The 2026/2027 academic year officially began | Medical University of Warsaw

The Rector, wearing an academic gown, touches a female student’s shoulder with the ceremonial mace.

The ceremonial inauguration and symbolic opening of the 2026/2027 academic year are behind us. Many guests celebrated alongside our academic community, which has been joined by newly admitted students.

The event was held on October 5 in the Prof. J. Piekarczyk main lecture hall at the WUM Didactic Center. The ceremony was opened by the entrance of the flag bearers and the university procession. Next, “Gaude Mater Polonia” and the national anthem were sung. Prof. Rafał Krenke, the Rector of WUM, welcomed the audience. In his speech, he emphasized that the Medical University of Warsaw was developing as a modern university that combined scientific research, technological innovation and clinical practice.

“The future of medicine is being created now, every day,” said Professor Krenke. “Research on the application of artificial intelligence, digital diagnostics, robotics, precision medicine and other new technologies is being conducted in laboratories and at the patient's bedside in order to translate the findings into actual clinical practice in the following stage.”

At the same time, the Rector emphasized the importance of values and ethical attitude:

“By developing new technologies and their applications, we put people at the center. Innovative solutions are designed to help healthcare professionals and patients, without replacing personal relationship and responsibility.”

Rector Rafał Krenke devoted a significant part of the speech to the development of education. He highlighted the ongoing investments in teaching facilities, the expansion of the Center for Medical Simulation and projects designed to enhance the practical dimension of teaching. He also emphasized that the high quality of education and the preparation of students not only in terms of technical skills and knowledge, but also communication and ethical competences remained the priorities of WUM.

The Rector also discussed the social responsibility of the university, its involvement in building health security, counteracting medical disinformation and the role of cooperation with domestic and foreign partners. He also welcomed new students, expressing his conviction that they would enrich the academic community with their talents, ideas and fresh perspectives.

Congratulations from guests

The attendees listened to a congratulatory letter of the President of the Republic of Poland, which was handed over by Alwin Gajadhur, an advisor to the president. In the letter, the President referred to the history of Warsaw medicine and the ethos of medical professions.

“Medicine is more than a field of science and a profession. It is a service to man. A service that, in times of greatest trial, requires knowledge and skills, but also courage, responsibility and loyalty to fundamental values.”

The ceremony was also attended by Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw, who addressed students directly, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and cooperation, both during studies and later in their professional lives.

“I hope that you will develop your interpersonal skills, the ability to work as a team, that you will be curious all the time, that you will question reality all the time and that you will not accept those who know the answer to every question.”

The Mayor also spoke about the great role of empathy when practicing medical professions.

“Especially in times when artificial intelligence is developing, it may become apparent that empathy and interpersonal contact are of utmost importance.”

Tomasz Maciejewski, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health and a graduate of the Medical University of Warsaw, spoke primarily about the significance of the university in the history of Polish medicine and about the values that have been passed on to subsequent generations of students for decades. He highlighted the achievements of WUM, its role in the development of modern treatment methods and the contribution of outstanding scientists associated with the university. Tomasz Maciejewski also drew attention to the achievements of WUM and its role as a center for developing new medical solutions.

“This is a place, where procedures are introduced that, until recently, seemed purely futuristic. This is where solutions are developed that were previously non-existent in the medical system. WUM is a place where fields such as transplantology, modern pediatrics, immunology and oncology are being developed, and the boundaries of modern medicine are constantly being challenged.”

Andrzej Szeptycki, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, also joined the group of speakers and read a letter from Minister Marcin Kulasek. Anna Katarzyna Brzezińska, a member of the Executive Board of the Mazovian Voivodeship offered congratulations on behalf of Marshal Adam Struzik.

Official matriculation ceremony

There will be 3,360 new students starting the 2026/2027 academic year at our university. They symbolically begin their journey with matriculation, i.e., the act of being officially admitted to the student body. Students who had the highest scores during this year's admissions process are invited to participate in the official matriculation ceremony at the inauguration.

During the inauguration, the words of the student oath were read by Prof. Marek Kuch, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Education. The students gathered in the auditorium pledged that they would persistently strive to acquire knowledge, pursue professional and personal development, while also upholding the dignity and honor of a student of the Medical University of Warsaw.

Next, the Rector, accompanied by the Deans, used his scepter to formally admit 19 people with the best results. The group included:

from the Faculty of Medicine: Maksymilian Gajda, Tymon Gotowicz, Izabela Naumiuk, Grzegorz Paleczny, Aleksander Prejzner
from the Faculty of Dental Medicine: Maja Szatkowska, Maria Tondera, Laura Mackiewicz, Maja Mikołajczyk, Anna Chwalbińska, Agata Frydrychowicz, Julita Wrona
from the Faculty of Pharmacy: Bartłomiej Tomczak, Weronika Przeździecka
from the Faculty of Health Sciences: Zuzanna Zielińska, Magdalena Borychowska, Milena Tarczewska, Jan Mikuła, Paweł Semerak.

