The conferment ceremony, held at the Papp László Sports Arena on June 30, was opened by Vice-Rector László Hunyady, incoming dean of the Faculty of Medicine. 461 students successfully passed their final exams at Semmelweis University’s Faculty of Medicine, out of which 86 finished summa cum laude, in the Hungarian, English and German-language programmes.
As is the tradition, the request for the conferment of the medical degrees was made by one of the graduating students. Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Dr. István Karádi conferred the degree the candidates after they had taken the oath.
Representing the German-speaking students, Dr. Florian Schumacher gave an address, in which he briefly evoked the past several years: “Your hospitality was nothing short of special, we have made life-long friends here. When we come to Budapest we do not feel foreigners anymore, it has become our second home.”
Following the speeches of the international students, Dean István Karádi emphasised that it is Semmelweis University’s tradition to prioritise high quality undergraduate education. He added that this means that the students – although often at the price of rigorous challenges – attain a strong basic knowledge with which they can hold their own anywhere around the world.
The concluding remarks were delivered by Vice-Rector László Hunyady, who wished his new doctor colleagues good luck and health for their future endeavours. In addition to the deans and vice-deans from the other faculties, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Yamamoto Tadamichi and President of the Hungarian Medical Chamber János Baranyai were also present.
Emese Nagy
Translated by Bonifac Makkai
