As a result of scientific and technological advancements, the functioning of medicine and healthcare has been fundamentally transformed, with an increasing emphasis on prevention, health development, and health education, State Secretary for Health at the Ministry of the Interior Péter Takács stated at the doctoral graduation ceremony of the Faculty of General Medicine (ÁOK) at Semmelweis University (SE) in Budapest on Saturday.
Péter Takács highlighted that revolutionary tools and procedures, such as robotic surgery and artificial intelligence, have become accessible. He added that the division of labour has also changed, with doctors now working in so-called multi-professional groups. He also pointed out that, alongside the spread of modern lifestyles and increased life expectancy, chronic diseases have come to the forefront, as has the number of individuals with addictions, and there are more people who require constant care. In his opinion, lifelong learning is indispensable in the medical profession, and the hallmarks of a good doctor are compassion, empathy, a proactive helping intent, and ‘the spirit of the Good Samaritan.’
Semmelweis University Rector Béla Merkely emphasized in his welcoming speech that Semmelweis University is the foremost university in Hungary and the region.
Doctors, armed with the knowledge acquired here, can compete with anyone in the world;
they can be welcomed and respected members of the global medical community everywhere, he highlighted. He added that an increasing number of students from abroad choose SE year after year, thanks to the university’s world-class standards and international integration.
He reminded that the university was the first in the country to implement an educational reform that resulted in a greater emphasis on practice and patient care alongside strong theoretical foundations. The continuous development is supported by the renewal of infrastructure, the development of research and healing institutions, and the expansion of educational and care profiles, he said. The university serves patients with the highest level of educational and research innovation activities, he stated. The Rector specifically pointed out that the current graduates continued their studies during the coronavirus pandemic,
and the entire nation could rely on their work at vaccination points, laboratories, and hospitals.
Gábor Orbán, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for National Health Care and Medical Education, the institution that manages Semmelweis University, stated in his speech that SE is Hungary’s best and most popular medical and health science educator, ranked among the world’s top 300 higher education institutions. He added that
one-third of the 16,000 students are foreign nationals from 115 countries.
He highlighted the university’s international relations, mentioning active collaborations with ‘leading Western and Eastern universities around the world,’ including Harvard University and the National University of Singapore. He emphasized that the university will continue to play an active role in the development of medical science in the future to provide the best possible education.
During the ceremony, 534 students were awarded doctoral degrees, with 303 graduating from the Hungarian programme, 148 from the English programme, and 83 from the German programme.
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