Ternopil State Medical University celebrated its 60th anniversary

The sixtieth anniversary of of Ternopil State Medical University is a milestone date in its history. It was marked with celebrations on May 26, 2017. The main event, convocation, took place in municipal Berezil Performing Arts center. Together with University staff and administration, participating in the event were a number of dignitaries, such as members of local and state parliaments, representatives of the national academies of sciences, heads of local governments, international delegations, heads of universities and other guests.

Prior to the ceremonial event, arriving guests were greeted in the lobby by TSMU rector Dr. Mykhaylo Korda. He gladly accepted well wishes and thanked everyone who came to share the the anniversary celebrations.The festive atmosphere was heightened by performances from musicians of Ternopil municipal brass band “Orchestra Voli” and a string trio.

The convocation started by performance of the national anthem by TSMU choir. Although created only two years ago, the choir is now a much beloved ensamble and real pride of the university. On this special day it was joined by the choristers from Ternopil Iosyf Slipyi Seminary.

History of the University is a long road, brimful with events, hard work, enthusiasm and dedication. Over the years the institute has trained more than 25,000 professionals, among them – more than 2,000 overseas students from 60 countries. Today Ternopil State Medical University is a large and friendly family, with accomplished research and teaching staff, and one of the most powerful in medical schools in Ukraine.

In his speech TSMU rector Dr. Korda noted that the celebration is a special day, because it brings forward a new page in the history of of the university.

“In these 60 years lives of thousands of faculty and tens of thousands of students became intertwined with the University. It’a a rich tapestry of people’s lives and dreams, hopes and sorrow. I am proud of the University has accomplished in 60 years: from a small educational institution to one of the leading universities of Ukraine. Picture year 1957. Ternopil was just rebuilding after the Second World War. The city did not have a single university. The govegnment of Ukrainian SSR issued a decree to create a Medical Institute. First lectures started in September with about 600 students and 66 teachers, of them one DSc and 17 PhDs. Today with special warmth we remember those who with their tireless work had laid the foundation of the university. Those who later have became well-known professors and doctors were young teachers in 1957. Regrettably, many of them are not with us anymore.”

 “The class of medical doctors graduated in 1961 and I want to tell you that in this hall today there are 13 of these first graduates. Ivan Chekman is a legend of Ukrainian pharmacology, he wrote textbooks that the entire Ukraine uses, and is a corresponding member of both the National Academy of Medical Sciences and National Academy of Sciences. Also present here is Vasyl Antoniv, a great patriot of Ukraine who for a long time chaired the Department of Otolaryngology at The Peoples’ Friendship University in Moscow and led Ukrainian cultural society in Moscow. Yurii Bondarenko is a member of TSMU Academic Council, department chair, who has worked all his life in his alma mater. Evhene Starodub has for a long time served as a dean at Ternopil State Medical University, he continues to work here and share experience with the next generation. Anatolii Palamarchuk has also connected his life with the university. We have here in the audience Victor Kuzlo, who is an honorary citizen of Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, having been leading surgical service in the city for long time and today continues to work in the conflict zone”, – said Dr. Korda.

 “We are sincerely greatful today to the University veterans, and today there are 120 of them present in the audience. It is because of your tireless work, we have this wonderful school. We are proud of our graduates. Many thousands of our graduates work in primary care, thousands of graduates have become specialists working in hospitals and secondary and tertiary levels of care, hundreds of graduates have become scientists, public health officers, among our graduates are academics, ministers and deputy ministers of health, and heads of major medical companies.”

 “We are proud of University achievements in the academic, medical, research work, and of its international recognition. The greatest achievement is our team that have been developing during these 60 years, becoming a team of coleagues who work every day to make our University ever better and stronger.

Dear colleagues! It is not always easy to follow our goals. The world is constantly changing, bringing new challenges, and these consrant changes require constant innovation and competitive actions, but I am absolutely confident that with this team, with dedicated and highly motivated people working in our university nothing is impossible “- shared his confidence Mykhaylo Korda.

The rector wished all employees further success, inspiration, and energy for future personal and professional achievements.

Vice rector for scientific and academic work, Professor Arkadii Shulhay read the rector’s order rewarding the satff on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of TSMU.

During the celebrations, the university has received plaques confirming its ISO 9001: 2015 (quality management) certification from the representatives of  Bureau Veritas Certification Ukraine Anatolii Zvon and Polina Buhaitsova.  (More info: https://dev.tdmu.edu.ua/en/2017/06/18/ternopil-state-medical-university-received-iso-certification/).

On this day the University Choir premiered the new Ternopil State Medical University anthem.

Head Ternopil Regional State Administration Stepan Barna gave a speech congratulating the University faculty, staff and students and read a greeting address on behalf of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. He also gave sertificates of recognition and prizes to a number of faculty and staff.

Vitalii Koblosh, head of Humanitarian and Social Policy department of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine read out a congratulatory address from the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groisman. He then handed out Cabinet of Ministers recognition awards to several TSMU researchers, department heads, and administration staff.

Ternopil Mayor Serhii Nadal also gave a speech congratulating everyone present on this special occasion, thanking for their hard dedicated work, and wishing further success. She presented head of the science department Dr. Oksana Shevchuk with his prize award.

MP Taras Pastukh read out a greeting address on behalf of Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andrii Parubii, and gave awards to staff members.

Another University alumnus, Vitalii Tsymbaliuk, President of the National Academy of Medical gave an address on behalf of the Academy and its highest award to the entire team of Ternopil State Medical University for their outstanding contribution to the development of higher medical education and health care, training of medical, teaching and research professionals. Individual Academy awards received current TSMU rector Dr. Korda and corresponding member of NAMS, Professor Ivan Smiian, who has serves as TSMU rector in 1981-1997 (more info https://dev.tdmu.edu.ua/en/2017/06/12/ternopil-state-medical-university-received-awards-from-national-academy-of-medical-sciences/).

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Ukraine Atar Abbas and Consul General of the Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt in Ukraine Marwa Mahmoud Abdelaal were among the dignitaries giving addresses and warm congratulations to all present on the occasion of the  anniversary.

The Academic Council of the University marked the occasion awarding two Honorary Professorships, to Dr. David Atkinson, President of McEwan University, Canada, and Dr. Joseph Berger, rector of  Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biała Podlaska, Poland.

(more info: https://dev.tdmu.edu.ua/en/2017/06/15/tsmu-honorary-professorship-was-awarded-to-drs-david-atkinson-and-joseph-berger/)

In the festive atmosphere on May 26th rector of Ternopil State Medical University, Dr. Korda signed a number of cooperation agreements with other schools and organizations, including Mansoura University, Egypt, represented by Vice President, Professor Zaki Mohamed Zidan;  Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education Nikolai Gvozd; Wrocław Medical University, Poland represented by its rector, Prof. Marek Ziętek; and from University of Rzeszow, Poland, represented by the rector Prof. Sylwester Czopek.