Faculty of Pharmacy welcomed first-year students

The vice dean for teaching in the field of pharmacy, dressed in a black and orange gown, shakes hands with a young girl—a student wearing a black blouse and jeans. The student smiles broadly. Two people in gowns stand next to them. Other people can also be seen in the background.
During the faculty’s opening ceremony of the academic year, congratulations were extended to the event’s main protagonists – and rightly so, as admission to the Pharmacy and Medical Analytics programs is a remarkable achievement. The new students were also wished success and good fortune. They then took the oath of matriculation.

A total of 269 new students joined the faculty community. They took their student oath on October 10. The event was hosted by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. hab. Piotr Luliński.

A faculty with a long tradition 

“I am very pleased that you have chosen our faculty. It is one of the leading faculties of pharmacy in Poland, with a long-standing tradition of educating pharmacists and laboratory diagnosticians,” emphasized the Dean.

The faculty was established as an independent academic unit in January 1926. Therefore, next year it will celebrate its centennial anniversary.

“A nearly 100-year history is a great responsibility,” noted Dr. hab. Piotr Luliński. “Years of experience in educating pharmacists and laboratory diagnosticians mean that your courses will be taught by outstanding academic teachers with long-term professional practice and experience.”

The Dean encouraged students to make the most of this potential and to acquire the skills necessary to perform their future profession responsibly and with passion. He concluded by wishing them success and an enjoyable student life.

Medical analytics and pharmacy offer broad opportunities

Although these fields of study are demanding, they provide excellent career prospects. This was emphasized by Prof. Marcin Sobczak, Vice-Rector for Science and Technology Transfer.

“It is rare for a chosen profession to offer such a wide range of opportunities. You can work in various areas of the healthcare system, as well as in industry, public administration, or the uniformed services,” said the Vice-Rector.

He also encouraged the newly admitted students to pursue scientific development and take advantage of the faculty’s numerous student research groups. He assured them that the academic staff would always be ready to offer support. 

We provide practical skills

“We aim to equip you with the competences and skills that will make solving diagnostic puzzles, performing the most complex laboratory tests, whether diagnostic or research-oriented, and explaining to others where the results come from, the simplest thing in the world,” said Prof. Olga Ciepiela, Vice-Dean for Education in the Medical Analytics program, addressing the newly admitted students.

She added that studying at the faculty involves not only classroom instruction but also laboratory work in medical diagnostic facilities, where courses are conducted by experienced practitioners. 

“Take advantage of these opportunities – they will pay off in your future professional life,” she emphasized.

The Vice-Dean also urged students to cultivate mutual respect and develop empathy, which are qualities essential for those working in medical professions. She advised them to be systematic in their studies, which will help them acquire knowledge more effectively, and to enjoy student life as well.

We teach professional responsibility

Dr. hab. Agnieszka Bazylko, Vice-Dean for Education in the Pharmacy program, stressed that, beyond providing knowledge, the teaching staff will remind students of the importance of performing their duties diligently, anticipating the consequences of their actions, and making the right decisions – in short, of being responsible.

“As members of medical professions, you will bear responsibility for the life and health of other people. That responsibility will stay with you as long as you practice your profession,” emphasized the Vice-Dean.

She added that this responsibility also involves lifelong learning, as medicine and pharmacy are constantly evolving with new discoveries.

“Updating your knowledge is, in fact, your duty,” said Dr. hab. Agnieszka Bazylko.

Matriculation ceremony

Next, Dr. Luliński read the text of the oath, which the students repeated, pledging, among other things, to diligently pursue knowledge and personal development, to act in accordance with ethical principles, and to maintain confidentiality regarding all information about patients obtained during their studies. They also received commemorative pins symbolizing their membership in the student body and the Faculty of Pharmacy community. 

The same allergen, different course of disease

The inaugural lecture, titled “Why can an allergy to the same allergen present differently in different patients?”, was delivered by Dr. Sławomir Białek. 

