The Institute of Medical Education of Almazov National Medical Research Centre held its fourth matriculation ceremony for 237 new intakes for the General Medicine programme.
For the first time, students from all years, from first to sixth, as well as students entering their first year of residency, PhD and master’s programmes, gathered in one hall.
Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly and Chair of the Almazov Centre's Board of Trustees, greeted the first-year students in her video address.
« First of all, I would like to address the students of the first year, for whom this is undoubtedly a new and very responsible stage in their lives. You have chosen a difficult profession, but it is perhaps one of the most important and necessary jobs in the world. Treating people is a great vocation, but it is also a very difficult art that you have to improve all your life. And of course you have to learn from the best. And that is why I can say with certainty: you are in good hands here and you are incredibly lucky,» said Valentina Matvienko.
Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, gave a welcome speech to the students and congratulated them on the Day of Knowledge.
“This is, of course, the most memorable day for first-year students. Today you have joined the great family of medical professionals, you have become part of the team working to improve the health of our citizens. I am sure that you will become professionals in this field and make your important contribution to the development of medical science and, of course, practice. Your training is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to successfully solve the most complex medical problems, sometimes in emergency situations. And, of course, to achieve effective results in the treatment of patients,” said the Minister.
This was followed by congratulatory speeches from Alexander Gutsan, Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative to the Northwestern Federal District; Nikolay Linchenko, Vice Governor representing Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov; Oleg Ergashev, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg; Herman Gref, President and Chairman of the Board of Sberbank; Alexander Sokurov, honoured film director and screenwriter.
Evgeny Shlyakhto, Director General of Almazov Centre, congratulated the students with warm words of welcome:
“You have chosen a complex and difficult path, you will experience many disappointments, joys, victories and sleepless nights, you will fight for the lives of our patients. And I wish you to always win. Today, medicine is not only an art that is more than a science (as it used to be), it is now more of a science than an art. That is why Almazov Centre began to introduce a new model of medical education based on science and education within science”, he emphasized.
At the end of the ceremony, the students took a solemn oath of allegiance to Almazov Centre and handed over a special time capsule to Elena Parmon, Director of the Medical Education Institute.
«I will keep this capsule until you graduate. Before you graduate, we will open it and see if the goals you set at the beginning have been achieved,» said Elena Parmon.
At the end of the ceremony, the choir sang Gaudeamus Igitur and the seniors offered some words of wisdom to the freshmen.