33 graduating medical students of Asklepios Campus Hamburg received their degrees of Doctor of Medicine of Semmelweis University on July 22, 2016 at the Embassy of Hungary in Berlin. This was the fifth graduation ceremony in the history of the off-campus training of Asklepios Campus Hamburg and Semmelweis University.
On behalf of Ambassador Dr. Péter Györkös the audience of 200 invitees was welcomed by Dr. András Izsák, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Hungary in Berlin. In his speech Dr. Izsák praised the long historical relationship and the mutual collaboration between the two countries. He said that the Embassy of Hungary in Berlin is honoured to be the host of the graduation ceremony for the fifth time. Dr. Izsák congratulated the graduating students of the joint German-Hungarian training on their conferment. He reminded them that after receiving their degree they will belong to the group of the approximately 3600 German physicians, who completed their medical studies entirely or partially in Hungary. The evidence for the good quality of the off-campus training is the ability to get integrated in the German medical society easily: none of the students who received this type of a degree had difficulties in their integration.
Dr. Karl J. Oldhafer, Commissioner of the Dean, Asklepios Campus Hamburg, congratulated the graduating students on their conferment. He expressed his appreciation that they will serve society by practising a medical profession. Dr. Oldhafer asked the students to handle their profession as a privilege and to always consider the interests of their patients to the utmost importance during their medical activities.
The welcoming speeches were followed by the public ceremonial session of the University Senate of Semmelweis University, which was opened by Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector. After the official oath-taking, Dr. László Hunyady, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Ágoston Szél, Rector conferred the degrees of Doctor of Medicine on the graduating students.
On behalf of the freshly graduated Doctors of Medicine Dr. Hanna Agena and Dr. Jonas Ali held a speech. They reminded the audience that Semmelweis University means a second chance to a lot of German students who, despite their excellent skills, could not enrol in German universities. As they described, it is a risky decision to start the university studies in a foreign country, far from the mother country. But even if they had initial difficulties, they had wonderful experiences in Budapest. According to them the entire group has a special connection with Hungary.
“Dear freshly graduated doctors, I would like to thank you for your persistence and your willingness to actively participate in the German-Hungarian programme. Your success is the greatest evidence for the success of this unique educational project. Those students who graduate here are enriched with a tradition of two and a half centuries besides the acquired knowledge. The name ‘Semmelweis’ serves as an important brand for Semmelweis University, a biomedical university with a unique, clear profile. The year 2015 went by in the framework of the International Semmelweis Remembrance Year at Semmelweis University. The declaration was made by UNESCO, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Semmelweis’ death. The name ‘Semmelweis’ provides dignity and prestige to the university, and it has an unbelievable appeal for the foreign students as well. Similarly, the excellence and the international prestige of the university makes the heritage of Semmelweis even stronger and helps in its popularization worldwide. I would like to wish you a lot of success and hope that you will be practising your chosen profession with the feeling of commitment and you will find joy in your responsible work”, said Rector Szél.
“Ignaz Semmelweis, who used to be the professor of our university, and whose name our institution honours is an intellectual genius. His name is a warranty on your diploma that after graduation you will carry a science-based, firm knowledge with you. The medical training does not finish with graduation, since in health care without the knowledge of modern, continuously expanding information it is not possible to meet the growing challenges. Another important characteristic of a physician besides a high-level knowledge is empathy. The recovery of a patient is facilitated to a great extent by a physician who has empathy and who helps to strengthen the faith of recovery in the patient. The best healers are able to preserve the empathy towards the patients even during the tiring daily routine, since the roots of the medical profession can be found in the positive attitude towards people”, said Dr. István Karádi, former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
In the framework of the ceremony Rector Szél handed over the Honorary Professor of Semmelweis University certificate to Dr. Siegbert Faiss, Dr. Onno Janßen and Dr. Thomas Verse at Asklepios Campus Hamburg.
Afterwards Maximilian Englmaier addressed the audience, who is a former student at Asklepios and graduated last year. He has provided the freshly graduated doctors with some practical advice. According to him the combination of receiving a very thorough theoretical training in Budapest and deepening the practical knowledge in the hospital in Hamburg provides a great advantage during the first months in the everyday life of a physician.
“Thank you for your confidence in the off-campus training of Asklepios Campus Hamburg and Semmelweis University. I would also like to thank your parents for supporting you in becoming a physician. Nowadays the quality of this type of a training is recognized and accepted by several German physicians and professors. German clinics are employing the freshly graduated doctors of Asklepios with pleasure. Due to the professional knowledge and the positive attitude of the medical profession everything is given for the freshly graduates at Asklepios Campus Hamburg for a successful future. But besides the presence of good conditions success can only be achieved by individual hard work”, expressed Dr. Christoph Jermann, managing director of Asklepios Campus Hamburg.
The cooperation agreement between Semmelweis University and the Asklepios Clinical Team, one of the biggest clinical network in Germany, was signed 8 years ago, according to which the joint German-Hungarian programme in Hamburg emerged as part of the Faculty of Medicine at Semmelweis University. This is considered to be a unique achievement in Europe, which provides opportunity for Semmelweis students to do their clinical practice in Hamburg after having completed the theoretical part of the education on the basis of the Hungarian curriculum. Students can study from respected German physicians and professors, and at the end of their studies they receive a Semmelweis University degree, which is accredited in the European Union as well. By receiving this degree, they are provided with the doctoral title „dr. med”, however in order to acquire the equivalent of the German „Dr. med” title, one has to write a dissertation.
Marica Wild, Directorate of International Relations
Photo: Hauke Gilbert – Asklepios Campus Hamburg
Translation: Katalin Romhányi
