The ninth graduation ceremony of the University of Nicosia’s Medical School took place on June 27, 2023 at UNIC’s Amphitheatre.

The event was attended by the Ministers of Health and Interior, the Ambassador of Switzerland, the Bishop of Tamassos and Orini, the President of the Pancyprian Medical Association, the Director General of the Health Insurance Organisation and other official guests, as well as hundreds of relatives and friends of the graduates, who had travelled to Cyprus from almost every continent to attend the ceremony.

Congratulating the new graduates, Health Minister Popi Kanari, encouraged them to face the challenges of the future with dignity. She also urged them to seize opportunities that lie ahead and to follow their instincts, stressing the importance of valuing their identity and diversity.

Minister Kanari concluded by stressing that new graduates’ vision would be a beacon in their journey, guiding them toward the changes they wished to implement in their professional and personal lives.

Dean of UNIC Medical School Adonis Ioannides, referred, among other things, to the achievements of the School of Medicine in the areas of education and innovation, and its contribution and interaction with society. He highlighted the School’s rich research and publications, which contribute significantly to the University’s international ranking, and noted the exceptionally-high employment rate of its graduates.

For his part, Rector of the University of Nicosia Philippos Pouyioutas, spoke about the potential of AI in the health sector and called on graduates to make use of this technology and the possibilities it offers, while respecting ethics and focusing on the patient.

Keynote speaker of the evening, Member of the International Advisory Committee of UNIC Medical School, Dr Paul Finucane, stressed that obtaining a medical degree provides enormous privileges, but also carries great responsibilities. He gave new graduates three pieces of advice: to take care of the communities in which they live, to continue to keep in touch with each other, and to avoid the risks that tarnish the medical profession.

During the ceremony, two Cypriots with significant contributions to health and medicine were awarded Honorary Doctorates of Medicine: Prof. Andreas Nicolaides for his contribution to cardiovascular medicine globally and locally, and Prof. Loizos Loizou for his pioneering work in the care of children and adolescents with cancer in Cyprus.

Graduates were awarded the following degrees: the MD (Doctor of Medicine), the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, and the Master of Science in Family Medicine, Public Health and Health Services Administration.

The ceremony ended with graduates of the MD and MBBS programmes taking the Hippocratic Oath.