As part of the „Meet the Alumni” event series, Semmelweis University welcomed Professor Diana Reser, senior consultant cardiac surgeon at the Heart Clinic HIRSLANDEN in Zürich, Semmelweis alumna, and the first female Professor of Cardiac Surgery in Switzerland. During her lecture, Professor Reser provided valuable insights into career opportunities in international medicine, professional advancement, and the experience of working in Switzerland’s healthcare sector. The lecture was followed by an engaging discussion session, giving students and young doctors the chance to ask questions and gain valuable practical insights into building an international medical career.
Levente Vágó, Deputy Director of International Relations and Alumni Affairs at Semmelweis University, welcomed participants to the latest “Meet the Alumni” lecture, featuring Professor Diana Reser, a summa cum laude graduate of the university and Switzerland’s first female Professor of Cardiac Surgery. The Deputy Director emphasized that Professor Diana Reser’s lecture would provide valuable insights for students and young doctors interested in international professional development and healthcare careers abroad.
Professor Diana Reser, Semmelweis alumna and cardiac surgeon, presented her professional journey from medical studies to an international career in cardiac surgery and academic leadership.
She opened her lecture by reflecting on her professional journey and expressing gratitude to Semmelweis University, her mentors, family, and colleagues for their foundational support. She described her early motivation for medicine as a desire to understand the human body, which led her to choose a surgical career focused on direct patient care and ultimately cardiac surgery. She also shared personal background influences, including her Hungarian heritage, upbringing in Switzerland, and early interests in craftsmanship and problem-solving, which later shaped her surgical mindset. Her decision to study at Semmelweis University was guided by personal ties to Budapest and appreciation of the university’s strong academic structure and practical training approach.
She described her training path across Semmelweis University and Switzerland, including general and specialist surgical training, international internships, and completion of the European and Swiss Board Examination. Despite strong clinical performance and approximately 120 primary operations, she highlighted limited early career progression due to structural and gender-related barriers. She later became the first female Associate Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Zürich and currently works as a consultant surgeon at the Heart Clinic Hirslanden Zürich.
Alongside her clinical work, she holds extensive academic roles, including university lecturer, thesis supervisor, journal reviewer, and board member, with a research focus on gender medicine. She also became the first female cardiac surgeon in Switzerland to receive the title of Titular Professor.
She also shared a personal highlight outside medicine: her Guinness World Record for the largest collection of heart-shaped objects, first awarded in 2010 with 775 items. The collection has since grown to 3,200 items, reflecting both her personal passion and professional identity.
Professor Diana Reser highlighted the importance of strengthening visibility, networking, and institutional support for women in cardiac surgery. She outlined her commitment to advancing gender equity through clinical teaching, hands-on surgical training, and academic mentorship. Professor Reser concluded that increasing female representation in leadership, senior clinical positions, academia and surgical faculty is essential for giving women a sustainable perspective in the field of cardiac surgery.
Concluding her lecture, she offered advice to medical students and young doctors, encouraging careful specialty selection, early networking, and resilience in pursuing long-term career goals. She stressed the importance of persistence in the face of challenges and discrimination, and encouraged students to remain committed to their professional ambitions and personal aspirations.
The event generated strong interest among international students. One of the key messages of her lecture was that long-term career success depends not only on clinical excellence but also on persistence, self-awareness, and the willingness to actively shape one’s professional path despite obstacles.
Gallery
8images
More event photos are available on the Semmelweis Alumni Facebook page.
The “Meet the Alumni” series provides Semmelweis students, especially those in international programmes, with a valuable opportunity to learn from the professional experiences of distinguished alumni and to gain inspiration for their own career development.
The “Meet the Alumni” lecture series will continue.