Dr. Ferenc Bánhidy has been at Semmelweis University for more than thirty years; he started his studies at the Faculty of Medicine in 1980 and he was among the founding members of SOTE Klub in 1984. He graduated in 1986 and by being one of the top 10 students, his way was paved to the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where he is working up till today.
“The bond between me and the university is very strong; therefore it was an important milestone in my career when Dr. Ágoston Szél asked me to fill the position of Vice-Rector in the new team of vice-rectors.”, said Dr. Ferenc Bánhidy.
He believes that the work of the vice-rectors will be the most efficient if they make decisions as a team. He considers his role as a vice-rector a mission and believes that his organisational skill could be a great addition to the team’s work to implement efficient measures.
“I would like to bring about a smoother and more efficient operation of the university. The team of vice-rectors, led by the Rector, have set common goals which we will reach through mutual efforts. We strive to make Semmelweis University become a leading healthcare, educational and research institution not only in Hungary, but on a global scale as well.”, he said.
Realising these endeavours is not easy as new, more modern and high quality educational and healthcare structures are needed in order to satisfy the requirements of the 21st century. He believes that there is no education without healthcare and without education there is no university. He considers it really important to give the opportunity to the students to have hands-on experience of new research and healthcare innovations.
“We need to be open-minded to the novelties of the younger generation, otherwise we will lose track of the developments and will stick to the old methods. I try to be an example in my profession myself. Whenever new OR techniques or procedures are introduced abroad, I try to remain up-to-date, familiarise with them and teach them to the future generation of obstetricians, gynaecologists and oncologists. There is an urgent need for changes in the curriculum, as medical education of the 21st century requires a different approach and system.”, Dr. Ferenc Bánhidy said.
He bel
ieves that not only structural changes, but a more open-minded approach towards medical education and health care is needed in order to reach the systematic modernisation of the institution. He personally considers it his mission as a vice-rector to make the leadership of the university take one direction and make sure that everything is done for the sake of a common goal.
“My task is to raise all the anchors that others have cast and which have so far hindered the cruiser’s journey”, he said.
Despite being Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Ferenc Bánhidy thinks of himself primarily as a clinician and feels at ease among patients. He has conducted several deliveries over the past thirty years and he still spends a lot of time in the operation room being Deputy Director of the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
“I am proud of being an active physician and I am not willing to reduce the number of operations due to my new position as vice-rector.”, he said.
Szilvia Tóth-Szabó
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translated by: Ágnes Raubinek
