June 23, 2025 was a significant day for Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. For the first time, masters of Medical Faculty received their diplomas. This event has not only already become part of the history of the educational institution, but also of the entire regional medical community.
Together with the graduates, this solemn day was shared by Rector Anatolii Tsos, Vice-Rector Nataliia Blahovirna, Dean Andrii Poruchynskyi, lecturers, parents, friends, as well as honored guests, without whom the formation of the faculty would have been impossible: Yurii Lehkodukh, Head of Health Department of Volyn Regional State Administration; Larysa Dukhnevych, general director of the "Medical Association of the Lutsk City Territorial Community" CE; Vadym Ulyanov, Doctor of Medical Sciences; Ihor Dvorko, director of the "Volyn Regional Dental Polyclinic" PE of Volyn Regional Council; Serhii Dudka, Director of Volyn Regional Psychiatric Hospital of Lutsk of Volyn Regional Council; Oksana Lieshchynska, Director of Lutsk City Children's Polyclinic, and other leading doctors of the region.
The beginning of Medical Faculty is a story of determination and faith, which already has its first significant achievements. Today, the faculty is a modern educational centre training specialists in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and dentistry since 2024. The first graduation is the result of several years of painstaking work.
Rector Anatolii Tsos emphasized the symbolism of the graduation, calling it "front-line", because the students received their education in conditions of full-scale war. He thanked the graduates for the trust of choosing the University five years before, and also noted the importance of the creation of Medical Faculty as a result of the joint work of the regional authorities, the medical community and educators. Owing to this cooperation, Volyn has received a powerful basis for training doctors. Rector congratulated the graduates on completing their studies and expressed hope that they would continue their professional growth during their internships for the benefit of the region and the country.
“This is a front-line graduation,” Anatolii Tsos emphasized. “Our students received their education in wartime. Thank you for the trust you showed in our University five years ago. The creation of Medical faculty is the result of the joint work of the regional authorities, the medical community and educators. I am especially grateful to our defenders. Only owing to them we can continue our studies on the home front. I congratulate the graduates and sincerely believe that you will continue your professional path in internships.”
Vadym Ulyanov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, a person who stood at the origins of creation of Medical Faculty at the University, also came to congratulate the future doctors. “You dared and, I hope, did not regret it. You are the first. Together with us, you went through the “thickets”, creating a new system of medical education. And we succeeded. Now you are responsible for the region, for the medicine in Volyn. In ten years you will become doctors, associate professors, professors. And today you are receiving a Doctor’s Diploma at the University for the first time,” he addressed the graduates.
Dean of the faculty Andrii Poruchynskyi summed up the key achievements and assured: medical education in Volyn has already become a noticeable force at the national level. “We have the first graduation. We have successful accreditation of the specialty “Medicine”. We have a number of specialties that are successfully operating and in demand on the labour market. This year we have 95 state places in the specialty of health care. We have the resources and opportunities for the development and learning,” he said, also wishing the masters professional development and health.
Yurii Lehkodukh emotionally compared the path of the first graduation from Medical Faculty with the birth of a child. As in the difficult but hopeful pregnancy and childbirth, this path required endurance, dedication and faith. The completion of studies became a symbol of a new life – the beginning of a great professional mission of young doctors in Volyn.
“The greatest emotion in my professional life is the birth of a child. We went through a pregnancy full of all complications. We went through childbirth, which was also difficult. And today can be compared to the birth of a child. Probably, these are the emotions overwhelming me now. The medical industry of Volyn needs to be developed. And I sincerely believe that the students who receive their diplomas today will work for the benefit of Volyn,” he said.
Larysa Dukhnevych spoke sincerely about the difficult reality of the medical profession. In an unstable world, amidst reforms and challenges, it is young doctors, according to her, who can find themselves and create a new quality of the Ukrainian medicine.
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Head of Department of General Pathology and Surgical Diseases Mykola Haley urged: there will be new knowledge, successes, and difficulties. The main thing is not to give up, because a new path lies ahead as an internship with its challenges and victories.
Graduate Inna Matrunchyk, Student Dean of the faculty, also spoke with gratitude. Her address was a summary of gratitude to everyone who supported the students on this path: lecturers, administration, doctors, advocates and, of course, parents.
Future doctors took the oath The Ukrainian Doctor is a symbol of loyalty to one's calling. Then, Rector Anatolii Tsos, together with Dean Andriy Poruchynskyi presented diplomas to the future doctors with loud applause, sincere smiles, and tears from their families.
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