Students of the first year of the Doctoral School were also matriculated. The words of the oath were read by Prof. Marcin Sobczak, the Vice Rector for Science and Technology Transfer. Doctoral students with the highest score obtained during the admissions process were formally admitted by the Rector. The group included: Anna Jurga (medical sciences), Klaudia Pawlikowska (health sciences), Julia Górnicka (pharmaceutical sciences), Jan Jurak (WUM Student PhD path).

Voice of students and doctoral students

“The inauguration of the academic year is one of those moments that allow us to look at the university not only from the perspective of everyday classes, examinations and responsibilities, but above all, we see a community of people who share the place, values and responsibility for the university that we create together,” said Aleksandra Ochnik, the President of WUM Student Government.

She pointed out that the university was not only an institution where knowledge was acquired. It is a place for exchanging thoughts, clashing views and taking responsibility for what we want to leave behind. That is why the dialogue between students and university teachers is of particular importance.

“I would like it to be based on mutual respect, openness and the belief that each party may bring something important to the life of the university.”

Adam Bujanowicz, the Vice President of the WUM Doctoral Student Government, said:

“As a representative of doctoral students, I would like to address in particular those who have considered pursuing a scientific career. If you nurture this thought and provide it with intellectual nourishment, quite real questions will arise, questions that we are not ready to answer yet. Sometimes the research will not bring a clear confirmation or denial, but it may become a starting point for further discoveries,” he argued.

Finally, he wished the newly admitted doctoral students the courage to ask questions and good luck in meeting people they could count on.
Inaugural lecture

The lecture “From Innovation to Clinical Transformation: How new medical technologies change practice, patients’ outcomes and the socio-economic environment” was an important part of the inaugural ceremony. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Peter J. Friend, specialist in organ transplantation and liver and biliary surgery from the University of Oxford, a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), a former president of the British Transplantation Society. The development of a perfusion technology in normothermia was one of the most important achievements of this outstanding scientist. The method allows an organ harvested for transplantation to be kept outside the body at human body temperature, so that doctors can assess its function before transplantation. The solution significantly increased the possibilities of using organs from donors, including the liver, which could previously be considered unsuitable for transplantation.

The professor recalled his own experiences related to the path leading from a medical idea and early research to its widespread application in clinical practice. His lecture concerned OrganOx Metra which is a normothermic liver perfusion system and an innovative technology of organ storage.

Guests and hosts of the event

The most important ceremony of the academic year was attended by: Alwin Gajadhur, advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland; Beata Małecka-Libera, the Chair of the Senate Health Committee; Tomasz Maciejewski, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health; Andrzej Szeptycki, the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and Marcin Iskra, Director General at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education; Łukasz Pietrzak, Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector; Col. Dr Arkadiusz Kosowski, the Plenipotentiary of the Minister of National Defence for the coordination of activities in the field of integrated healthcare; Anna Katarzyna Brzezińska, a member of the Mazovian Voivodeship Management Board; Agnieszka Gonczaryk, Director of the Department of Health and Health Policy at the Marshal's Office; Dr Elżbieta Kozubek, the Director of the Mazovian Office of Regional Planning; Urszula Kuroczycka, Deputy Director of the Health Department of the Mazovian Voivodeship Office; Dr Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw; Cezary Nowosielski, the Director of the Health Policy Office at the City Hall of Warsaw; Piotr Krasnodębski, the Mayor of the Ochota District; Małgorzata Ciechomska-Sołtyk, the Deputy Mayor of the Ochota District; Vasyl Bodnar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland; Waleeda Al-Shahrani, the Consul of the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Republic of Poland; Andreas Røsberg, the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in the Republic of Poland; Prof. Peter J. Friend, the author of the inaugural lecture.

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of churches, as well as rectors and vice rectors of partner universities. Former rectors of WUM also attended: Prof. Tadeusz Tołłoczko, the Rector of the Medical Academy in the years 1990-1996; Prof. Andrzej Górski, the Rector of the Medical Academy in 1996-1999; Prof. Leszczek Pączek, the Rector of the Medical Academy in 2005-2008; Prof. Marek Krawczyk, the Dean of Division Five of Medical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw in 2008-2016; Prof. Mirosław Wielgoś, the Rector of WUM in 2016-2020 and Prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, the Rector of WUM in 2020-2024.

The ceremony was also attended by former rectors of Warsaw Universities, representatives of research institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, representatives of various institutions including directors of hospitals cooperating with WUM, directors of WUM teaching hospitals, officials and representatives of the scientific community and organizations collaborating with and supporting WUM, and representatives of student organizations.

The event was hosted by the Rector of WUM, Prof. Rafał Krenke and the Vice Rectors: Prof. Marek Kuch, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Prof. Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, the Vice Rector for Human Resources, Prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, the Vice Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investment; Prof. Marcin Sobczak, the Vice Rector for Science and Technology Transfer, and Prof. Michał Grąt, the Vice Rector for International Relations, Promotion and Development. Our university was also represented by deans of faculties, chairmen of scientific discipline councils, members of the university council, members of the WUM Senate, student and doctoral student government heads.

The musical setting of the ceremony was provided by the Choir of the Medical University of Warsaw.