Official welcome for first-semester students
The Charité matriculation ceremony was held on Sunday, October 15. About 480 students across all degree programs attended the event, which was held at the Henry Ford Building at Freie Universität Berlin. Partners and family members were also welcome to attend. First-semester students in the two degree programs culminating in the State Exam and those studying toward bachelor’s and master’s degrees were all invited to participate in a range of activities after the official ceremony. In all, Charité has enrolled more than 700 new students as of the 2023/24 winter semester.
Prof. Joachim Spranger, Dean of Charité, opened the event with a motivational welcome for the students. He also served as the moderator. Günter M. Ziegler, the president of Freie Universität, spoke afterward on behalf of the university, both as the institution hosting the event and as one of the two parent universities of which Charité is the joint medical school.
Representatives of the various degree programs then welcomed the new students. Prof. Wolfram Herrmann spoke on behalf of the program in medicine in his role as chair of the New Revised Medical Curriculum Study Committee, and Prof. Sebastian Paris, head of the Department of Restorative and Preventive Dentistry, spoke for the dentistry programs. Prof. Julia Leinweber spoke on behalf of the bachelor’s degree programs in her role as head of the Institute of Midwifery, and Prof. Tobias Kurth, Director of the Institute of Public Health, spoke on behalf of the master’s degree programs.
Natalie Hein and Henrik Christian Hermelink, second-semester students in the New Revised Medical Curriculum, offered helpful information for new students, including personal tips on how to get off to a good start at Charité. In her role as head of the alumni team within Corporate Communication and deputy chair of the board of Alumni-Club der Charité e.V., Tine Hassert introduced Charité Alumni and encouraged the new students to take advantage of the many options available for communication, networking, and knowledge transfer right from the start. Following that, retired professor Cornelius Frömmel, chair of Freunde und Förderer der Berliner Charité e. V., presented awards for innovative project ideas in teaching to three winners. Florian Sören Gerts, also a New Revised Medical Curriculum student, offered a wonderful musical backdrop, accompanying the event on the grand piano.
A variety of activities
All of the students took to the stage for the obligatory group photo. Next, the medical skills circuit put together by the Charité Learning Center offered a networking opportunity, giving first-semester students a chance to demonstrate their existing hands-on skills and practice resuscitation, suturing wounds, and drawing blood. The Charité photo wall was another highlight. Equipped with various props and often accompanied by fellow students or guests, students posed for professional photographs in front of the wall. Food trucks in front of the venue invited attendees to grab a quick bite and a cold drink for lunch, with selections reflecting Berlin’s typical culinary diversity.
Limited-edition sweatshirts dated specifically for this entering class are available from the Charité shop.
Contact
alumni@charite.de
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