Four professors of Semmelweis University received state recognition in the Hungarian Parliament: Dr. Béla Merkely, Dr. László Csanády and Dr. Gyula Poór were awarded with the Széchenyi Prize, while Dr. Veronika Ádám received the civil division of the Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit. The official award ceremony on the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was postponed from 15 March, 2021 to the national holiday of August 20 due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The Széchenyi Prize was awarded by the President of Hungary to Dr. Béla Merkely, cardiologist, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Rector of Semmelweis University, Head of the Department of Cardiology and the Department of Sports Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, Director of the Városmajor Heart and Vascular Center in recognition of his internationally recognized achievements in cardiology, his dedicated work in education and his outstandingly successful institutional and professional public activities.
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Dr. László Csanády, biologist and physician, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of Semmelweis University, Head of the Department of Biochemistry received the Széchenyi Prize in recognition of his outstanding work as a researcher of the Momentum Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and his achievements in the study of ion channels in cells.
The Széchenyi Prize was awarded by the President of Hungary to Dr. Gyula Poór, physician, recipient of the Batthyány-Strattmann László Prize, corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Chief Physician and Director General of the National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy and the National Medical Rehabilitation Center, Professor of Semmelweis University in recognition of his extraordinary achievements in the research and treatment of osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as his outstanding role in the development of the National Osteoporosis Program.
Dr. Veronika Ádám, recipient of the Széchenyi Prize and of the Batthyány-Strattmann László Prize, physician, biochemist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Professor Emerita of Semmelweis University received the civil division of the Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit in recognition of her internationally recognized research work conducted on the oxidative damage of nerves as well as her outstanding scientific public activities.
“At the time of a pandemic period, cultural, scientific, artistic achievements and the work of researchers showed that we have not lost the ability to shape the future”, Dr. János Áder, President of Hungary said during the awards ceremony.
Due to the epidemiological situation, the Széchenyi Prizes and the Hungarian Order of Merit awarded on the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 were handed over on 20 August. The professional careers of the awardees were presented in a previous article published on 15 March.
Dóra Horváth (source: MTI)
Photo: Hungarian Tourism Agency
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
