The ceremony was hosted by prof. Dorota Olczak Kowalczyk, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. – It wasn’t easy, yet you have managed to accomplish the goal of your dreams, and you are now starting your fully adult lives – the Dean said to the ceremony attendees, adding: – Remember that this is not the end of your education. The path you have chosen in your profession requires continuous contact with knowledge, research, practice, and continuous improvement of your qualifications. The Dean further emphasized that this career path required caution, responsibility and empathy towards patients who should receive holistic care instead of services limited to the oral cavity only. Finally, professor Olczak-Kowalczyk congratulated the graduates.
Diploma from an academic institutions with strong traditions
– You are graduating from the best medical university in Poland, which is verified by the rankings – said prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, the Rector. He also reminded those present that WUM Medical University of Warsaw was not only the best but also the oldest university in Warsaw to continue the 200 years of tradition of teaching medicine. The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry itself is the successor of the State Institute of Dentistry, first established in 1920. – The history of the Institute is superb and full of excellence, featuring the names of outstanding representatives of dentistry as a discipline, who deserve long-lasting recognition in the history of dentistry studies in Poland, and whose international position was very strong as well – the Rector emphasized. He added that the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry was an essential part of the entire structure of the university, continuously marking its presence on the map of science and education in Poland.
The pledge, awards and diplomas
The pledge, which was the central point of the event, was taken from graduates of Polish language courses by professor Agnieszka Mielczarek, Vice-Dean responsible for the Medicine and Dentistry, Dental Hygiene and Dentistry Techniques fields, and from graduates of English language studies by Ewa Czochrowska, PhD hab., Vice-Dean responsible for international relations and the following study fields: Medicine and Dentistry in English, General and Clinical Speech and Language Therapy.
Numerous awards were then presented to the most outstanding students. The Golden Laurel for the best graduate, and a diploma with honors, for the average grade of 4.67, went to Justyna Sawicka. Another diploma with honors was awarded to Olga Kowalska with the average grade of 4.64. The following students were rewarded for their research and community activity: Zuzanna Merkiewicz, Jan Szostak, Anna Wojciechowska, Monika Szerszeń, Sylwia Jakubowska, Karolina Kapela and Damian Koseski. Three of the graduates, i.e. Anna Wojciechowska, Monika Szerszeń and Jędrzej Karpisz, received special words of appreciation from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Students Government for their active work in the self-government organization. Further awards were granted by representatives of TU INTER, the Regional Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, Arkona and Stern Weber Polska as business partners of the Faculty.
Beautiful views
Anna Wojciechowska spoke on behalf of the graduates. Clearly moved, she said: – 82 subjects, 558 hours of lectures, 996 hours of seminars, 2943 hours of classes, 480 hours of practice. A total of 5000 study hours. These numbers illustrate the five years of our studying together or, I may also say, our living together, because this period encompasses much more than written in the syllabus. She emphasized that all the time spent together at the university contributed to building the graduates’ persistence in pursuing the final goal of getting a diploma. – The years we spent here have shown us that hard work is always necessary to get to the top, but you should remember that the higher you climb, the more beautiful views you can see – Anna Wojciechowska emphasized.
In addition to the guests named above, the ceremony was also attended by prof. Marek Kuch, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Training; prof. Piotr Pruszczyk, Vice-Rector for Science and Technology Transfer; prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, Vice-Rector for HR and Organizational Affairs; prof. Paweł Włodarski, Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Promotion and Development; prof. Rafał Krenke, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Piotr Luliński, PhD hab., Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; prof. Mariusz Gujski, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; prof. Elżbieta Mierzwińska-Nastalska, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; Marta Kijak-Bloch, PhD, Chancellor of WUM; Jarosław Prugar, Deputy Chancellor for Operations; Wojciech Bogusz, MEng, Deputy Chancellor for Investments; Justyna Mieszalska, Head of the WUM Medical Center; Dariusz Paluszek, MD PhD, Chair of the Dentists Committee and Deputy Chair of the Regional Chamber of Physicians and Dentists; Janusz Szulik, CEO of TU INTER Polska; Justyna Kowalczyk, Director of the Marketing, PR & Ecommerce Bureau at TU INTER Polska; Katarzyna Kozłowska, regional sales coordinator at ARKONA; Michał Pudlis, head of Stern Weber Polska Sp. z o. o. Sales Department; Paweł Wojtaś, head of Marketing and PR at Stern Weber Polska Sp. z o. o.; members of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Council, chairpersons of teacher boards and syllabus boards, managers, academic teachers, representatives of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Students Government, guests invited by graduates.
Music for the event was provided by the WUM Medical University of Warsaw Choir.
