Semmelweis University has handed out Doctor Honoris Causa awards for the 41st time since 1967. This year eight outstanding professors, nominated by the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of Dentistry have become honorary doctors of the University. The event was held in the Semmelweis Salon and was opened by Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector.
“The common language spoken by Semmelweis University’s honorary doctors and all the scientists around the world is the language of science. The title of Doctor Honoris Causa is an honourable distinction not only for the awardees but for the university as well, as it is a great honour to have such distinguished professors among our honorary doctos.”, he said.
This year the Faculty of Medicine nominated five doctors for the awards and the laudations were presented by Dr. László Hunyady, Dean.
Dr. Leena Karina Bruckner-Tuderman (University Medical Center of the University of Freiburg, Germany) is the Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Freiburg and she is also a specialist of dermatology and molecular medicine. Besides her numerous titles and memberships, she is the honorary member of the Hungarian Dermatological Society. There is an active scientific collaboration between the Dermatology Departments of the Freiburg and the Semmelweis Universities: she educated young colleagues from Hungary and introduced them into the diagnostic and research genetics of epidermolysis bullosa diseases.
Dr. Pál Pacher (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA) received his M.D. and Ph.D. (summa cum laude) at Semmelweis University in 1993 and 2001, where he worked at Department of Pharmacology until 1999. Currently he is head of laboratory at the American National Institute of Health (NIH) but he also keeps a close relationship with his alma mater, where acts as a Scientific Advisor for the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy and has been collaborating with several other departments (Department of Pathophysiology and the Heart and Vascular Centre). His lab has continuously been host to young and talented Hungarian researchers.
Dr. Fausto J. Pinto (University of Lisbon, Portugal) is the professor of cardiology, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon and the current President of the European Society of Cardiology. Together with Dr. Béla Merkely, Director of Semmelweis University’s Heart and Vascular Centre he is member of the board of the European Society of Cardiology. His main scientific interests are ischemic heart disease, cardiovascular imaging, particularly intravascular ultrasound.
Dr. Shigeru Saito (University of Toyama, Japan) is the professor and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Nara Medical University. He has had a scientific cooperation with Semmelweis University’s 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. As a result of this scientific cooperation many papers were published in leading international journals of the field, and currently there are ongoing common clinical investigations with participation of researchers of both departments.
Dr. Stephan Züchner (University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA) is a neurologist and molecular biologist, currently focusing on molecular neurogenetics and psychiatric genetics. He has had a scientific cooperation with Semmelweis University for several years and the Department for Human Genetics under his leadership is running several mutual projects together with the Institute of Genomic Medicine and Rare Disorders.
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences nominated two doctors for the Doctor Honoris Causa title and the laudations were presented by Dr. Romána Zelkó, Dean.
Dr. A. Attila Hıncal (Hacettepe University, Ankara) former dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Ankara has developed a vast knowledge in “science based regulatory affairs.” Based on this knowledge, he founded “İDE”, a pharmaceutical scientific consultancy company. He is the member of the editorial boards several international journals and scientific boards of congresses, such as the scientific advisory board of ICAB 2015.
Dr. Panos Macheras (University of Athens) is Professor Emeritus and founder of the Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics at the University of Athens. He has published more than 160 journal articles and six books in the field and is also the member of the scientific advisory board of ICAB 2015.
The Faculty of Dentistry honoured one professor with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa and the his laudation was presented by Dr. Gábor Gerber, Dean.
Dr. György Kálmán Sándor (University of Oulu, Finland) was born in Toronto to Hungarian parents. He holds two degrees; one in dentistry earned in Canada and one in general medicine earned in Holland. He is an outstanding specialist of oro-maxillofacial surgery and has numerous ties with Semmelweis University and the Department of Oro-Maxillofacial Surgery and Stomatology.
Pálma Dobozi
Tímea Kele
Photo: Attila Kovács, Semmelweis University
Translated by: Ágnes Raubinek
