294 alumni from the Faculty of Medicine and 98 from the Faculty of Dental Medicine at Medical University - Varna took the Hippocratic Oath during the official graduation ceremony. Along with the Bulgarian graduates, young medical and dental doctors from the English-language training programme from Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Norway, Portugal, Luxembourg, Turkey, Nigeria and Iran also obtained their diplomas.
Under the sounds of the student anthem at the Congress Hall of the Palace of Culture and Sports, the alumni and guests applauded the Academic Management and the members of the Academic Council at MU-Varna. 66 are the outstanding students with an excellent GPA score at the two Faculties, who received their diplomas from the Rector of the University Prof. Dr. Krasimir Ivanov. He addressed all alumni, saying, "Reminiscing about the past, I know how many trials you have faced in order to get to the triumph of today's celebration. I am sure that everything you have learned at the Faculties of Medicine and Dental Medicine has helped you build up yourselves not only as excellent doctors but also as personalities. The diploma you are going to obtain today provides you with new opportunities and horizons. Take advantage of them! Be an example to the future generations, work and live in such a way so as to attract new young people to the medical profession. Be mentors, be role models!" The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Rumen Radev, has sent a congratulatory address to the alumni of Class 2019.
Dr. Ivan Valkadinov, who graduated in Medicine with honours, achieving the highest possible GPA score, was awarded with the Golden Hippocrates, money prizes from the Rector and from the Mayor of the city of Varna Mr. Ivan Portnih, and an Award for Excellence in the field of science during his education in the name of the prominent Varna physician Dr. Nikola Sirakov. Dr. Borislava Toncheva, the top student of Class 2019 at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, received awards from the Rector and the Mayor.
All outstanding students with excellent GPA scores received a money prize from the Rector of the University and an honorary diploma "Outstanding Student of Class 2019". The Bulgarian Medical Association awarded three money prizes to graduating young doctors, and Prof. Dr. Krasimir Metodiev - two one-year scholarships for specialization at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem (Israel).
Prof. Dr. Zlatislav Stoyanov, Prof. Dr. Violeta Yotova, Prof. Dr. Anton Tonchev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Dimova - Mileva were awarded with the prize “Alumni’s Favourite Lecturer” at the Faculty of Medicine and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Radosveta Andreeva - at the Faculty of Dental Medicine.
The Chairperson of the Student Council Bozhidar Kasabov awarded honorary plaques and diplomas for active participation during the years of study, and merit in building up and developing the modern image of the Student Council at MU - Varna to Dinko Nikolov, Radina Georgieva, Yasen Georgiev, Denitsa Georgieva, Yasen Petrov and Delyan Ivanov from the programme of Medicine and Ivelina Hristova, Miroslav Stoykov and Georgi Hristov from the programme of Dental Medicine. Honorary diplomas were awarded to Radina Georgieva from the programme of Medicine and Nadezhda Slavcheva from the programme of Dental Medicine for their active participation in the student dance troupe, and Hrisimir Todorov from the programme of Medicine for merit in the sports activities at MU-Varna.
Musical greetings to the alumni were the performances of "Diana" student dance troupe, the talented students Kassandra Varnes, Nikola Kartelov, Yasen Korobov and a mixed formation of students, personnel and faculty at MU-Varna, who conveyed their message to the graduates with the song "We Are the World".
Veronika Stoyanova
