“Professor Haas has been living abroad since he was 10 years old, but Semmelweis University and the Department of Urology still play an important role in his life,” said Dr. Béla Merkely in his greeting speech. The rector underlined that Gábor Haas started his surgical career in Bethesda, USA, then became a clinic director in Syracuse in 1995, and in 2006 he became medical director in the field of urology and oncology at the pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Global Development. He has held numerous appointments, honors and awards in the United States and in urology societies. With regard to the awardee’s publications of Hungarian relevance, Dr. Béla Merkely made special reference to the chapter in the book Diagnosis and Therapy of Prostate Cancer (1985, ed. Romics-Goepel), which is associated with his name, as well as his articles in the Hungarian publications Medical Weekly, Hungarian Urology and Urooncology. He gave the opening lecture at the 2009 Semmelweis Symposium organized by the Department of Urology and has visited Hungary several times.
“Dr. Gábor Haas’s scientific activity, helpfulness and openness were honored by the Hungarian Urological Society with honorary membership in 1999. In 2000 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Semmelweis University on the recommendation of the Department of Urology. As president of the Hungarian Medical Association of America, he has done much to support the profession in Hungary and to develop professional contacts. Dr. Gábor Haas has never denied his roots and his mother tongue, and has passed on his knowledge and selfless help to countless Hungarians, urologists and professionals,” the rector pointed out.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Gábor Haas emphasized that his father graduated from Semmelweis University, and therefore the institution plays an important role in his own life. “My father worked as a surgeon and always looked back on his university studies with fond memories. He always motivated me to follow his example,” he pointed out, stressing that he tried to support the university whenever possible.
At the award ceremony, in addition to Rector Dr. Béla Merkely, Dr. Péter Nyirády, director of the Department of Urology and Dr. Imre Romics, professor emeritus of the department, gave laudations of the award winner.
Ádám Szabó
Translation: Tamás Deme
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
