Capping ceremony for nursing and midwifery graduates

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A group of several hundred nursing and midwifery students is posing for a group photo in the auditorium. Seated in the front row are university officials wearing academic gowns.
It was a truly special day for them. Graduates of the full-time first-cycle Nursing and Midwifery programmes took part in the symbolic capping ceremony and received their diplomas.

The ceremony was held on 23 July at the WUM Didactic Center. The event was hosted by Prof. Robert Gałązkowski, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, while Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investment, Prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, represented the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw.

“Today's diplomas are the result of years of hard work. They stand for the hours spent in class, first encounters with patients, difficult situations, and moments of doubt. They also reflect experiences that are not part of the formal curriculum but that shape the way you think about your profession and, above all, about another human being,” said Prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska. “I know that the most meaningful moments in medicine rarely take place in ceremonial settings. Usually, the most important things happen quietly, in solitude while on duty at the patient’s bedside, at the moment when you need to notice a slight change in the patient’s condition and assess it properly…” emphasised the professor.

She also wished the graduates the courage to speak up, the humility to ask questions, and the maturity to understand that working as part of a team does not restrict professional independence, but helps you make sound decisions.

"Be compassionate"

Dr hab. Łukasz Czyżewski, Vice-Dean for Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, reminded graduates that the ceremony is just the beginning of their professional journey. He also emphasized the humanistic dimension of the nursing and midwifery professions.

"I would like you to take with you today the words of the Scottish writer John Watson: 'Be compassionate, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.' You will not always realise what kind of battle they are fighting. The patient who seems impatient may simply be afraid; the patient who remains silent may be losing hope... May today's cap serve as a symbol of your commitment to ensuring that, even in a world of algorithms and constant haste, you will remain people who care for people."

Dr hab. Justyna Teliga-Czajkowska, Vice-Dean for Midwifery at the Faculty of Health Sciences, emphasized the importance of sensitivity in her brief address.

"Studying midwifery requires not only acquiring a vast amount of knowledge but also developing a unique kind of sensitivity. We have watched you develop that sensitivity with every visit to the hospital. Midwifery is far more than a learned craft. You will accompany your patients through the moments of the greatest miracle – the birth of new life – but also through moments of pain and fear. Your empathy and attentiveness will be their greatest source of support. Remain eager to learn, strive for excellence, and go out into the world. Midwifery is a profession, not merely a specialisation!" the Vice-Dean concluded.

Compulsory items on the programme

The graduates officially accepted the professional titles conferred upon them and recited the professional pledge, the wording of which is identical for both nursing and midwifery graduates. Dr hab. Łukasz Czyżewski administered the pledge to nursing graduates, while the midwifery graduates took their pledge before Dr Sabina Stadnicka, academic tutor for the third-year midwifery students.

Finally came the moment everyone had been waiting for. A total of 220 nursing graduates and 88 midwifery graduates received their nursing and midwifery caps and diplomas.

Awards, distinctions and congratulations

Some graduates received additional recognition for their outstanding academic achievements and honoured for other special accomplishments. The awards and distinctions were presented by Prof. Robert Gałązkowski, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Prof. Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investment at WUM.

The awards were received by:

  • Amelia Lasota – for the highest grade point average (4.84) during the first-cycle Nursing programme, achieved in the 2023–2026 study period
  • Mateusz Borecki – for active participation in student and organisational activities as the elected representative of the third-year first-cycle Nursing students
  • Marta Szostek – for active participation in student and organisational activities as a member of the WUM Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Union Board
  • Dominika Ludwińska – for the highest grade point average (4.81) during the first-cycle Midwifery programme, achieved in the 2023–2026 study period
  • Laura Sobocińska – for active participation in student and organisational activities as the elected representative of the third-year first-cycle Midwifery students
  • Julia Kapusta – finalist of  the National Knowledge Olympiad “Midwife of the Future”
  • Ewa Deredas, Karolina Giebel, Joanna Romaniuk, and Maria Wajs – for active involvement in the Midwifery Students’ Scientific Society

Graduates’ voices

Last but not least, the graduates spoke to the audience. Maria Jędrzejczyk, President of the WUM Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Union, spoke about the significance of the cap, a symbol of responsibility, trust, and readiness to help others.

