline continues. In response, in 2022, the Department of Midwifery Care launched an initiative to promote the midwifery profession among 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.
Students and faculty from the program visited schools in Plovdiv and the surrounding region to introduce students to the nature of the profession, explain the application process, and outline the opportunities offered by the Medical University – Plovdiv. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, the number of schools requesting meetings increased significantly. Visits were made to schools in the cities of Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Karlovo, Smolyan, and Asenovgrad.
Textbooks and Educational Resources
Faculty members from the Department of Midwifery Care have contributed to the publication of the following teaching aids:
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Reproductive System – A Teaching Aid for Students in the Midwifery, Nursing, and Physician Assistant Programs
Authoring team: Boris Georgiev Kuzmanov, Darina Simeonova Barbutskа, Darina Nikolaeva Ruschukova, Zlatina Ivanova Nikolova-Rancheva, Krasimira Ivaylova Chalova, Lyubomira Bozhilova Georgieva, Marieta Simeonova Vladimirova, Petar-Preslav Svetlanov Petrov
Department of Midwifery Care, Faculty of Public Health, MU-Plovdiv
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, MU-Plovdiv
Editor: Assoc. Prof. Milena Gancheva Sandeva, PhD
Medical University – Plovdiv, 2025. ISBN 978-619-237-144-9 - Specialized Care for Women with Gynecological Conditions – A Teaching Aid for Midwifery Students, second revised and expanded edition
Authoring team: Milena Sandeva, Boris Kuzmanov, Diruhi Amudzhiyan, Teodora Momchilova, Marieta Vladimirova, Zlatina Nikolova, Darina Ruschukova, Adela Petrova, Lyubomira Georgieva
Medical University – Plovdiv, 2024. ISBN 978-619-237-135-7 - Self-Assessment Tests for Students in the Midwifery Program
Authoring team: Diruhi Amudzhiyan, Teodora Momchilova, Elena Mihaylova, Ivanka Dimitrova, Milena Sandeva, Marieta Vladimirova
Medical University – Plovdiv, 2021. ISBN 978-619-237-075-6 - Specialized Care for Women with Gynecological Conditions – A Teaching Aid for Midwifery Students
Authors: Milena Sandeva, Boris Kuzmanov, Diruhi Amudzhiyan, Elena Mihaylova, Ivanka Dimitrova, Sofka Kutryanska, Teodora Momchilova
Medical University – Plovdiv, 2017 - Test Questions for Midwifery Students – Somatic Indicators, edited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diana Kichukova, PhD, 2014
Authoring team: D. Amudzhiyan, E. Mihaylova, I. Dimitrova, S. Kutryanska, T. Momchilova, P. Argilashka - The Challenge of Palliative Medicine, edited by L. Despotova-Toleva, Medical Publishing House VAP, 2011, distributed by “LAX BOOK” Ltd., ISBN 978-954-8326-48-36
Projects
Assessment of Stress Levels in Obstetric Emergencies in Real Clinical and Simulation Settings: Effectiveness of Simulation Training and Stress Management in Obstetric Emergencies
Start Date: March 2023
End Date: March 2025
Participating faculty from the Department:
Assoc. Prof. Milena Sandeva, Marieta Vladimirova, Zlatina Nikolova
R.O.L.E.S Project – Roma Opportunities for Leadership, Education, and Success IV, implemented by the Arete Youth Foundation Bulgaria
Participating faculty from the Department:
Teodora Momchilova
Facilities and Resources
The Midwifery program is supported by a modern and well-equipped infrastructure. The educational facilities include teaching buildings located within the campuses of the Medical University – Plovdiv. Lectures and practical classes are held in the newly constructed lecture complex, in lecture halls and laboratories of the preclinical departments at the Faculty of Medicine, teaching rooms and labs of the Faculty of Pharmacy, seminar halls of the Faculty of Public Health, as well as in several clinical units of St. George University Hospital – Plovdiv and Kaspela University Hospital.
