EDITORIAL

Proceedings of the First National Conference on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine – IntensivMat 2026

Memorias de la I Jornada Nacional de Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias IntensivMat 2026

Richard Marcial Gálvez Vila ^1*, https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0829-1357

Mara Verónica Alvarez Valdés ², https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9019-1143

Yoelis Cintra Leyva ¹, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3815-2985

¹ University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas. "Dr. Juan Guiteras Gener" Faculty of Medical Sciences of Matanzas. Matanzas, Cuba.

² University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas. Provincial Council of Scientific Health Societies. Matanzas, Cuba.

* Corresponding author: richardgalvez163@gmail.com

Received: 20/08/2026

Accepted: 10/10/2026

Published: 14/10/2026

Como citar este artículo: Gálvez-Vila RM; Alvarez-Valdés MV; Cintra-Leyva Y. Proceedings of the 1st National Conference on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine IntensivMat 2026. MedEst. [Internet]. 2026 [cited Access date]; 6:e591. Available in: https://revmedest.sld.cu/index.php/medest/article/view/591

Dear readers:

The Student Scientific Society of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Matanzas Chapter, convened the First National Conference IntensivMat 2026 in virtual format, from July 20 to August 15, 2026. This meeting brought together 313 participants from across the country, including professionals, doctors, and students, around a common purpose: strengthening scientific training in high-complexity settings. The call demonstrated that geographic distance does not impede the collective construction of knowledge when there is will and organization.

The leadership of this conference fell to the student Richard Marcial Gálvez Vila, president of the Student Scientific Group of the Matanzas chapter of the Society of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (SOCUMIE), together with Dr. Mara Verónica Alvarez Valdés, president of the Matanzas chapter of SOCUMIE, accompanied by members of said society, student teaching assistants in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine from the province, and vertical interns of the specialty. This convergence between students and professors consolidated a space for academic mentorship that is infrequent at the undergraduate level ^(1,2,3). The experience evidenced that generational integration constitutes a pillar for the development of the specialty in the country ^(4,5).

The central objective of the conference consisted of promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences through the presentation of electronic posters and the development of scientific courses. This modality favored the participation of students with research interests and allowed results to be shared in an accessible way. In this manner, scientific activity ceased to be an isolated exercise and became an everyday formative practice.

During the opening, fifth-year medical student Richard Marcial Gálvez Vila delivered the lecture entitled "Applications of AI in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Current Challenges." His intervention positioned artificial intelligence as a transformative axis of contemporary clinical practice. The presence of a student in this leading role symbolized the generational relay that the specialty urgently requires.

The motto "Learn today, save tomorrow" synthesized the spirit of the conference and its projection toward future generations. This brief statement encloses an ethical commitment to life and to professional excellence. Intensive care medicine demands constant study, since every decision has immediate consequences for the critically ill patient.

The topics addressed covered the multidisciplinary approach to the septic critically ill patient, mechanical ventilation and applied respiratory physiology, critical neurocare, and multimodal brain monitoring. Ultrasound as a point of care, advanced management of the polytraumatized patient and massive hemorrhage, acute renal failure, and continuous renal replacement therapies were also included. This thematic panorama reflected the breadth and complexity of the specialty.

Other relevant axes were humanization, palliative care, and bioethics in high-complexity scenarios, together with artificial intelligence and early warning systems. Cardiological emergencies, acute coronary syndromes, clinical simulation, crisis management, and critically ill patient safety were added. The conference also incorporated the therapeutic management of endocrine-metabolic pathologies, pediatric intensive care, and infectious syndromes in the ICU.

The scientific production reached 85 posters, 12 case presentations, and 16 courses, figures that evidence the interest of students and professionals in the specialty. These results exceeded the expectations of the organizers and confirmed the pertinence of the call. The quality of the works presented augurs a generation committed to research and evidence-based practice ⁽⁶⁾.

For future generations, IntensivMat 2026 represents a model of sustainable student participation that is replicable in other provinces, as was expressed and conveyed verbally by the national president of the Cuban SOCUMIE society. The possibility of presenting research from the undergraduate level stimulates vocations and reduces the gap between theory and clinical practice ⁽⁷⁾. Undoubtedly, these formative spaces contribute to raising the effectiveness of the teaching process, directly influence the quality of the future graduate who will be part of postgraduate training, and without a doubt contribute to the improvement of the indicators that support the care of the critically ill patient in Cuba ⁽⁸⁾.

The virtual modality broadened the scope of the conference and facilitated the inclusion of students from distant territories. This technological strategy optimized resources and democratized access to specialized knowledge. The success of the call suggests that virtuality has come to stay as a complement to in-person meetings ⁽⁹⁾.

According to the authors, the role of student teaching assistants and vertical interns was decisive in the organization and development of the scientific activities. Their commitment to the student society reflects an academic maturity worthy of institutional recognition. These emerging leaders constitute the human capital that will guarantee the continuity of the specialty ⁽¹⁰⁾.

In conclusion, the authors and protagonists of IntensivMat 2026 are of the opinion that this event constituted a seedbed of vocations and a bridge between the present and the future of Cuban intensive care medicine. Future generations will find in this conference a benchmark of participation, rigor, and humanism. May every student who today learns with dedication become tomorrow the guardian who saves lives with values, science, and tenderness.

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CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

FUNDING SOURCES

The authors received no funding for the development of this article.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The authors declare that artificial intelligence was not used in the writing of the manuscript.