Speaking on behalf of her fellow graduates, Laura Sobocińska, the third-year representative of the Midwifery programme, expressed her gratitude to everyone who had supported them on their journey to becoming midwives. She offered special thanks to Dr hab. Justyna Teliga-Czajkowska, Dr Sabina Stadnicka, and the entire Department of Gynaecological and Obstetric Education, headed by Dr hab. Grażyna Bączek.

Speaking on behalf of the nursing graduates, third-year representative of Nursing students Mateusz Borecki said:

"It is not easy to describe in just a few sentences everything that each of us has experienced throughout this journey. The hours spent in clinical placements and the years of study are only part of the story, but they also mark the beginning of a wonderful path—our profession. We have experienced a whole range of emotions – from joy to sadness. But let’s admit it: we made it!”.

Mateusz Borecki also expressed his special gratitude to Dr Anna Sadowska for her tremendous support and to Dr hab. Tomasz Kryczka for some of the most beautiful moments at this university.

The ceremony concluded with a slideshow displayed on the auditorium screens, showcasing student life in the Nursing and Midwifery programmes from 2023 to 2026. The photographs were both humorous and deeply moving. They documented how the daily hard work and toil were combined with joy and fun. 

In his closing remarks, Prof. Robert Gałązkowski, the host of the ceremony, Prof. Robert Gałązkowski, turned to the graduates:

“At a time when anger and hatred are visible all around us, I would like you, as healthcare  professionals, to bring goodness into the world and a message of love for your fellow human beings.”

 

Who attended the ceremony

The ceremony was attended by many representatives of our University. In addition to those mentioned above, the guests included Prof. Bartosz Foroncewicz, Deputy Chair of the Medical Sciences Discipline Council; Prof. Renata Główczyńska, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Dr hab. Piotr Regulski, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Dental Medicine; Dr hab. Agnieszka Bazylko, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Dr Marta Kijak-Bloch, Chancellor; Dr hab. Filip Raciborski, Vice-Dean for Public Health; Dr hab. Patryk Rzońca, Vice-Dean for Dietetics and Emergency Medical Services; representatives of the Faculty of Health Sciences Council; and academic teachers.

The ceremony was also attended by many guests, including Dorota Ronek, Vice-Chair of the National Chamber of Nurses and Midwives; Urszula Kuroczycka, Deputy Director of the Health Department at the Masovian Voivodeship Office; Dr Barbara Mazurkiewicz, Vice-Chair of the Regional Council of the Warsaw Regional Chamber of Nurses and Midwives; Marzena Kowalczyk, Director of the University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw; Justyna Mieszalska, President of the Management Board of the WUM Medical Center; Dr Karolina Prasek, Director of the Nursing and Midwifery Development Department at the Medicover Group; Anna Sadkowska, Deputy Director of Nursing at the Independent Public Healthcare Facilities Complex Warszawa-Ochota; Dr hab. Urszula Tataj-Puzyna from the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education; Prof. Artur Ludwin, Head of the 1st Department and Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at WUM; MSc Aldona Prekiel, Nursing and Midwifery Coordinator at the Warsaw Institute of Women’s Health; Bogusława Szczerbińska, Nursing and Midwifery Coordinator at the Princess Anna Mazowiecka Hospital on Karowa Street; Marzena Sienicka, MSc, Deputy Director for Nursing at the Princess Anna Mazowiecka Clinical Hospital on Karowa Street; Sylwia Dybkowska, Deputy Director for Nursing at the University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw; and Katarzyna Gruda, Deputy Director of the Nursing Division at the Central Clinical Hospital of the University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha location.


