Opening ceremony of the I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University’s Baku Branch

Opening ceremony of the I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University’s Baku Branch  took place, 15 September 2015.

Azerbaijan’s First Lady, graduate and honorary professor of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony:

- Dear Veronica Igoryevna.

Respected Peter Vitalyevich.

Respected guests, dear friends, dear students.

I am delighted to welcome all our guests, and our meeting today is devoted to a large-scale and significant event. A branch of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University – one of the oldest and most influential universities of not only Russia, but also the world – is opened in the Azerbaijani capital. A Resolution on establishment of such a branch was signed by the President on May 15 this year. 4 months only have passed since that day, and the branch  opens its doors to first students. 

Certainly, this is a significant event in the republic’s life, and I would like to heartily thank rector of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Mr Glybochko for the initiative to establish a branch of this university. the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University is famous for its historical traditions, the environment of responsibility and sensitiveness, and the ability to link sound conservatism with innovative quests. The role of the Sechenov University in Russia’s public, spiritual and scientific life has stepped over the boundaries of pure medicine. Graduates of this university are eminent scholars-physicians, talented practicing physicians, very famous specialists in literature, journalists, and public figures. Today, first Azerbaijani boys and girls cross the threshold of this education establishment, making their first steps towards their future profession. They will be taught by highly experienced professors and listen to lectures of scholars. World-renowned scholars will give lectures for them. I am confident all necessary conditions have been created here to ensure high-level education and for the formation of a pleiad of skilled practicing physicians and scholars-doctors. 

The fact that a new higher school - a branch of a world-renowned higher school - is opened in our capital reflects the state’s policy in education and science. It is an unquestionable fact that every state’s future depends on its intellectual, scientific and educational potential. We want to see our youth well-educated, well-informed, and ensuring our country’s long-term development. Therefore, investing into educational and scientific fields is one of the priority directions in our state’s policy. A great deal of works have been done in this sphere during the years of independence. Various state programmes are implemented to support educational and scientific fields, and performing reforms in these spheres. Certainly, all this covers also such a significant area as medicine. For the last one year, almost all clinics, medical centres and diagnostics centres have been reconstructed, or new ones constructed in our country - not only in the capital, but also in the regions. They have been provided with state-of-the-art equipment meeting all requirements of the present day. And regardless of all of this, we very well understand that the quality of medical service depends, first of all, on a physician. For this reason, the event that takes place today with our participation here – opening of this branch, a branch of a university where the most up-to-date education programmes, necessary innovations in practical medicine are applied, all this, I’m confident will have a very good impact on the level of medicine in our country. 

I want to note that historically there have been sincere and kind relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Today, our interstate relations too have been built on this historical foundation. Our humanitarian cooperation, our relations in the spheres of science, culture and education have been formed back in times when Azerbaijan and Russia were parts of a single state, and  after Azerbaijan regained its state independence, we have not lost this potential and even, on the contrary, we have added on it. We have managed to preserve this single scientific and cultural space and the strong interest in Azerbaijan towards the great Russian literature. Education in Russian has been preserved in Azerbaijan. There are some 300 schools in the country teaching in Russian. The majority of higher schools in our country have their Russian sector, and the tendency of opening branches of leading Russian higher schools in Azerbaijan is another example of our successful cooperation. As you know, a branch of the Lomonosov Moscow State University – one of the most famous universities of the world – has been operating in Azerbaijan for several years. This university has become very prestigious and popular higher school among our school leavers. Graduates of this university have been engaged in professional activity in various spheres of the public life.  I am hopeful, in the new future, the branch of the Sechenov University too would take pride in the bright pleiad of its graduates. 

Dear friends, the opening of the Sechenov University’s branch is of special importance to me.  I have studied at this university, am an honorary professor of this university, and I’m happy to have spent my young student years at this university in the spirit of high culture, morality and perfect professionalism. I would like to heartily thank my teachers who have given us fundamental knowledge and professional skills and instilled the ideas of ethics, morality and humanism in us. 

They say universities are temples of knowledge. But I think they are also temples of compassion. Medicine is a special area and those who want to devote their life to medicine have to have a kind heart, be able to sympathize with others, share their distress and listen to their problems, along with possessing fundamental knowledge and practical skills. 

Today I want to call on the first students of the Sechenov University. I call on you to not to lose this feeling of compassion after long years when you are formed as professionals and are engaged in tense professional activity. Do to not forget that people coming to you trust their valuable feelings, their life and health. Sometimes a kind word may heal better than any highly effective drug. Medicine – the profession of a physician is a mission and an inborn fortune of a human being. Therefore I wish all of you to be successful in this fortune.

Dear friends, today we made the first step in this significant project. I am confident it has great future. I would like to wish all of you happiness, successes and sound health. I am hopeful the hospitality and sincerity of the people of Azerbaijan will create maximum conditions for you to feel here as at home. I would like to once more congratulate all of you on this significant event, and express my best wishes to you. Thank you.