On the occasion of the graduating ceremony of the Faculty of Health Sciences, this academic year 364 graduating students received their degrees during the ceremony held at the Budapest Congress Centre. Following the solemn oath, the conferment process was led by Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector and Dr. Zoltán Zsolt Nagy, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

“The learning process does not end today with this ceremony, for health care professionals learning always lasts for a lifetime. I truly hope that you will all find the inexhaustible opportunities in your profession and you will fulfil your responsibilities with faith and determination. It is the task of the university or the college to teach how the human body works, to teach the characteristics of illnesses and the most frequent medical solutions, but it is always the individual’s own responsibility to find special solutions during the healing process, to talk to the patients and to provide them with hope even in the most difficult circumstances. Having a Semmelweis degree is now not a purpose any more, but responsibility and pride.”, addressed Dean Nagy the graduating students in his ceremonial speech.

Dean Nagy recalled the most important events of the Faculty of Health Sciences that took place during this academic year. He emphasized that in the recent semester 2852 students were studying in the Hungarian language programme, 411 students were attending the English language programme and the off campus programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences, which is the second largest faculty at the university. Dean Nagy also highlighted that the foundation stone of the Faculty of Health Sciences’ new wing has recently been laid in the framework of the third forum of the health ministers of China and Central-Eastern Europe: the new building wing will provide space for the Traditional Chinese Medicine teaching and other programmes as well.

“Please remain each other’s supporters, remain in service of your profession, remain the ‘ambassadors’ of Semmelweis University both within Hungary and abroad, and remain intellectually open to the world, keep your curiosity and your thirst for knowledge, use the driving force and diligence in your heart.”, said Dean Nagy to the graduating students.

The graduating students took their solemn oath, this part of the ceremony was led by Dr. István Vingender, Vice-Dean for Educational Affairs. Afterwards the degrees were conferred upon the graduating students by Dr. Ágoston Szél and Dr. Zoltán Zsolt Nagy. The graduating students received their degrees as nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, paramedics, midwives, public health inspectors, health visitors, medical laboratory and picture imaging diagnostic analysts, nurses MSc, physiotherapists MSc, nutrition scientists MSc, addictology consultants and translators and interpreters specialized in health care.

On behalf of the Hungarian graduating students Blanka Bőze midwife addressed the audience, who compared the journey towards the diploma to a fairy tale in which the protagonists manage to successfully fight against all the obstacles.  On behalf of the students participating in the English language programme Felix Lucky Yellowe physiotherapist held a farewell speech and he emphasized the multicultural community of the students of the Faculty. He expressed his gratitude to all the instructors and teachers of the Faculty. The ceremony was closed by the performance of the Medic Orchestra.

Eszter Keresztes
Photo: Gábor Ancsin
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi