Launched in 1985, the English-language medical program in Szeged was among the first of its kind in Hungary. To mark the anniversary, a reunion was held from 3 to 5 October 2025, bringing together graduates from the past four decades who returned to the city from all corners of the world.
The beginnings
In 1985, the English-language medical program was launched with 34 students at what was then the Medical University of Szeged (Szegedi Orvostudományi Egyetem, SZOTE), situated along the banks of the River Tisza. The initiative – a remarkable innovation at the time – was made possible through the efforts of Professor Gyula Telegdy, Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and later Vice-Rector for Education, together with Professor László Kovács, then Vice-Dean, and Professors György Benedek and Botond Penke, both Members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, who played pivotal roles in establishing the program. Their pioneering work was fittingly honored by the organizers of the first Alumni Reunion in 2015, held to celebrate the program’s 30th anniversary.
The international program’s growth and success also owed much to the dedication of Professor Gyula Szabó, Dr. András Lednitzky, former Head of Administration, Dr. Ilona Lantos, former Head of the Secretariat, and Andrea Lehocki Balog, whose contributions left an enduring mark on the program’s development and history.
A decade of dynamic growth
Over the past ten years, the English-language medical program at the University of Szeged has continued to expand, attracting an ever-increasing number of students. Since 2015, major infrastructural developments have taken place, further strengthening the visibility of both the program and the University of Szeged in the international higher education arena. This year, the English-language medical program welcomed a record intake of new international students – more than 250 in total.
“The Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi, whose name our Faculty proudly bears, remains a lasting source of inspiration for young people choosing a career in medicine. The same is true for Katalin Karikó,” said Prof. Dr. György Lázár, Dean of the University of Szeged's Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School. “Our international reputation, reflected in our high global rankings and our inclusion among the world’s top 300 medical schools in the Shanghai Ranking, continues to attract students from across the globe. Beyond our clinical, infrastructural, and educational-technology advancements, our greatest asset in attracting new students – and in bridging past and future generations – is our alumni community. After earning their degrees, they uphold the university’s strong reputation wherever they go, whether they return home or continue their careers abroad. This is why the Alumni Reunion holds such significance for us: it serves as both a professional forum and a social occasion that strengthens our community ties.”
Prof. Dr. György Lázár, Dean of the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony for the international reunion.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
At the “Reunion Weekend 40” event, a short film was screened, highlighting the developments implemented at the University of Szeged since 2015 in the fields of healthcare and medical education. These included the new 265-bed clinical complex, as well as the newly established Infectology, Pediatrics, and Otorhinolaryngology units, the Department of Anatomy, and the Ilona Banga Health Sciences Training Center, which also served as one of the main venues of the reunion. Participants had the opportunity to visit the Training Center during a guided tour, exploring its state-of-the-art skills laboratories and its one-of-a-kind cadaver lab. By showcasing these advancements, the event also reflected how the University of Szeged has grown into an increasingly attractive destination for medical studies.
On behalf of the University of Szeged’s leadership, Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategic Affairs, welcomed the participants of the international reunion, emphasizing how important the launch of the English-language medical program was for a university that now comprises 12 faculties.
“For many years, the Medical University of Szeged (SZOTE) pioneered efforts to create the right conditions for educating international students – to recruit them, and to inspire faculty members to teach in English,” said Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategic Affairs. “In the early 2000s, when internationalization became a key priority in Hungarian higher education, the experience gained over preceding decades in English-language medical education at the newly unified University of Szeged proved to be both a major advantage and an excellent foundation. Since then, all our faculties have drawn on this expertise in developing and expanding their foreign-language programs. Today, one in every five of our students comes from abroad – 5,000 out of 25,000 – representing more than 130 countries worldwide. None of this would have been possible without the innovation that began forty years ago. For that, our entire university community extends its gratitude to you,” the Vice-Rector emphasized, directly addressing the audience.
Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice Rector for Strategic Affairs at the University of Szeged
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
From Szeged to the world stage of medicine
At the Alumni Meeting, distinguished physicians who earned their degrees at the University of Szeged shared insights from their international medical careers. Among the speakers were Dr. Eleni Episkopou (Interventional Radiology Department, Athens Metropolitan Hospital, Greece), Dr. Ahmed Nama (Director of the Emergency Medicine Department, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel), Prof. Charalampos Tzoulis (Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics, Director of the K.G. Jebsen Center for Translational Research in Parkinson’s Disease, University of Bergen, Norway), and Prof. Shilpa Srinivasan (Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, USA).
Dr. Eileen Szabó, a Canadian physician of Hungarian descent, was a member of the very first class launched in 1985 and returned to Szeged to celebrate the 40th anniversary. Specializing in internal medicine and dermatology, she currently lives and practices in Saskatchewan, Canada.
“Both of my parents are from Hungary – my mother from Keszthely and my father from Perkáta – but I was born in Canada. The English-language medical program in Szeged had just been launched when I was applying to universities. I had narrowly missed admission to a Canadian university, so at my parents’ suggestion, I decided to give Hungary a try. Everything happened very quickly – within a few months, I was already here. We were something of a pilot class, and under the guidance of Professor Telegdy, we were able to shape the program flexibly to make it as effective as possible. Even back then, the theoretical training in Szeged was remarkably strong. The program really bonded our group together. I’m still in touch with many classmates, and at this reunion, I even met people from later years who still remembered us. Holding this gathering was a truly wonderful idea,” said Dr. Eileen Szabó.
A win-win situation
“The physicians who graduated here look back fondly on their years in Szeged, and the knowledge they gained at our institution has proven valuable wherever their careers have taken them. Many have achieved remarkable professional success, and among those attending the Alumni Meeting are several distinguished experts in their fields. This demonstrates that graduates of our university not only gain state-of-the-art medical knowledge but also become part of a professional network they can rely on throughout their lives – both personally and professionally. Some met during their studies, later married, and have now returned to where it all began, this time with their children. The program itself is both a necessity – as medicine continues to grow ever more globalized – and a genuine asset that benefits students while broadening and strengthening the University of Szeged’s academic portfolio. Although international students also represent an important source of revenue, it is essential to stress that what we provide in exchange for tuition is knowledge, not a degree. At the same time, our students enrich the city’s cultural and economic life, supporting employment and generating income for the hospitality sector,” emphasized Prof. Dr. György Lázár.
Enrollment in the English-language medical program has been steadily increasing and is now nearing full capacity. Yet the program continues to evolve, reflecting the growing number of graduates who wish to remain in Hungary after earning their degrees. A crucial prerequisite for this is proficiency in Hungarian, as effective communication is essential to patient care. To address this need, the University of Szeged coordinates a national initiative that provides Hungarian-language instruction for international medical students. The program is designed to ensure that by the time they complete their studies, students can communicate with patients in Hungarian clearly, confidently, and with professional competence.
At the “Reunion Weekend 40” gala dinner, several awards were presented to former international medical students of the University of Szeged.
Original Hungarian article by Ferenc Lévai
Feature image: Former students attending the 40th anniversary of Szeged’s English-language medical program pose for a photo at the Ilona Banga Health Sciences Training Center on October 3, 2025.
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
