The ceremony was held on October 8. This year, 1,776 students are enrolled at the Faculty of Dental Medicine (WLS). They were welcomed by Prof. Agnieszka Mielczarek, the Dean of WLS and the hostess of the matriculation ceremony together with Prof. Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk, the Vice Rector for Human Resources.
“On behalf of the university authorities, but also personally, as a long-time academic teacher of this faculty and its former dean, I warmly welcome you to our community,” said Prof. Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk. “Today's matriculation ceremony begins an important and, I hope, beautiful period in your lives. I wish you to remain curious and courageous, not to be discouraged by difficulties and to remember that you can always count on this department for help.”
When addressing new students, Prof. Agnieszka Mielczarek encouraged them to make the most of their studies, engaging not only in science, but also in the activities of student self-government, scientific clubs or sports activity. She also emphasized the importance of university teachers whom students will meet on their way. Not only can they pass on their knowledge, but they can also become mentors and sources of inspiration for them.
“Today you officially join our academic community. I am convinced that in a few years you will remember this day with fondness as the beginning of an important professional and personal journey,” assured the Dean.
Taking the oath
Even before taking the student oath, students who obtained the highest scores in the admission process for faculty programs were distinguished. The group included:
- from audiophonology with hearing care – Agata Frydrychowicz,
- from electroradiology (first-cycle studies) – Julia Wrona, from electroradiology (second-cycle studies) – Szymon Kujda, from electroradiology (second-cycle part-time studies) – Marta Wołoszyn,
- from physiotherapy – Anna Chwalbińska,
- from dental hygiene – Maja Mikołajczyk,
- from dental medicine – Nikola Domagała, Maja Szatkowska and Maria Tondera,
- from the English Dentistry Division – Amirhossein Aslani,
- from general and clinical speech therapy (first-cycle studies) – Zofia Mazgajska, from general and clinical speech therapy (second-cycle studies) – Emilia Piątkowska,
- and from dental techniques – Laura Mackiewicz.
The awards were presented by Prof. Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk and Prof. Agnieszka Mielczarek.
Then, the students vowed to persistently pursue knowledge and develop one's own personality and to uphold the dignity and honor of a WUM student through all one's actions. The oath was received by Prof. Izabela Domitrz, the Vice Dean for Physiotherapy and Dr Piotr Regulski, the Vice Dean for International Relations and the following faculties: English Dentistry Division and Electroradiology.
From the perspective of student self-government
On behalf of the WLS Student Self-Government, new members of the academic community were addressed by its president – Klaudia Dwornikiewicz. In her welcome speech, she emphasized that they could count on the support of the self-government. She also said that the future medical profession required not only the acquisition of knowledge and skills, but also the development of empathy, sensitivity and responsibility.
The representative of the self-government of the English Dentistry Division, Divit Amarnani, spoke to new students from the perspective of a senior colleague who had recently started his own studies. He did not hide that dentistry was a demanding program, filled with learning, exams and practical classes. However, he emphasized that the years spent at the university were also a time of making friends and gaining experiences that would stay for a long time.
“I know some of you are probably thinking: I would like to get to the fifth year right away and jump all these years from the first to the fourth one. If I could swap seats with you, I would gladly do so. My advice is simple: work hard, help each other, but also use this time.”
The future of medicine – matriculation lecture
The lecture entitled “The future of medicine begins in the cell – from the biology of regeneration and biomaterials to the therapy of the future” was delivered by Prof. Magdalena Kucia, the Head of the Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine WUM. The expert spoke about the medicine of the future seen from the perspective of cell biology and regenerative medicine. Professor Kucia showed that modern treatment was increasingly aimed not only at replacing damaged tissues, but also at stimulating the body's natural repair processes and restoring lost functions. She also emphasized the importance of combining different fields of science and the ability to ask the right questions.
“I wish you with all my heart to have the courage to ask questions. So that you stop only asking: ‘what?’ and start asking: ‘Why?’” she said.
Professor Kucia also referred to artificial intelligence. For those who were just starting their studies, it would be a natural element of future medicine. However, she pointed out that even the most advanced technologies would not replace the critical thinking and responsibility of a physician for the decisions made.
“Artificial intelligence will never replace biology, it will not replace a physician, it will not replace a well-asked question,” she emphasized. “The future of medicine may indeed begin in the cell, but the cell is never the goal of medicine. Human being is the goal.”
In addition to the abovementioned, the following guests were among the attendees of the matriculation ceremony: Vice Deans of the faculty: Prof. Jolanta Kostrzewa-Janicka and Dr Joanna Peradzyńska, university teachers – representatives of WLS units, employees of the dean's office, members of the faculty council, pedagogical and program councils and the members of the WLS Student Self-Government.
The musical setting of the ceremony was provided by the Choir of the Medical University of Warsaw.
