This academic year 140 medical students graduated at the Faculty of Dentistry: 31 summa cum laude, 93 cum laude and 16 rite degrees were handed over. 96 students finished their studies in Hungarian, 37 of them in English, and 7 of them in German language.
The graduating medical students have taken their official oath before the conferment, and afterwards were conferred upon the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine by Dr. Péter Hermann, Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs and Dr. Gábor Gerber, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.
The freshly graduated Doctors of Dental Medicine were asked by Vice-Rector Hermann to always remain loyal to the oath that they have taken in order to care for and heal patients, to contribute to the achievement of the goals set by health care, to do their professional duty with the utmost diligence, to maintain and develop their theoretical and practical knowledge at a high standard and to act as enthusiastic participants of the Hungarian health care system.
On behalf of the freshly graduated Doctors of Dental Medicine Dr. Katinka Zsanett Kesjár and Dr. Vakilian Yasaman addressed the audience.
“What does it mean to graduate as a Doctor of Dental Medicine at Semmelweis University? During our studies we were provided with an attitude with the help of which we will be able to choose the best treatment for our patients on our own. We were taught by the university how to make decisions with the help of evidence based medicine. A degree received at the Faculty of Dentistry of Semmelweis University means warranty. We are not only restoring teeth but healing the entire system. It is important to deal with the causes, not just the consequences. A dentist has a significant role in identifying and recognizing diseases that might have an effect on other organs, too. As once we were told in a funny way: a dentist should never forget that ‘there is always a person at the end of a tooth’.”, said Dr. Katinka Zsanett Kesjár.
During the ceremony the following awards were handed over to the freshly graduated Doctors of Dental Medicine: the awardees of the Károly Balogh Medallion and Award were Dr. Anna Valentovics and Dr. Zoltán Kelemen; the Gyula Máthé Award was handed over to Vera Lili Bognár and Ádám Kleofás Nagy.
Dean Gerber started his opening speech with the song written by Shakira for the FIFA world cup in 2010. According to him the lyrics of the song remind the freshly graduated Doctors of Dental Medicine of their first year at the university and the period before when they were excited about their entrance examination.
“I believe that all of you felt the pressure of the new responsibility ahead of you, but you also knew that you have the inner power to successfully cope with the challenges. Indeed, the strength and the energy are there in all of you, which is clearly proven by this conferment ceremony today. A degree received at Semmelweis University has prestige in several countries, and it shows that its owner is well-prepared for healing the patients with evidence based medicine. However, this does not mean that you will be able to do all the dental interventions confidently on your own in the beginning. Resident training under the supervision of experienced doctors of dental medicine, as well as years of professional experience are very important, since these are essential for mastering and accomplishing the more complex treatments.”, expressed Dean Gerber.
Dean Gerber truly hopes that the past five years will enable the freshly graduated Doctors of Dental Medicine to develop a good critical thinking with which they will handle the newly appearing treatments and methods. Doing the interventions with a science-based approach differs so much from being under the influence of economic and emotional aspects. Dean Gerber reminded the graduates that they should constantly maintain and develop their theoretical and practical knowledge for the sake of healing the patients and for the sake of themselves, too.
“You have now become alumni of our university. On the basis of your oath you have just taken, you are required to do your best to promote and keep the good name of Semmelweis University. I assure you that our university will remain open for you and will provide you with all the support to be able to be successful in keeping its good name.”, expressed Dean Gerber.
During the ceremony Dr. István Gera held a speech for the freshly graduated Doctors of Dental Medicine in English. Associate Professor Dr. András Kóbor, who is retiring after having spent forty years at education, addressed the audience in German.
Szilvia Tóth-Szabó
Photo: Valter Berecz
Translation: Katalin Romhányi
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