As of 2023, the Department of Midwifery Care is located in the newly established Educational Building 2. The program has access to three specialized training rooms and two lecture halls. The specialized rooms are equipped with teaching materials, hospital furnishings, training simulators, and various anatomical and clinical mannequins. Each student is provided with an individual workstation and full access to all available supplies and teaching aids. Clinical training is conducted at several affiliated hospitals to ensure smooth professional adaptation, including: the OB/GYN Clinic of St. George University Hospital, Selena University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pulmed University Hospital, and Vesela OB/GYN Clinic at St. Mina Hospital.
The practical training of midwifery students is further enhanced by access to the Medical Simulation Training Center (MSTC) at MU-Plovdiv – the largest and most advanced simulation center for healthcare professionals in Bulgaria.
Academic and research activities at the Medical University – Plovdiv are supported by the Library and Information Center, which comprises a central library and four branch libraries. Additionally, the Center for Computer Systems and Communications provides services including photography and videography, computing, copying, publishing, and printing.
International Activities
Faculty members and students from the Department of Midwifery Care actively participate in various international events and engage in mobility programs under Erasmus+.
Recent international engagements include participation in the Annual Meeting of the European Midwives Association (EMA). Third-year midwifery students from the Faculty of Public Health received an official invitation to attend the meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, from September 23 to 25, 2022.
From October 26 to 29, 2023, Teodora Dimova, a fourth-year midwifery student, took part in the European Midwives Association Conference held in Athens, Greece.
In October 2023, a faculty mobility visit under the Erasmus+ program was also conducted at the University of Ioannina in Ioannina, Greece.
News and Events
- In 2022, the Department of Midwifery Care launched an initiative to promote the midwifery profession among high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Midwifery students and faculty members visited schools in Plovdiv and the surrounding region to introduce students to the specifics of the profession, explain the application process, and highlight the opportunities offered by the Medical University – Plovdiv. The department and its specialized training facilities for future midwives were also visited by students from Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey who participated in Erasmus+ mobility under the project “Together for a Better Future.” This initiative continued in 2023, with a significant increase in the number of schools requesting meetings with our faculty and students. A total of 18 schools were visited in the cities of Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Karlovo, and Devin.
- From October 26 to 29, 2023, Teodora Dimova, a fourth-year midwifery student, participated in the European Midwives Association (EMA) Conference held in Vravrona, Athens.
- On November 17, 2023, World Prematurity Day, the Department of Midwifery Care hosted a training seminar as part of the project “Young Bulgarians – Architects of Change” (Contract No. 25-00-34/12.07.2023), organized by the “I Want a Baby” Foundation and funded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the National Program for Youth Activities Implementation under Article 10a of the Gambling Act for 2023.
The event was held with the support of Assoc. Prof. Milena Sandeva, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Desislava Bakova, PhD, and attracted significant interest, with over 60 students participating. The seminar focused on sexual, reproductive, and emotional health, healthy nutrition, and an active lifestyle. The event featured outstanding speakers, including Dr. An, Dr. Alexander Kobakov, Katya Ivanova Simeonova – psychologist at the “I Want a Baby” Foundation in Varna, and Veselin Veselinov. - On May 9 and 10, 2023, the National Student Competition “We Learn to Help” was held in the city of Shumen, organized by the Medical University – Varna “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov” – Shumen Branch. A team of our third-year students – Daniela Yaneva, Teodora Dimova, and Diana Kolarova – delivered an excellent performance, demonstrating high-level theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and analytical thinking. They earned second place in the competition among teams from 11 universities across the country.
- In connection with May 5 – International Day of the Midwife – the Bulgarian Association of Midwives (BAM) organized the First Student Forum for Young Midwives in the city of Sofia. The event was held at the current National Center for Transfusion Hematology, a historic building that once housed the first Maternity Hospital in Bulgaria. Our students, Diana Kolarova and Teodora Dimova, participated with two presentations: “Our Simulation Experiences” and “Presenting Our Initiative to Promote the Midwifery Profession.” In addition, six of our students wrote essays on the topic “Why I Chose to Be a Midwife,” which was part of the forum’s initiatives. Assoc. Prof. Milena Sandeva, PhD, Head of the Department of Midwifery Care, was an official guest at the event.
- On November 17, 2022 – World Prematurity Day – our first-year students donated bedding sets to the Neonatology Department of the OB/GYN Clinic at St. George University Hospital – Plovdiv.