The 100th Anniversary Gala of the Faculty of Pharmacy was also a solemn meeting of the Faculty Council. The ceremony was attended by numerous guests from outside the university: representatives of the administrative authorities of Warsaw, representatives of pharmaceutical chambers and societies, as well as former graduates of the faculty. The event was hosted by Prof. Piotr Luliński, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
The beginning of a century-long history
"A Regulation by the Minister of Religious Denominations and Public Education establishing the Faculty of Pharmacy as an independent academic unit of what was then the University of Warsaw was published in the Official Journal No. 4 166/9 as of 15 February 1926," said Prof. Piotr Luliński. "Today's solemn meeting of the Council of the Faculty of Pharmacy takes place on the centenary of another important event in the life of the faculty, namely the ceremony of handing over the insignia of the dean's authority – the scepter and the dean's chain. The rector of the University of Warsaw entrusted them to the newly appointed dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Władysław Mazurkiewicz, and the ceremony was held on June 6, 1926."
The history of the faculty was also recalled by Prof. Rafał Krenke, the Rector of the WUM, who noted that the academic roots of pharmaceutical education in Warsaw dated back to a chemistry and pharmacy course offered in 1809.
"However, it was a hundred years ago that a breakthrough occurred which had a spectacular impact on the development of the pharmaceutical profession," said the Rector.
Professor Krenke also recalled the profiles of the first deans of the Faculty. They introduced an innovative four-year educational program that revolutionized Polish pharmacy profession and laid the foundations for the development of modern pharmacy. The Rector emphasized that the Faculty of Pharmacy has always set the highest standards in science and education.
"Today we look back on 100 years of history with great pride. We have gone from a traditional pharmacy recipe to biotechnology, nanomedicine and advanced research into new therapies."
Acknowledgements and congratulations
Words of appreciation, congratulations and best wishes marking the occasion of the 100th anniversary dominated the first part of the ceremony. The guests congratulated the entire community of the Faculty of Pharmacy and thanked them for their contribution to the development of health care. The congratulatory letter from the Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, was read by Piotr Wertenstein-Żuławski, a Warsaw City Council member, the chairman of the Infrastructure and Investment Committee. Congratulations were also extended by Prof. Wojciech Miltyk, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy with the Department of Laboratory Medicine of the Medical University of Bialystok, the chairman of the Conference of Deans of the Pharmaceutical Faculties of Medical Universities. At the same time, he emphasized the support that the Faculty of Pharmacy in Białystok received from researchers and faculty members from the Faculty of Pharmacy WUM. Professor Miltyk also read a congratulatory letter from Dr Bożena Karolewicz, University Professor, the President of the Polish Pharmaceutical Society. Marian Witkowski, the President of the District Pharmaceutical Council in Warsaw, spoke on behalf of the Supreme Pharmaceutical Council. Words of appreciation were also offered by: Dr. Monika Pintal-Ślimak, the President of the National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians, Grzegorz Cessak, the President of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, Prof. Włodzimierz Opoka, the national consultant for pharmaceutical analytics and Katarzyna Ładno, the director of the Warsaw Branch of TU INTER Polska S.A., Dr Katarzyna Winsz-Szczotka, ŚUM Professor, congratulated on behalf of the Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnosticians, in her capacity as its president. Małgorzata Wojtal-Białaszewska, the Director General of the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, read a letter from Łukasz Pietrzak, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector.
Badges and medals
The Centennial Gala is a perfect oppportunity to honor those who contributed to the development of the Faculty of Pharmacy and those who have served the city of Warsaw with distinction. "Distinguished Service to Warsaw" honorary badges were awarded to: Prof. Halina Strzelecka, Prof. Bożenna Gutkowska and Prof. Jan Pachecka. They were presented by Piotr Wertenstein-Żuławski together with Jarosław Jóźwiak, a Warsaw City Council member and the chairman of the Health Committee.
Honorary and commemorative medals of the Centenary of the Faculty of Pharmacy were also awarded. These decorations were presented by a committee chaired by Prof. Joanna Kolmas. Recognition was extended to those who stood out for their active participation, commitment and contribution to the development and strengthening of the academic community of the Faculty of Pharmacy WUM.