 

A woman and two men in red robes are standing among the ceremony attendees. In the background, male and female students are seated in navy blue medical uniforms.
A man in a blue academic gown stands at the podium and delivers a speech during the cap-and-gown ceremony for the nursing and midwifery programs.
A woman and four men in togas are seated on stage during the ceremony. The woman is wearing a red toga; the others are wearing blue ones.
A woman in a red robe is standing at the podium and giving a speech. In the background are blue folders prepared for the ceremony’s participants.
Graduates in navy blue medical uniforms are sitting in the auditorium and listening to the speeches.
Graduates in white medical scrubs are seated in rows in the auditorium during the ceremony. The other attendees are in the background.
Graduates in navy blue medical scrubs are sitting in the auditorium. A few of them are looking toward the photographer.
Women wearing nursing caps are sitting in the front row of the auditorium. Some of them are wearing red dresses and white jackets, while others are wearing white medical uniforms.
A woman and five graduates are posing for a commemorative photo. The graduates are holding blue folders and white bags.
A man in a blue academic gown is speaking at the podium during the cap-and-gown ceremony. The name of the event is displayed on the screen behind him.
Graduates in navy blue medical uniforms are sitting in the auditorium and applauding.
Graduates in navy blue medical uniforms stand between the rows of seats during the official part of the ceremony.
A group of graduates in navy blue medical scrubs is standing in the auditorium. The other attendees are in the background.
Women and men are seated among the audience during the ceremony. In the foreground is a woman wearing a light blue blazer.
The graduates are sitting in chairs, waiting for the cap-and-gown ceremony. Behind them stand women and a man in white medical scrubs and nursing caps.
A man in a blue robe is handing a document to a woman wearing a navy blue medical uniform and a nurse's cap. The woman is holding a blue folder in her hands.
A graduate wearing a navy blue medical uniform and a nurse's cap is sitting and clapping. In the background, women and a man are standing in white medical uniforms.
A woman in a red gown is presenting a document to a graduate wearing a navy blue medical uniform and a nurse's cap. The graduate is holding a blue folder in her hands.
A view of the auditorium during the cap-and-gown ceremony. In the foreground stands a man in a blue academic gown, and the audience fills nearly every seat in the hall.
A woman in a blue gown stands at the podium and gives a speech during the graduation ceremony for the nursing and midwifery programs. Behind her sits a man in a blue gown.
Five young women in white medical uniforms are sitting in chairs, while the women standing behind them are putting midwife caps on their heads.
A young woman in a white medical uniform and a midwife's cap is receiving congratulations from a woman in a red gown. In the background, an audience is gathered in the auditorium.
Five young women in white medical uniforms are seated during the cap-presentation ceremony. The women standing behind them are adjusting the midwives’ caps.
A young woman in a white medical uniform and a midwife's cap is receiving congratulations from a woman in a red gown. In the background, the ceremony's attendees are standing.
A group of women in white medical uniforms and midwife caps stands in rows in the auditorium with their right hands raised as they take the oath. One of the women is holding a blue folder.
Women in white medical scrubs and midwife caps stand with their right hands raised as they take the oath. Blue folders rest on the backs of the chairs.
A man and a woman in robes are standing on either side of a young woman wearing a navy blue medical uniform and a nurse's cap. The woman is holding a beige cloth bag.
A man in a blue gown and a woman in a red gown are posing for a photo with a young man in a navy blue medical uniform. The man is holding a paper bag with the Medical University of Warsaw logo.
Two men and a woman in robes are posing for a photo with a young woman wearing a navy blue medical uniform and a nurse's cap. The woman is holding a blue briefcase and a navy blue bag.
A woman and a man in blue gowns and a woman in a red gown are posing for a photo with a young woman wearing a white medical uniform and a midwife's cap. The woman is holding a beige cloth bag.
A young woman in a white medical uniform and a midwife's cap is receiving congratulations from a woman in a red gown. Standing next to them are a woman and a man in blue gowns. In the background, an audience gathered in the auditorium can be seen.
A woman and a man in blue gowns and a woman in a red gown are posing for a photo with a young woman wearing a white medical uniform and a midwife's cap.
A woman and a man in blue gowns and a woman in a red gown are standing with four young women in white medical uniforms and midwife caps. The women are holding white bags.
A woman in a black robe is standing at the podium and giving a speech during the ceremony.
Graduates in navy blue medical uniforms are sitting in the auditorium. Many of the women are wearing nursing caps.
A young woman in a white medical uniform and a midwife's cap is standing at the podium and speaking. Next to her is a young man in a navy blue medical uniform.
A young man in a navy blue medical uniform stands at the podium and speaks during the ceremony. In the background, a man in a blue robe is sitting.
A man in a blue robe is receiving a bouquet of flowers from someone standing with their back to the camera. The ceremony's participants are seated around them.