He focused on peanut allergy, as peanuts are among the most common and potent food allergens. Peanut allergy mainly affects young people, and its symptoms usually persist throughout life. The symptoms are numerous and highly varied. What makes peanuts a dangerous allergen is that they are often unexpectedly present in many different food products. Symptoms of peanut allergy include oral allergy syndrome, hives, skin itching, redness, respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath and coughing, eye irritation, and tearing. Severe reactions may include anaphylactic shock, characterized by a significant drop in blood pressure, acute dyspnea, loss of consciousness, convulsions, and laryngeal closure leading to respiratory obstruction, which may result in death.

“Why is this a peculiar disease, and why are the symptoms so diverse? To answer that, we must first consider what an allergen really is,” explained Dr. Sławomir  Białek.

He then thoroughly analyzed the issue of peanut allergens. It was an engaging and insightful lecture.

The ceremony concluded with a performance by the WUM Choir conducted by Daniel Synowiec.

The matriculation ceremony was attended by numerous distinguished guests, academic teachers, and the former Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Piotr Wroczyński.
 

Four people in gowns on the stage of the auditorium. Three are seated. One person—the dean of the faculty—is standing at the lectern and speaking. The university's coat of arms is displayed on the lectern. In the foreground is a large bouquet of white roses and red berries. In the background, part of a screen with the inscription Facultas Pharmaceutica can be seen.
The auditorium during the ceremony. On stage, there are four people dressed in academic gowns, three sitting and one standing at the lectern. Several dozen people are seated in red armchairs, all looking towards the stage.
Several people are sitting in red, soft armchairs in the auditorium. In the foreground, you can see a person wearing a light gray jacket and a white blouse, next to whom sits a person wearing a white sweater. In the background, there are more rows of occupied seats.
The vice-rector, wearing a burgundy gown and biretta, stands at a wooden lectern and gives a speech. In the background, two people in dark gowns are seated, and a fragment of a screen with the faculty logo is visible.
The vice dean for teaching in the field of medical analytics, wearing a black and orange gown, stands at the lectern and speaks. Three people in gowns sit in the background.
The vice dean for teaching in the field of pharmacy, wearing a black and orange gown, stands at the lectern and gives a speech. Three people in gowns sit in the background.
Students taking their oath. They are young people dressed casually. They look focused. They are looking straight ahead. They are standing in neat rows in the auditorium.
Students taking their oath. They are young people dressed casually. They look focused. They are looking straight ahead. They are standing in neat rows in the auditorium.
Three people, the vice-rector and vice-deans, dressed in academic gowns, stand in the middle of the auditorium. They are focused and serious. In the background, you can see chairs, a lectern, and a multimedia screen.
A student, the dean, the vice deans, and the vice president stand in the middle of the auditorium. The student and the vice president shake hands. Everyone is smiling.
The vice dean shakes hands with a student wearing a blue shirt. The vice dean holds a silver pin in her left hand. Other people can be seen in the background.
The vice dean shakes hands with a student wearing a blue shirt. Other people can be seen in the background.
The vice dean shakes hands with a student dressed elegantly in a black jacket. Other people can be seen in the background.
A round wicker basket filled with silver pins. Each pin is packaged in a box with a transparent lid and a navy blue bottom. The pins feature the logo of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
Dr. Białek stands behind the podium on stage. He is wearing a black academic gown. He is giving a speech. Behind him, a slide with the title of the presentation is displayed on the screen: “Why can an allergy to the same allergen have different clinical manifestations in different patients?”
Several rows of people are sitting in red chairs in the auditorium. In the front row are people wearing burgundy and orange gowns and people in elegant attire. Everyone is looking straight ahead, their faces focused. They are listening to a lecture.
The dean and vice deans present flowers to Dr. Białek. Everyone is smiling.
A group of young people—students, the dean, vice deans, vice rector, and others—are dressed formally and posing for a photo. The people in the front row—university and faculty authorities and invited guests—are seated, while the others are standing.