27 June 2025

The University of Nicosia Medical School celebrated its tenth commencement last night, conferring medical, master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

The ceremony centred on a commencement speech by Joan Gabel, Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, who urged the Class of 2025 to ‘trust yourselves, embrace uncertainty, and stay human’. Drawing parallels between the graduates’ entry into medical School during COVID-19 and the 1950s fight against polio, she cited University of Pittsburgh virologist Jonas Salk’s decision to forgo a patent for his vaccine as a model of scientific courage and altruism. ‘When the world needed him most, he stepped up’, she said. ‘Likewise, when the world needed you, you answered the call’.

Gabel distilled three lessons from Salk’s story—confidence in one’s expertise, a willingness to lean into the unknown, and an insistence on compassion—before reminding the new doctors and scientists that their degrees are the opportunity to do more’.

Earlier, Medical School Dean Professor Adonis Ioannides welcomed guests and invited graduands to ‘savour your success and reflect on a journey that has been demanding yet rewarding’,  while Health Minister Michael Damianos told graduands that healthcare ‘is not merely a profession, but a commitment to excellence, empathy and equity’, adding that Cyprus’s people-centred General Healthcare System will rely on their ‘dedication, innovation and leadership’. Senior Vice-Rector Professor Constantinos Phellas stressed that medical practice now unfolds ‘in a transformative period’, where artificial intelligence and augmented reality already influence diagnosis and treatment. He urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning, safeguard patient-centred values as technology advances and serve as ‘proud ambassadors’ of the University in their future careers.

Honorary doctorates went to Professors Peter McCrorie and Peter Karayiannis. The Peter Kopelman–Andreas Charalambous Founders Prize for academic excellence was shared by MD graduate Motamedian Sobhan and MBBS graduate Maya Leila Nasser.

After reciting the Hippocratic Oath, graduates, faculty and families—drawn from more than 90 countries and every continent—gathered for a reception that highlighted the School’s global reach and rich cultural tapestry.