169 medical students celebrate their graduation
New class of human medicine graduates completes studies at the University of Magdeburg
The Medical Faculty of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (MED) celebrated the graduation of its new human medicine graduates for the 2025/26 winter semester. Students, teachers, families, and numerous guests gathered at the AMO Kulturhaus to celebrate the successful completion of their medical studies.
A total of 169 young doctors completed their studies, two-thirds of whom are women. More than half of the class graduated with good or very good grades. The best graduate of the class is Madeleine Nussbaumer with an overall grade of 1.0. Among the graduates are 39 students from Saxony-Anhalt and nine international students. For the first time, three students from the “Klasse Hausärzte” (Class Family Doctors) program also completed their studies. The program was introduced at the University of Magdeburg in the 2019/2020 winter semester to prepare prospective doctors early on and in a practical manner for a career in family medicine.
The graduation ceremony was opened by the dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Daniela C. Dieterich. She emphasized: “You have shown great perseverance over the past few years and learned to take responsibility – for yourselves, for each other and later for your patients or in research.” In her speech, she also recalled the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market a year ago, in which six people died and many more were treated at Magdeburg University Hospital. “Even in these difficult times, we have shown great solidarity as a team. This experience has shaped us and made it clear what medical practice really means. I hope that you will carry this spirit with you into your future work and at the same time retain your curiosity about new things. We need both more than ever in medicine today,” said Prof. Dieterich.
Photo: Graduation ceremony for medical students at the Faculty of Medicine of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg at the AMO Kulturhaus Magdeburg. Photographer: Sarah Kossmann/University Medicine Magdeburg
The keynote speech was given by Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Nickl-Jockschat, Director of the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. The ceremony that followed included the graduates' joint oath, the ceremonial presentation of diplomas, and a welcome address by the President of the Saxony-Anhalt Medical Association, Prof. Dr. med. Uwe Ebmeyer. The university's academic orchestra, conducted by Mauro Mariani, provided the musical accompaniment.
As is tradition, the best teachers were also honored during the event. The students voted Prof. Dr. Markus Plaumann from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Medical Chemistry as the best lecturer for the first stage of their studies. For the second stage of their studies, Prof. Dr. Alexander Link from the University Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectiology received this award. In the master's program in immunology, Dr. Laura Knop from the Institute of Immunology was honored as the best lecturer. The honors underscore the importance of dedicated teaching for high-quality medical education.
After graduating, the graduates will now begin their specialist medical training. In an accompanying survey, 40 percent of the newly qualified doctors who took part stated that they wanted to start their professional careers in Saxony-Anhalt. The new cohort is thus making an important contribution to medical care in the state, especially in view of the need for young doctors.