The courtyard of the 1st Department of Pediatrics facing Üllői út is named after the first director of the department, Ágoston Schoepf-Merei. Due to the renovations, memorial trees and bushes have been placed in the area and a promenade has been created, which is decorated with works of art prepared by pediatric patients.
“We value and make use of every piece of land in order to provide our young patients, staff members and students with more space and to create such a community life in addition to the daily activities that Semmelweis University may be proud of”, said Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector during the ceremony.
As the Rector pointed out, one of the special locations of the university celebrating its 250th academic year is the 182-year-old 1st Department of Pediatrics, which is the fourth pediatric hospital in Europe and the first in Hungary representing continuity, for it has not closed its doors for a single day since its opening and has been awaiting children in need of healing. Dr. Béla Merkely greeted Dr. Attila Szabó, the current director of the department and Dr. Tivadar Tulassay, rector emeritus, the former director of the department, whose work is symbolized by a memorial tree in the renovated garden.
Gallery
The courtyard of the 1st Department of Pediatrics facing Üllői út will be named after the first director of the institution, Ágoston Schoepf-Merei. Due to the renovations, bushes and nine memorial trees were placed in the garden in honor of the nine former directors. The granite columns located next to the trees contains QR codes, with the help of which the biography of the persons may be read. There is also a promenade in the area, which is decorated by the works of art prepared by pediatric patients of the department.
“The opening of this garden connects three things. On the one hand, it is part of the Green University program, in the course of which we try to give back as much green space as possible to nature. On the other hand, it means respect for the traditions represented by the nine memorial trees. Thirdly, it is closely connected to the pediatric patients cared for at our department, since the works of art decorating the promenade were prepared by the children of the Pediatric Psychiatry Unit within the framework of the art therapy session”, said Dr. Attila Szabó, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, Director of the 1st Department of Pediatrics.
He expressed his appreciation to those colleagues who helped create the Schoepf-Merei garden: Anna Bernáth, senior economic coordinator, Dr. Éva Kisné Cseh, librarian and Péter Csernyák, leader of the working group of analysts and therapists. The closing part of the event was a short violin concert performed by Dr. Vicenç Bonet Mateu Julià, a resident of the department who also graduated from the music conservatory.
Ádám Szabó
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
