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<\/a>At the morning ceremony, held at Semmelweis\u2019s place of birth, the inner garden of today\u2019s Semmelweis Museum, Library and Archives of Medical History, a ceremonial speech was held by Dr. Istv\u00e1n Tak\u00e1cs, the director of the 1st Department of Internal Medicine. \u201cSemmelweis Day is the biggest celebration of our university and Hungarian health care,\u201d he said, reminding those in attendance that Semmelweis University has been bearing the name of the savior of mothers, the most famous and of the greatest Hungarian doctors, who was also a professor at the university, for 50 years now. \u201cIgn\u00e1c Semmelweis\u2019s love of country, his scientific approach that was ahead of its time, his unwavering perseverance and commitment to the truth is an example to many doctors even today,\u201d he declared. In his speech, Dr. Tak\u00e1cs summarized Semmelweis\u2019s career and stressed that his \u201cstubborn Hungarianness\u201d is the reason that his work is linked with Hungary, even though he made his observations and held his first lectures on the causes of childbed fever in Vienna. The greatness of Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis, and his work as a scientist in the noblest sense of the word, is indicated in how he had the courage to go beyond the knowledge of his fore-bearers, beyond the borders of what was known, using scientific logic, stressed Dr. Istv\u00e1n Tak\u00e1cs. During the time he worked in Hungary, he was able to reduce the mortality rate among mothers from childbed fever to below 1%, and even though his work was only recognized well after his death, there is no family whose life has not been influenced by his discoveries, the results of his hard work, he said in conclusion.<\/p>\nIn the name of the leaders, the workers and the students of Semmelweis University, a wreath was laid at the site by Dr. Rom\u00e1na Zelk\u00f3, dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. \u00c9va Szab\u00f3, deputy dean of the Andr\u00e1s Pet\u0151 Faculty and Dr. Istv\u00e1n Tak\u00e1cs, and by director-general Benedek Varga in the name of the Semmelweis Museum, Library and Archives of Medical History and the Hungarian National Museum.<\/p>\n
Wreaths were laid at the statue of Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis by rector Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely, chancellor Dr. K\u00e1roly Sz\u00e1sz and Dr. Bal\u00e1zs Hank\u00f3 in the name of the university\u2019s leaders and workers, deputy mayor Dr. \u00c1d\u00e1m G\u00f6rh\u00f6ny in the name of the local government of J\u00f3zsefv\u00e1ros, Dr. P\u00e9ter Hermann, president of the Hungarian Medical Chamber\u2019s (MOK) Regional Association of Dentists and the university\u2019s vice-rector for education in the name of MOK, Dr. Zolt\u00e1n Balogh, head of department at the Faculty of Health Sciences and president of the Hungarian Chamber of Health Care Workers in the name of the latter organization, president Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Rosivall and secretary Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Moln\u00e1r in the name of the Friends of Semmelweis University, president Tam\u00e1s Heged\u00fcs in the name of the Students\u2019 Union, and training coordinator Vir\u00e1g Bartek in the name of the Instructor Self-Active Group.<\/p>\n \u201cToday we salute the past and remember the greatest Hungarian doctor, the namesake of our university, Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis, on the 201st anniversary of his birth,\u201d said rector Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely in opening his official speech at the main ceremony, held in the afternoon in the Great Hall of the Nagyv\u00e1rad t\u00e9r Theoretical Building (NET). \u201cWe also celebrate the citizens of the university who, in their day to day work, contribute to the excellence of the university on both a domestic and international level,\u201d he added. He emphasized that this year\u2019s celebration is on the one hand the closing of the Semmelweis Memorial Year, but on the other hand also a preparation for the 250th anniversary of the university\u2019s foundation.