Professor Rifat Latifi Elected Director of the Kosovo Center for Advanced Surgical and Medical Research, Simulation, and Training at the University of Prishtina

Professor Rifat Latifi has been elected Director of the Kosovo Center for Advanced Surgical and Medical Research, Simulation, and Training at the University of Prishtina (KCAST). He is also the founder and president emeritus of the Kosovo College of Surgeons and the visionary behind the KCAST.

The Center for Advanced Surgical and Medical Research, Simulation, and Training at UP will provide educational and research support for all surgical specialties and will address critical issues such as medical diplomacy and advanced technologies. The Center is expected to engage medical professionals and engineers from Kosovo and around the world, aiming to provide opportunities for collaboration and the development of advanced training programs.

The primary objectives of the KCAST include creating comprehensive programs, enhancing research capabilities, and integrating advanced technologies. The Center will also serve as a platform for the publications of the Kosovo College of Surgeons and will develop collaborations with international universities and institutions.

The incorporation of simulation laboratories, telemedicine programs, and a broadly multidisciplinary approach to trauma and emergency treatment will be fundamental to the KCAST's work. Within this framework, the KCAST will also produce scientific literature and support medical diplomacy and global health.

The newly elected Director of the Center, Prof. Latifi, emphasized that it will be a premier institution for education, research, and technological advancement in the field of surgery, including surgical medicine, trauma, and emergency care.

The Rector of the University of Prishtina, Professor Arben Hajrullahu, expressed his satisfaction with the election of Prof. Rifat Latifi to the position of Director of the KCAST at UP.

Prof. Hajrullahu stressed that the KCAST, as the first center of its kind in the Balkan region, will provide new opportunities for students and healthcare professionals. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration and the integration of modern technologies to advance healthcare standards in Kosovo and beyond.

The Rector expressed his conviction that under the leadership of Prof. Rifat Latifi, the KCAST will contribute to the development of surgical medicine and will encourage scientific research and innovation to meet future challenges in the field of health. Professor Hajrullahu also called for support from various institutions to realize the ambitious goals of this center, positioning Kosovo as a leader in surgical education and health. "Our Center will be a platform for education, research, and professional development, to create a better future for healthcare professionals in Kosovo," said Rector Hajrullahu.

In conclusion, Prof. Latifi expressed his belief that the KCAST is one of the most ambitious initiatives in the field of health and surgical education in Kosovo and therefore requires serious support from the state of Kosovo to realize its potential both domestically and throughout the entire region.

In September 2025, the University of Prishtina and the Kosovo College of Surgeons signed a memorandum of understanding which outlines in detail how the Center for Advanced Research, Simulation, and Training of Kosovo (KCAST) will operate at the University of Prishtina.