Students admitted to the majors in dietetics, nursing, midwifery, emergency medical services and public health, both for bachelor’s and master’s studies, took the oath on October 10 in the auditorium of the University’s Teaching Center. The Faculty of Health Sciences, to which they now formally belong, is the second largest faculty of the University. Almost 3,000 students will learn there in the academic year 2024/2025.
Many challenges and a lot of opportunities
The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the host of the ceremony, professor Mariusz Gujski, pointed out that all the faculty’s majors are fields that have a direct impact on quality of life and health of people. They involve enormous responsibility and require knowledge and skills, as well as passion, empathy and commitment.
-You have a beautiful jopurney ahead of you – full of challenges, but also satisfaction,” said professor Gujski and added: “In difficult moments, remember that every hour devoted to learning and improving your skills will improve someone’s life.
The dean also warned that studies are different from high school, and education and development rest primarily on the shoulders of students themselves. Skillfully planning work and setting priorities are the key to success.
-It is important that you do not give up in the face of adversity. I believe that each of you will find your own path here and achieve success. You are the future of Polish health care, and we are proud to be part of your path - concluded the dean.
Professor Marek Kuch also pointed out that studying is about time management skills. Learning must come first, but it is also important to have space for a beautiful student life.
- The Medical University of Warsaw offers many opportunities and it is up to you and only you how you use this time -said professor Kuch - It’s worth getting more out of everything. You can rush through studies, but it is a worse path and a waste of time because some things will not happen again.
Finally, vice rector professor Marek Kuch assured that the University is always open to students and will try to solve the problems they face.
Matriculation
Students newly admitted to the faculty took the pledge to: persistently strive to acquire knowledge; seek professional and personal development; act in accordance with ethical principles; keep in confidence everything they learn about patients in connection with the studies; treat the University authorities and all members of its community with respect; respect academic rules and customs; take care of the dignity and honor of a student of the Medical University of Warsaw in all their conduct.
Evolution and stress
The culmination of the event was a lecture by habilitated doctor Andrzej Silczuk, titled “Stress in evolution, evolution of stress”.
The speaker explained: - Stress is one of the factors causing mutations. In the entire history of the planet and its life, mutations have allowed us to adapt to difficult conditions. They have enabled us to master the stress response – reducing the level of cortisol, i.e. calming down, because the natural desire of the human species is to strive for comfort.
As he emphasized, every fourth adult in Poland suffers from a stress-related mental ailment. Moreover, we as a species are not equipped to cope with today’s levels of stress. Nevertheless, he asked students not to load themselves up with extra ‘nerviness’ in this new and difficult situation, which is the beginning of their studies.
-Think of these studies as something really good. Maybe it’s sometimes worth getting rid of some of the stress arising from your actions just to feel better.
The matriculation ceremony ended with a short performance by the University’s Choir conducted by Daniel Synowiec.
The ceremony was also attended by: prof. Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, Vice Rector for Human Resources, prof. Marcin Sobczak, Vice Rector for Science and Technology Transfer, prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, former Rector WUM in 2020-2024, prof. Tadeusz Grochowiecki, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, dr hab. Joanna Peradzyńska, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, dr hab. Agnieszka Bazylko, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, dr Marta Kijak-Bloch, Chancellor of the WUM, Jolanta Ilków, Bursar of the WUM, as well as a group of vice deans of the Faculty of Health Sciences: dr hab. Justyna Teliga-Czajkowska, dr hab. Łukasz Czyżewski, dr hab. Patryk Rzońca, dr hab. Filip Raciborski, członkowie Rady Wydziału, przedstawiciele Samorządu Studentów WNoZ oraz nauczyciele akademiccy – przedstawiciele jednostek WNoZ.
Gośćmi byli również Norbert Pietrykowski, poseł Sejmowej Komisji Zdrowia, Mariusz Klencki, dyrektor Departamentu Rozwoju Kadr Medycznych Ministerstwa Zdrowia, Anna Brzezińska, członek Zarządu Województwa Mazowieckiego, Urszula Kuroczycka, zastępca dyrektora Wydziału Zdrowia Mazowieckiego Urzędu Wojewódzkiego w Warszawie oraz przedstawiciele instytucji naukowych i szpitali, w tym szpitali WUM, oraz placówek medycznych współpracujących z wydziałem.