<\/p>\n Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely noted that following in the footsteps of Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis, the goal of the anniversary year is for the 250-year-old Semmelweis University to take the lead in a change of attitude that places prevention in the main focus, among citizens as well as among present and future doctors and health care workers. He said that the university is at a crucial, landmark moment, at the beginning of a new era. \u201cIn medical and health sciences training, the only path we can choose is that of renewal, bravery and initiative, which is full of difficulties to be overcome and problems to be solved, but through which we can jointly build a successful university of the next quarter millennium,\u201d said the rector.<\/p>\n He also noted that in a manner that lives up to Semmelweis\u2019s legacy, the new, anniversary academic year will start with a renewed medical curriculum. The goal of the curriculum reform is for a general practitioner to graduate as an individual capable of independent, critical thinking, one who also has the practical skills and is able to make medical decisions, he elaborated. Dr. Kellermayer stressed that the success of the program also depends on lecturers, researchers and physicians having the same strong faith, determination and will that Semmelweis had.<\/p>\n The official ceremony continued with the awarding of habilitation diplomas, which were presented by rector Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely and Dr. Zolt\u00e1n Zsolt Nagy, the chairman of the Habilitation Committee, to a total of nine individuals. Equivalency diplomas on habilitation processes successfully completed in Germany were awarded to Dr. M\u00e1t\u00e9 V\u00e1mos (Universit\u00e4tsklinikum Frankfurt Goethe-Universit\u00e4t) and Dr. Zsolt Sziklav\u00e1ri (Thoraxchirurgie Regiomed-Kliniken Klinik f\u00fcr Thoraxchirurgie in Coburg und Lungenzentrum in Sonneberg).<\/p>\n Pro Universitate awards were also presented at the event, to honorees who contributed to the achievement of the university\u2019s goals at a high level throughout their years of excellent work.<\/p>\n The Senate awarded golden signet-rings to three departing university leaders and one head of department. Following a laudation of their work, the recognitions were presented by rector Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely to Dr. G\u00e1bor Rudas (MR Research Center), Dr. \u00c9va Keller (Department of Forensic Medicine), Dr. L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Tretter (Department of Medical Biochemistry) and Dr. Zsolt K\u00e1lm\u00e1n Somogyv\u00e1ri (Department of Family Care Methodology).<\/p>\n\r\n [slb_exclude]\r\n The mandates for the newly elected senators were also handed out at the Semmelweis Day event, which was followed by the announcement of new or extended mandates for officials. Dean mandates were awarded to Dr. Mikl\u00f3s Kellermayer for the Faculty of Medicine (\u00c1OK), Dr. Zolt\u00e1n Zsolt Nagy for the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Mikl\u00f3s Sz\u00f3cska for the Faculty of Health and Public Administration, and Dr. Rom\u00e1na Zelk\u00f3 for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Mandates for vice-dean were presented for Dr. N\u00e1ndor \u00c1cs (vice-dean for general affairs at \u00c1OK), Dr. Tam\u00e1s Masszi (vice-dean for education) and Dr. Andr\u00e1s Matolcsy (vice-dean for strategy and development); a mandate for vice-dean for scientific affairs at the Andr\u00e1s Pet\u0151 Faculty was presented to Dr. Ibolya T\u00fari. Next was the awarding of appointments for various heads of departments and other organizational units.<\/p>\n The Senate awarded Professor Emerita and Professor Emeritus titles to eight retiring university professors, with the certificates presented by rector Dr. B\u00e9la Merkely. There were also appointments for associate professors, scientific advisors and senior research fellows presented at the ceremony, as well as awards for Outstanding Lecturer, Outstanding Professional and Outstanding Conductor, and commendations and outstanding worker awards from the rector, the chancellor and the deans.<\/p>\n<\/a>At the next site of the commemorations, the statue of Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis in the courtyard of the Inner Clinical Center, a speech was held by Dr. Bal\u00e1zs Hank\u00f3, vice-rector for strategy and development, who noted that remembrance and celebrations are also a good time to look into the future and make firm decisions. \u201cWe have to ask ourselves the question, as we come to the close of the memorial year of the 200th anniversary of Ign\u00e1c Semmelweis\u2019s birthplace and the start of the 250th anniversary year of the university\u2019s foundation, what is our task, what is our responsibility?