Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University, congratulated and extended warmest wishes to the students and colleagues, especially the freshmen of Tbilisi State Medical University on the beginning of the New 2017-2018 Academic year. He briefly talked about the past and present of the University and introduced the honorary guests of TSMU to the students: foreign professors from Austria, the United States, Germany and Ukraine. At the end of the speech, the Rector addressed to the students: "You are our tomorrow! Tbilisi State Medical University administration and academic staff are always taking care to ensure your proper training in the health sector as skilled and competitive human resources, everyday care for the better academic environment - teaching and learning quality, about which you will be convinced educational in teaching halls and University clinics. Many depend on you. Apart from learning, join the university students’ active life and participate in cultural and sport events. Walk through the traditions to future, making your own contribution! Good luck to you, together we can do so much". The students were addressed by the Vice Premier of Georgia and Minister of Education and Sciences of Georgia Alexander Jejelava: "I would like to share the belief Rector has made regarding the advancement of Tbilisi State Medical University. The standard of Georgian medical education is very high reaching higher levels every year. I mean also the entry exams’ barrier for applicants you have this year. This is very important. I am glad that some of the leading universities, including TSMU, manage to maintain this high standard. Congratulations on the beginning of the new academic year. I'd like to suggest you, set ambitious goals! In our countries that have suffered great difficulty, the main difficulty is that people dream about simple goals. Ask and get more of your future. You have a priority to change the world. Doctors should be in the vanguard of not only the field- but country development. Congratulations that such competent and motivated people will take care of your professional development. On behalf of the Government of Georgia I want to assure you that education in general and especially higher medical education is and will stay as our priority".
Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania welcomed the participants of the solemn event as well. He talked about the high standards of Tbilisi State Medical University and expressed hope that each student of TSMU will be established as a highly qualified specialist: "For this there are all conditions in Tbilisi State Medical University! Tbilisi City Hall will always support you". The students and especially the freshmen were congratulated and wished success by: Mariam Jashi, the Chair of the Education, Science and Culture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia; Akaki Zoidze, the Chair of the Health Care and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia; Mark G. Hartell, PhD Lieutenant Colonel, Medical Service Corps, US Army, Deputy Commander, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) (USA); Prof. Vyacheslav Zhdan, - Rector of Ukrainian Medical Stomatological/Dental Academy, Academician of Academy of Science of Ukraine; Prof. Wolfgang Buchberger, M.Sc. – Medical Director (CMO), Tirol Clinics G.m.b.H.Innsbruck (Austria); Prof. Thomas Eichhorn, Honorary Doctor of TSMU, Head of the Department of ENT Diseases, Head and Neck Surgery at Carl- Thiem- Clinics at Cottbus (Germany); Prof. Helmut Hahn, Honorary Doctor of TSMU, President of Koch-Mechnikov Forum (Germany); Roland Matthews, MD, - Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, (USA); Dr. Irma Kvitsaridze - TSMU honorary Doctor, TSMU alumni, Chief Doctor at Radiation Therapy and Radiooncology Center, Innsbruck University Clinic (Austria); Dr.George Grigolia – Honorary Doctor of TSMU, Senior Doctor of Surgery Department, Clinic Furstenfeldbruck Academic Hospital of LMU (Germany); Prof.Ramaz Datiashvili , Professor of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery Department of Surgery, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School (USA); Dr. Nino Chumburidze, TSMU honorary Doctor; Archil Talakvadze the leader of the parliamentary majority and Academician Amiran Gamkrelidze Director General of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) congratulated the students of TSMU. Traditionally, the freshmen were addressed by the elder Lecturer, Head of Medical Pharmacology Department, Professor Nikoloz Gongadze. Before the guests, academic personnel and students, the speeches were delivered by: Daniela Foster (USA) 7th Semester student of US MD program of TSMU and Christine Danny (India) 6th semester student of the Faculty of Medicine (English medium).
At the end of the ceremony, President of TSMU Students’ Self-Government Body, George Mikadze gave memorable gifts to 10 rated first semester students (according to the results of the Unified National Examinations): Erekle Kalichava David Tatoshvili, David Okropiridze, Anano Kakabadze Sofia Pirtskhalava, Irakli Kazaishvili, Tornike Davitashvili, Maia Khidasheli, Gvantsa Khachiashvili and Ketevan Fevadze. T
he freshmen were welcomed by: Prof. Tinatin Chikovani Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Samson Mgebrishvili; Dean of the Faculty of Stomatology; Prof. Dali Berashvili Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Prof. Irakli Mchedlishvili Dean of the Faculty of Public Health; Prof. Lela Maskhulia Dean of the Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Archil Undilashvili, Assistant-Professor of public health program at Medical School of Emory University, Head of US MD Program at TSMU and Medea Jgarkava Coordinator of Professional Programs.
