The Rector also talked about the significant results of the university in his opening speech. ‘Many of the first medical interventions in our country were performed at Semmelweis University, such as the first successful kidney, liver and heart transplantations, the first artificial heart transplantation, and the first Cochlear implantation. Among the publications in the most prestigious periodicals, our university is in the second place, following the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’, he said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that besides infrastructural developments, real value at the university is given by the life paths of teachers and students, which overcome generations and create workshops. At the end of his speech, he commemorated his own masters, Professors S\u00e1ndor Juh\u00e1sz-Nagy and Zolt\u00e1n Szab\u00f3.<\/p>\n
A ceremonial speech was also given by Dr. Mikl\u00f3s K\u00e1sler, Minister for Human Capacities, who emphasized that Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis is called the saviour of mothers, the benefactor of humanity, his statue stands in the Chicago marble hall of the ten greatest physicians because he saved the lives of millions of mothers and babies. ‘The highest values of humanity\u2019s spiritual history were summed up in his personality. His career, spirit and struggles ran parallel to the lives of the greatest figures of the reform era and the war of independence. He sacrificed his own health for countless human lives, for the integrity and happiness of families’, he said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Mikl\u00f3s K\u00e1sler stressed that Semmelweis\u2019s spiritual descendants are today\u2019s professors of Semmelweis University and reminded the students that they are the future, they will be trusted with a nation\u2019s health and life. ‘Embrace the necessary knowledge of modern science, work and live according to your predecessors\u2019 ethics’, he said. Minister K\u00e1sler added: ‘the Hungarian Government, after the major developments made so far, will support Semmelweis University and all Hungarian universities with never-before-seen funds in the following years’.<\/p>\n
On behalf of the students, Tam\u00e1s Heged\u0171s delivered a speech. The president of the Students\u2019 Union of the Faculty of Dentistry ensured the newly admitted students that they made the best decision of their lives when they chose Semmelweis University as the venue of their studies. He said, ‘in life, the time for change always comes, and you have just stepped on that path. This path will not be rough and desolate, but beatific and inspirational’. He also pointed out that the most difficult phase or obstacle in the course of studies will not be the anatomy exam, pharmacology or biophysics; he believes that we always fight the hardest struggles with ourselves.<\/p>\n
The first year students of the German language programme were greeted by Dr. Attila M\u00f3csai, Director of the Foreign Language Secretariat. He said that the following years will probably be some of the most beautiful and exciting years of their lives, during which time they will be able to master the science of medicine and learn about the culture of a new country. They will have many rights but also serious responsibility because they will have to be involved in the future of Semmelweis University, patient care and medical science. Finally, he wished a lot of joy and enthusiasm to the first year students.<\/p>\n Foreign students were greeted in English by Dr. Mikl\u00f3s Csala, professor at the Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry. He said that Semmelweis University has been performing the three-fold mission of education, research and patient care for almost 250 years, and its prestige goes far beyond the borders of the country. He reminded the audience that foreigners have been able to study at the institution for 36 years, and more than 1700 students are currently participating in the English language programme, coming from dozens of countries in five continents. In his speech, he greeted the first year students and emphasized that whatever they do from now, they do it as Semmelweis students. They should be proud of the university and make the university proud of them, said Dr. Mikl\u00f3s Csala.<\/p>\n After the speeches, students took their solemn oath in three languages, followed by the presentation of awards.<\/p>\n Eight university teachers were awarded for their commitment towards the university and their outstanding educational activities. The awards were conferred by Rector Merkely to Dr. Krisztina Hagym\u00e1si (2nd<\/sup> Department of Internal Medicine), Dr. Erzs\u00e9bet Kat\u00f3 (Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy), Dr. Zsolt R\u00f3nai (Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry), Dr. Szabolcs B\u00e9ni (Department of Pharmacognosy), Dr. Enik\u0151 Vaszin\u00e9 Szab\u00f3 (Department of Conservative Dentistry), Andrea Friedrichn\u00e9 Nagy (Department of Physiotherapy), Dr. Erzs\u00e9bet M\u00e1k (Department of Dietetics and Nutrition Sciences) and Dr. \u00c9va Belicza (Health Services Management Training Centre).<\/p>\n Professors whose outstanding commitment has greatly contributed to the high-standard realization of the University\u2019s educational objectives are awarded with the Pro Universitate Award. The awards were conferred by Rector Merkely to Dr. J\u00f3zsef Blazsek (Department of Oral Biology) and Dr. Gy\u00f6rgy Szil\u00e1gyi (Occupational Health Services).<\/p>\n The assembly of the Students\u2019 Union granted the Pro Juventute Universitatis Award in the 2017\/18 academic year as a recognition of the hard and efficient work done for the students of the university. The awards were conferred by Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely, Rector, and L\u00e1szl\u00f3 K\u00f3sa, President of the Students\u2019 Union of Semmelweis University. The awardees were: Dr. Gerg\u0151 B\u00e1thori, former president of the Students\u2019 Union and of the Students\u2019 Union of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Viktor Erd\u0151si, former president of the Students\u2019 Union of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Bence Kuron, former acting vice-president of the Students\u2019 Union and former president of the Students\u2019 Union of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ildik\u00f3 V\u00e1g\u00f3, former international rapporteur of the Students\u2019 Union, Dr. P\u00e9ter V\u00e1mosi, former president of the Students\u2019 Union. The assembly of the Students\u2019 Union may exceptionally grant the Pro Juventute Universitatis Award to persons who have not been students of the university. Based on the decision of the assembly, Dr. Judit Heged\u0171s, Director of the Basic Medical Science Centre, was granted the award.<\/p>\n At the Opening Ceremony, the names of all the students who had won this year\u2019s National Higher-Education Scholarships were announced.<\/p>\n According to traditions, the closing act of the ceremony was the performance of the Medic Orchestra, who played Les Preludes<\/em> by Ferenc Liszt.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Zs\u00f3fia Haszon-Nagy \u00a0<\/p>\n The opening ceremony can be viewed in full in the following video and on the official YouTube channel<\/a> of Semmelweis University:<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/files\/2018\/09\/RS82969_ka-20180902-IMG_5263-scr.jpg\")
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\nPhoto: Attila Kov\u00e1cs \u2013 Semmelweis University; Andr\u00e1s Dim\u00e9ny
\nTranslation: Di\u00e1na M\u00f3dos<\/p>\n