\u201d he said. In laying the foundation for the future of Semmelweis University, the first step is to strengthen our knowledge and spirit, and also strengthen the community of Semmelweis Citizens, he noted. The vice-rector mentioned that the university is at the verge of developments that will lay the foundation for its future, which one can see just looking around the site of the ceremony: the Department of Internal Medicine will soon be renewed and the planning of the new Clinical Center for Internal Medicine will start. The buildings of the Inner Clinical Center will be renovated, and a new infertility center will be established. Similar developments will be carried out at the buildings of the expanding and renewing Outer Clinical Center and the V\u00e1rosmajor Center, and Semmelweis\u2019s historical hospital, the Szent R\u00f3kus (Saint Roch) hospital, will be integrated into the university, he noted. \u201cAll of our faculties are going through developments; the Basic Medical Science Center will double in size, the departments of the Faculty of Dentistry will go through a renewal, a new H\u0151gyes-Sch\u00f6pf Merei Pharmaceutical Research Center will be built, the third phase of the Faculty of Health Sciences\u2019 development will start, the development of the Faculty of Health and Public Administration will begin at M\u00e1ty\u00e1s kir\u00e1ly\u2013B\u00e9la kir\u00e1ly \u00fat, as well as that of the Andr\u00e1s Pet\u0151 Faculty on K\u00fatv\u00f6lgyi \u00fat,\u201d he listed the ongoing development plans. A new Semmelweis Science Park will also be established in cooperation with other universities and the support of the 8th district of Budapest, he added.<\/p>\n\r\n [slb_exclude]\r\n <\/a><\/div>\r\n <\/span>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\tGallery<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/a><\/div>\r\n <\/span>\r\n \r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\r\n <\/span>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/a><\/div><\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n [\/slb_exclude]\r\n\t\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Change is always difficult in the beginning, he added, pointing that Semmelweis did not back down either, and professor Zolt\u00e1n Szab\u00f3 overcame numerous difficulties as well in order to achieve the golden age of cardiac surgery. Among the great role models and innovators, he mentioned J\u00e1nos Balassa, who successfully tried ether narcosis in 1847, and \u00c1gost Schoepf-Merei, whom performed the first operation under anesthesia in Hungary on a four-year-old boy. \u201cIf we want to follow in their footsteps, if we want to live up to our ancestors and the name of Semmelweis University, we cannot run away cowardly from difficulties either,\u201d said Dr. Merkely. He added that he expect help and cooperation from everyone in order to achieve the goals, and expressed his hope that Semmelweis citizens will also be able to jointly reap the rewards of their work in a few years. \u201cIf we create a new, modern, livable university while respecting our traditions and keeping our values, we can become an unnoticeable community, a big family,\u201d said the rector of his objectives.<\/p>\n<\/a>In his speech, Dr. Mikl\u00f3s Kellermayer, the dean-elect of the Faculty of Medicine and the director of the Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, emphasized that Semmelweis\u2019s spiritual and moral legacy goes beyond the discovery of the pathogeny of childbed fever. There are three main components of his legacy: he thought and made decisions in an exact and logical manner; he believed in the truth; and he turned his knowledge and belief into action, the dean-elect said. Semmelweis was the first to apply exact mathematics and statistics in medicine and in his decisionmaking. He made numerical documentation on the data of those who died of childbed fever, he posed hypotheses, he made arguments and correct decisions, noted Dr. Kellermayer. He was ahead of his time in his belief that the measure of scientific truth is not respect, but mathematics and objective experiments, he added. Finally, he was a fierce defender of the truth, he fought for the spread of his knowledge and for strict adherence to the method of hand-washing, said Dr. Mikl\u00f3s Kellermayer.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\r\n <\/span>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\tGallery<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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