History told through exhibits
The exhibition presents the history of the Faculty of Pharmacy – both its educational and scientific development. The display has been enriched with valuable, often unique, memorabilia connected with the Faculty’s past.
Among the most important exhibits are the original dean’s gown of Professor Władysław Mazurkiewicz, the first Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the dean’s chain of Professor Bronisław Koskowski, the Faculty’s second Dean. Visitors can also view a priceless volume by Teofil Tugendhold from the collection of the Department of Applied Pharmacy, which was recovered after it had been lost during the Second World War.
As highlighted during the opening by Dr hab. Piotr Luliński, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, these exhibits make it possible to trace the development of pharmaceutical science and education in Warsaw.
“The history of our Faculty has been turbulent, just like the last hundred years of Polish history,” the Dean noted. “However, the resilience of scientists and academic staff has allowed us to survive these difficult periods and has brought us to this jubilee.”
The significance of the anniversary
The exhibition is the first part of the anniversary celebrations, which will last for the next five months and will highlight both the Faculty’s traditions and its contemporary achievements.
During the opening ceremony, Dean Luliński recalled that the establishment of the Faculty of Pharmacy by ministerial regulation in 1926 was a milestone in academic pharmaceutical education in Poland.
“Our Faculty can be proud of numerous scientific achievements that have left a lasting mark on the development of Polish and global pharmacy,” the Dean stressed.
The Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, Professor Rafał Krenke, noted that although the Faculty has undergone profound changes over the decades, one thing has remained constant.
“Throughout the Faculty’s history, almost everything has changed, but what matters most is what remains unchanged – values. From the very beginning, they have constituted the very core of its activity. I am referring here to educational and scientific values at the highest level. The Faculty of Pharmacy has always pursued its scientific mission, understanding science with a capital ‘S’: science of the highest level, socially responsible and fully engaged.”
Visitors were encouraged to explore the exhibition by Grażyna Jermakowicz, Director of the Museum of the History of Medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw, who prepared it together with her team. She noted that the history presented here dates back to 1809.
“This first period – the years 1809–1926 – covers the teaching of pharmacy in various forms within academic structures, from courses, and departments, to the era of major reforms and the establishment of an independent Faculty of Pharmacy,” explained the Museum Director.
Ceremonial meeting of the Faculty Council
As part of the inauguration of the anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Pharmacy, a ceremonial meeting of the Faculty Council was held in the auditorium of the WUM Didactic Centre, followed by a discussion session entitled “The Faculty of Pharmacy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
Professor Iwona Arabas, Head of the Research Unit for the History of Natural and Medical Sciences at the Polish Academy of Sciences, explained the significance of establishing the Faculty of Pharmacy and the processes that led to its creation. Professor Jan Pachecka, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the years 1999–2002, recalled the turn of the 1990s and 2000s – a distinctive period when Poland was preparing to join the European Union, which required universities to introduce substantial changes.
Another challenge for the Faculty was a comprehensive renovation that began in 2018, aimed at adapting the buildings to health and safety requirements. This process involved relocation and organisational restructuring, as described by Professor Joanna Kolmas, Dean of the Faculty in the years 2020–2022. She also reflected on how the Faculty functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panel discussion also addressed the draft of new educational standards for the pharmacy degree programme. As informed by Dr hab. Agnieszka Bazylko, Vice-Dean for Education in Pharmacy, the programme will return to a five-year structure, which will also include professional placements. This will mark a major change, described as almost revolutionary. Work on new standards for the medical analytics programme was presented by Professor Olga Ciepiela, Vice-Dean for Education in Medical Analytics
Dr Sławomir Białek, Coordinator for Postgraduate Education of the Faculty of Pharmacy programmes at the Centre for Postgraduate Education of WUM, spoke about the development of postgraduate studies, highlighting in particular the strong interest in and popularity of programmes in professional pharmaceutical care.
The discussion concluded with contributions from Professor Marcin Sobczak, Vice-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer, and Dr hab. Piotr Luliński, Dean of the Faculty. The Vice-Rector focused on the scientific future of the Faculty, while the Dean addressed its educational prospects. The panel was moderated by Jarosław Kulczycki, Spokesperson for WUM.
At the ceremonial Council meeting, attendees watched a documentary presenting a 100-year history of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
A performance by the Choir of the WUM, conducted by Daniel Synowiec, also took place.
Hosts and guests of the event
The host of the exhibition opening and the extraordinary meeting of the Faculty Council was Dr hab. Piotr Luliński, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy. The ceremonies were attended by: Professor Rafał Krenke, Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw; Professor Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Operations; Professor Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs and Investments; Professor Marcin Sobczak, Vice-Rector for Science and Technology Transfer; Professor Paweł Włodarski, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Dr hab. Piotr Regulski, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; Dr hab. Łukasz Czyżewski, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; Professor Renata Główczyńska, Professor Aleksandra Banaszkiewicz, and Professor Aneta Nitsch-Osuch, Vice-Deans of the Faculty of Medicine; Dr Marta Kijak-Bloch, Chancellor of the WUM; Wojciech Bogusz, Deputy Chancellor for Investments; Professor Marta Struga, Chair of the Medical Sciences Discipline Council; Professor Maciej Dawidowski, Vice-Chair of the Council for the Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Professor Alicja Wiercińska-Drapało, Member of the University Council; Professor Marek Krawczyk, Rector of WUM in the years 2008–2016; Professor Mirosław Wielgoś, Rector of WUM in the years 2016–2020; Professor Bożenna Gutkowska, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the years 1987–1993 and former Vice-Rector of WUM; Professor Jan Pachecka, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the years 1999–2002 and former Vice-Rector of WUM; Professor Joanna Kolmas, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the years 2020–2022; Professor Olga Ciepiela, Vice-Dean for Education in Medical Analytics; Dr hab. Agnieszka Bazylko, Vice-Dean for Pharmacy Education; Dr Monika Franczak-Rogowska from the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis; Dr Sławomir Białek, Coordinator for Postgraduate Education of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Centre for Postgraduate Education of WUM; Professor Bogdan Ciszek, Head of the Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy; Professor Ireneusz Sołtyszewski, Member of the Museum Council; Dr Monika Pintal-Ślimak, President of the National Council of Laboratory Diagnosticians; Marian Witkowski, Vice-President of the Supreme Pharmaceutical Chamber and President of the Regional Pharmaceutical Chamber in Warsaw; Mariusz Mańkowski, Member of the Management Board of Gedeon Richter Polska; Dr hab. Piotr Rudzki, Head of the Bioanalysis Laboratory at Celon Pharma S.A.; Dr Maciej Sosnowski, Director in the Clinical Research Department at AstraZeneca; Professor Iwona Arabas, Head of the Research Unit for the History of Natural and Medical Sciences at the Polish Academy of Sciences; Sabina Sobolewska, Chair of the Board of the Student Government of the Faculty of Pharmacy; and Grażyna Jermakowicz, Acting Director of the Museum of the History of Medicine at WUM, together with her team.
