President Yotova reminded them that humanity is the foundation of their profession, football legend Stoichkov wished them not to give up and to follow the path they have chosen
At a solemn ceremony in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture, the graduates of the Class of 2025 of the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University – Sofia took the Hippocratic Oath. 243 Bulgarian students and 361 foreign students from 32 countries graduated in medicine.
This year, there are four full honors. The Golden Hippocrates Award was awarded to: Ivamina Baltova, MD, Debora Vasileva, MD, Trifon Popov, MD and Anna Shahid, MD. They also received financial awards – from the legacy of the university donor Dr. Andrey Georgiev and from the Sofia Medical College. Another 18 excellent students received cash awards from the Student Council at MU-Sofia.
The official guest was the President, Mrs. Iliyana Yotova, along with deputy ministers, hospital directors, ambassadors and representatives of professional organizations. The event was honored by the Rector’s leadership, deans of faculties and directors of units of MU-Sofia.
In her address to the Class 2025, President Yotova pointed out that today they join the great team of people who help others, care not only about other people’s health, but also about patients feeling human. “Humanity is at the heart of your profession,” the head of state addressed the young doctors and added that modern technologies and modern medicines are not enough to cure the patient. Mrs. Yotova emphasized the fact that 69% of Bulgarian graduates are willing to work and develop in Bulgaria, despite the problems in healthcare. In her words, this is a proof of the high professionalism of the lecturers at the Medical University of Sofia.
The Rector, Prof. Boycho Landzhov, MD, PhD, welcomed the graduates with the words “Graduation is a successful finale, where knowledge meets vocation, and effort becomes a lifelong mission”. He congratulated the young doctors for their courage during the global Covid-19 pandemic, when many of them – still second-year students – volunteered in emergency centers and Covid-wards. “You unconditionally embarked on the battle to save human lives, led by the mission of the medical profession. This tempered and changed you, you took a great risk, but you gained skills to cope with a crisis. You went through a huge challenge, for which there was no prior training, no guidance – and you did it wonderfully!”, emphasized Prof. Landzhov.
He drew attention to the fact that every young doctor bears the responsibility to combine knowledge and technological progress with the ethical principles of medicine, to perceive the patient as a person, not as a clinical case. “This choice does not allow for universal solutions, but requires maturity, consistency and professionalism,” was the Rector’s direction to the graduates. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine, who – in his words – gave the students not only theoretical knowledge and practical skills, but also introduced them to the great art of medicine.
The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at MU-Sofia, Prof. Dimitar Bulanov, MD, addressed the young doctors with the words: “Today, when you are already qualified doctors, I will remind you of one of the main messages of the Hippocratic tradition: “I will use my knowledge for the benefit of the patient.” This maxim symbolizes your new responsibility and should be your constant guide because medicine is an art that is practiced through reason and humanity, and a diploma is not the end goal, but the beginning of a professional and moral rise.”
The surprise for the graduating class was the special guest – the world football legend Hristo Stoichkov. In his congratulatory speech, he said: “Don’t give up, follow this path that you have chosen. Until today it was easy – to study, but from tomorrow it will be harder, because you have to take care of all of us. I am grateful that in my long career I have worked with unique doctors who took care of me, of my health, so that I could glorify Bulgaria for so many years. Therefore, I wish you all success and good luck!”.
The honorees of the graduating class received their “Golden Hippocrates” awards personally from the Rector and Mr. Stoichkov.
Dr. Ivamina Baltova delivered a greeting from the stage on behalf of the Bulgarian graduates, and Dr. Anna Shahid delivered a greeting on behalf of the foreign graduates.
Congratulations to the entire Class 2025!