Honorary medals were awarded to:
- Prof. Bożenna Gutkowska
- Prof. Helena Makulska
- Prof. Jan Pachecka
- Prof. Agnieszka Pietrosiuk
- Prof. Halina Strzelecka
- Prof. Piotr Wroczyński
- Dr Maria Niemyjska
- Dr Grażyna Prokopienko
- Krystyna Chrostowska, MSc
- Anna Zabielska
Commemorative medals were awarded to:
- Prof. Iwona Arabas
- Prof. Magdalena Bujalska-Zadrożny
- Prof. Joanna Giebułtowicz
- Prof. Grzegorz Nałęcz-Jawecki
- Prof. Jakub Piwowarski
- Dr hab. Kinga Ostrowska
- Dr hab. Katarzyna Paradowska
- Dr hab. Tomasz Paliński
- Dr hab. Edyta Pinderska
- Dr hab. Łukasz Szeleszczuk
- Dr Sławomir Białek
- Dr Anieszka Chodkowska-Doktór
- Dr Małgorzata Jeziorek
- Dr Marzenna Klimaszewska
- Dr Marek Król
- Dr Przemysław Kurowski
- Dr Łukasz Pajchel
- Dr Monika Franczak-Rogowska
- Dr Paweł Siudem
- Dr Ewa Skarżyńska
- Dr Agnieszka Stawarska
- Dr Marzanna Strupińska
- Dorota Gajdzis-Kuls, MSc
- Violetta Kowalska, MSc
- Aneta Markucińska, MSc
- Sylwia Lewandowska-Pachecka, MSc
- Katarzyna Stańczyk, MSc
- Anna Ołtuszewska
- Wiesław Urbanik
- Aleksandra Zadrużna
Diplomas for graduates and high school students
A highlight of the ceremony was the formal renewal of Master's degrees in pharmacy for graduates who completed the Faculty of Pharmacy in 1976 and previously. Each of the 99 registered graduates received a diploma that read:
"In recognition of merits to the Polish pharmaceutical industry, we: the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw and the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, mindful of the noble tradition of our ancestors, renew and confirm academic honors perfected by work and achievements. Through the prestige of our University, we honor the dignity of the Master of Pharmacy degree. In recognition of this event and in the eternal memory of this Master, we are pleased to present this diploma bearing the seal of our University."
Diplomas were also awarded to high school students who authored the best works in the art competition "Faculty of Pharmacy yesterday, today and tomorrow – 100 years of science, didactics and passion". In total, 19 students from high schools in Warsaw and the surrounding area received awards and distinctions.
Expert lecture
During the ceremony, there was a frequent mention of history, tradition, the past, but there was also a look toward the future.
"Modern technology that enables remote control of production and logistics processes also provides a gateway for cybercriminals who can remotely interfere with drug production and the IT infrastructure of hospitals and other medical facilities," said Prof. Piotr Luliński when inviting Jacek Walaszczyk (EY Poland) to give a lecture entitled "Cyber threats in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors".
The expert in the security of industrial control systems explained what the OT (Operational Technology) environment is and how it differs from the IT we know. He recalled famous hacker attacks, such as WannaCry (2017-2018), during which a major American pharmaceutical company was affected. He analyzed trends in cyber threats. It turns out that today, we most often deal with ransomware, i.e., messages demanding a ransom, usually in cryptocurrency.
Memories of Deans
The last point of the ceremony included the speeches of former deans of the Faculty of Pharmacy. They shared their memories not only from the time when they headed the department. Prof. Bożenna Gutkowska (Dean in 1987-1993) considered her most important achievements to be the establishment of pedagogical councils for individual years of study and the initiation of the Conference of Deans which included the deans of all pharmaceutical faculties.
Prof. Jan Pachecka (Dean in 1999-2005) emphasized that his presence at the Faculty of Pharmacy was a long way – from Master's degree to Professor and from student to dean. The Professor thanked his teachers and recalled the friendships he had formed during his studies:
“At the opening of the last Winter Games, Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said: 'I'm here because you are.' I could say 'I'm here because you were' and thus pay tribute to my wonderful teachers and friends."
Prof. Piotr Wroczyński (Dean in 2012-2020) also spoke about his deceased friends. The Professor mentioned that his two dean's terms were very different from each other. The first one mainly involved work on the quantity and quality of scientific publications. The second one was spent battling reality, and reality wasn't easy, because the Faculty building was undergoing major renovations at that time.
The deans' memories ended with a speech by Joanna Kolmas (Dean in 2020-2022). This term was short and very intense – the pandemic, Faculty building renovation, curriculum changes adapting the field of pharmacy to new educational standards. This challenge was successfully met.
The gala was not only an occasion for memories and thanks, but also a confirmation that the Faculty of Pharmacy remains an important center of research, education and innovation. One hundred years of history is a solid foundation for the next generations of pharmacists who will co-create the future of pharmacy and the healthcare system.
The event was organized by the Dean and the Council of the Faculty of Pharmacy. The ceremony was held on 9 June 2026.
