On 19 September 2025, the fifth Graduation Ceremony of the Faculty of Medicine was held at the Podkarpackie Philharmonic. Diplomas were awarded to 131 graduates of the Faculty of Medicine and 13 graduates of the Medicine, Programme in English. The ceremony brought together University authorities, academic staff, families, and friends of the graduates, who accompanied them on this special day.

The graduates took the Physician’s Oath in the presence of Dr Krzysztof Marchewka, President of the Regional Medical Chamber. His Magnificence, the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, also presented awards to individuals and institutions particularly distinguished in supporting the development of the Faculty of Medicine, emphasising the importance of their contribution to the education of future doctors.

Awards were presented to the best graduates:

• For the best academic performance:
  Dr Izabela Czaja
  Dr Barbara Tomaszek
  Dr Aleksandra Roztoczyńska
  Dr Berenike Paulmann (Medicine, Programme in English)
• For outstanding research activity:
  Dr Dagmara Gładysz
  Dr Anna Głowacka
  Dr Joanna Barwacz
• For exceptional organisational and social engagement:
  Dr Mikołaj Grodzki
  Dr Rafał Kołodziej
• For outstanding sporting achievements:
  Dr Vijay Kandeepan Akeepan (Medicine, Programme in English)

The graduation lecture was delivered by Professor Janusz Skalski, entitled Do We Know the Hippocratic Oath?

Professor Janusz Skalski is a graduate of the Medical Academy in Kraków, a specialist in paediatric surgery and cardiac surgery. He began his career at the Institute of Paediatrics of the Medical Academy in Kraków, where in the mid-1970s he co-founded paediatric cardiac surgery. He later worked in Katowice and Zabrze, where he became renowned as a pioneer in treating children with severe congenital heart defects. He was the first in Poland to use ECMO mechanical circulatory support in a child, and subsequently co-created the country’s first ECMO programme. He was also the first in Poland to implant artificial heart chambers in a child, saved a boy cooled to the record-low body temperature of 11.8°C, and implanted a rotary pump for long-term heart support.

Congratulatory letters were sent by:

• Mr Marcin Kulasek – Minister of Science and Higher Education
• Mr Zdzisław Pupa – Senator of the Republic of Poland
• Mr Marcin Rusiniak – Director of the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów