Bianca Ciobanu, the top scorer in the MIR 2026 exam, has chosen Dermatology and Venereology at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic for her residency starting May 4. The medicine residency selection begins that day at Spain's Ministry of Health in Madrid. She approaches this step with excitement after a contentious process.
Bianca Ciobanu, holding a record score of 119.37 points, will go to Spain's Ministry of Health in Madrid on May 4 to claim her preferred residency spot. Though she initially considered Endocrinology and Nutrition, Family and Community Medicine, or Dermatology, she settled on the latter at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic, planning to stay in Catalonia. "On May 4, I will go to the Ministry of Health in Madrid to choose my spot, a moment I face with special excitement," Ciobanu states.
The specialty appeals to Ciobanu for its comprehensive approach, blending clinical rigor with fields like immunology and skin oncology. "My goal is clear: to contribute concrete improvements in patient care," she explains, noting that skin requires rigorous interpretation beyond the visible. It avoids night shifts and offers good pay, but she prioritizes a patient-centered medicine.
The MIR 2026 process drew controversy from anonymous social media accusations questioning Ciobanu's result. The Ministry of Health confirmed, however, that the only irregularity occurred in Santiago de Compostela, unrelated to her. "I don't want to be remembered for a number, but for the impact on my patients' lives," she says.
Ciobanu studied in Catalan with a 6.7 average and will complete a master's in Health Management. In Barcelona, finding housing proved a bigger challenge than topping the MIR, she recounts.
