The ceremony began with the singing by the Choir of the Medical University of Warsaw of the song "Gaude Mater Polonia" and the national anthems of the Republic of Poland and Spain. - Today's ceremony is an expression of respect and recognition of our community for the achievements and achievements of the professor – said Professor Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, opening the ceremony.
- I am happy and honored that we can meet in such an exceptional group to award the title of doctor honoris causa to an outstanding specialist, a man of science, who has achieved mastery in the art of medicine, but above all, a long-time and distinguished friend of the Medical University of Warsaw. I am happy and I am grateful. Professor Mariano Sanz came to Poland for the first time 32 years ago. It was then that the professor's extremely fruitful and extremely kind cooperation with the Medical University of Warsaw began. Its initiator was the late Professor Maria Wierzbicka - head of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology. Professor Mariano Sanz made an enormous contribution to the work of thorough reorganization of the periodontology curriculum in Poland. He was an inspiration and a source of invaluable support for many joint scientific programs thanks to which Polish periodontics began to gain recognition in European countries and around the world. – Professor Zbigniew Gaciong, Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw said in his speech. - For 32 years of friendship and support, on behalf of the academic community of the Medical University of Warsaw, a wholesome thank you, professor - the rector added.
- Awarding the title of doctor honoris causa at our university has a long tradition and is awarded not only for scientific achievements, but also for an ethical attitude and commitment to the development of our university and its academic community - emphasized Professor Agnieszka Mielczarek, vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, reviewer of the honorary doctorate of Professor Mariano Sanz. In the laudation preceding the awarding of the title, Professor Mielczarek presented the profile of Professor Sanz and discussed his scientific achievements. Over 35 years of scientific career of the professor covers the key areas of research in periodontology and implantology. 514 scientific publications by the professor and his team concern the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases, bone biology, implant placement and peri-implant disease management. A large part of the professor's achievements also covers the issues of tissue engineering, reconstructive surgery and periodontal plastic surgery. Professor Sanz has also devoted much research to the relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, he has been working on issues related to the new classification of periodontal diseases. Professor Mielczarek also emphasized the merits of Professor Sanz for our university and Polish dentistry, recalling that he was the initiator of many joint scientific programs, thanks to which Polish periodontology began to gain recognition in European countries and around the world. Since 2014, the professor has been cooperating with the Polish Society of Periodontology, which, thanks to his support, became a member of the European Federation of Periodontology.
Then Professor Paweł Włodarski, Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Promotion and Development, read the Latin wording of the doctor's honoris causa diploma and, together with the rector, presented it to Professor Sanz.
The new honorary doctor thanked everyone involved in the process of awarding him the title. He recalled the beginnings of cooperation with the Medical University of Warsaw and the Polish Society of Periodontology. He also expressed his appreciation to Professor Maria Wierzbicka, who, in his opinion, played a major role in the implementation of new directions of dental education in Poland, established in the so-called Bologna Trials. Then he shared with the participants of the ceremony his reflections on the relationship between periodontics and systemic diseases and its impact on public health and quality of life. Finally, Professor Sanz thanked the Medical University of Warsaw once again for awarding the title, stressing that he would wear it with pride and gratitude.
The culmination of the ceremony was a musical concert performed by the duo "Wild Roses".
In addition to the above-mentioned representatives of the university authorities, the ceremony was attended by: Professor Piotr Pruszczyk – Vice-Rector for Science and Technology Transfer, Ambassador of Spain - Francisco Javier Sanabria Valderrama, representatives of Universidad Complutense in Madrid and members of the Senate of the Medical University of Warsaw, deans of faculties of our university and members of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
