On 29 September, the Medical University of Lodz held the official inauguration ceremony of the 2025/2026 academic year.

Traditionally, the ceremony took place in Aula 1000 and gathered the University Authorities, Members of the Senate, invited guests, students, doctoral candidates, and staff members.

All attendees were welcomed by His Magnificence the Rector, Professor Janusz Piekarski, MD, PhD.

Among the honorary guests were:

• Katarzyna Anna Kacperczyk – Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health
• Adrian Witczak – Member of the Polish Parliament, Chair of the Parliamentary Team for Clinical Nutrition, Deputy Chair of the Subcommittee on Science and Higher Education
• Marek Mazur – First Deputy Governor of the Lodz Voivodeship
• Bartosz Domaszewicz – Deputy Chair of the City Council
• Tomasz Karauda – Representative of the Marshal of the Lodz Voivodeship and the Chair of the Regional Assembly
• Professor Mariusz Klencki – Director of the Department for the Development of Medical Personnel, Ministry of Health
• Colonel Dr Arkadiusz Kosowski – Director of the Department of Military Health Service, Ministry of National Defence
• Colonel Arkadiusz Rubajczyk – Representative of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces
• Colonel Dr Eng. Jacek Narloch – Commander of the Military Medical Training Centre in Lodz
• Professor Krzysztof Jóźwik – Rector of Lodz University of Technology
• Professor Marek Szyryka – Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Lodz Film School
• Professor Maciej Staszewski – Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Research, Academy of Music in Lodz
• Professor Ewa Wojtyniak-Dębińska – Vice-Rector for Research and Evaluation, Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz
• Professor Małgorzata Wrzesień – Vice-Rector for Education, University of Lodz
• Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dr Hab. Eng. Norbert Świętochowski – Vice-Rector for Teaching, General Tadeusz Kościuszko Military University of Land Forces in Wrocław

The Rector also welcomed:

• Paweł Czekalski MD PhD – President of the Regional Medical Chamber in Lodz
• Mateusz Kowalczyk MD PhD– Vice-President of the Supreme Medical Council and of the Regional Medical Chamber in Lodz
• Prof. Aleksander Welfe – Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences
• Prof. Andrzej Bartoszewicz – President of the Lodz Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences
• Mirosława Olejniczak – President of the Regional Council of Nurses and Midwives
• Łukasz Konka – President of the Regional Pharmaceutical Council
• Piotr Kopek – President of the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Lodz
• Mariusz Koziński – President of the Board, Bionanopark
• Andrzej Peraj – President of the Lodz Regional Development Agency

In his address, His Magnificence spoke about the current situation of the University and outlined plans for the coming years. He presented the University’s achievements in the areas of science, infrastructure, and clinical research.
Turning to first-year students, the Rector said: “Your studies are the time of intense learning, but also of self-discovery. Do not lose yourselves in the pursuit of results – study hard, but also live fully. Be free, courageous, wise, open, and empathetic. Another human being will always be the most important thing in the profession for which we are preparing you.”

The Act of Matriculation was the highlight of the ceremony when newly admitted students and doctoral candidates took their oath, officially joining the academic community of the Medical University of Lodz.

The keynote lecture of the academic year, titled “Milestones of Modern Oncology”, was delivered by Prof. Radzisław Kordek, Rector of the University from 2016 to 2024 and Head of the Department of Oncology and the Department of Pathomorphology at the Medical University of Lodz.

The artistic conclusion of the ceremony featured a performance of “The Bell” by Danish composer John Høybye, presented by the Medical University of Lodz Choir conducted by Prof. Anna Domańska.