Happy new academic year, friends!

I said these words a lot of times on September the 1st, at the solemn ceremony of freshmen initiation into ONMedU students, and congratulated our entire large family of teachers and employees. But today, due to the war, not all higher education institutions will ring the first bell, and the work of admissions has not yet been completed everywhere.

In the summer, we had a meeting with the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet and the Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko. It was stated that from now on, higher education institutions of each region will independently determine the date and make decisions regarding the start of studies and its format depending on the security situation in one or another region and the readiness to ensure the protection of students and teachers.

ONMedU has done everything possible to provide offline training or training in a mixed online/offline format.

Therefore, I hope that this academic year in the unusual conditions of war will begin successfully and that the curriculum for the 2022/2023 academic year will be fully implemented.

I wish everyone good health, strength of spirit, courage and patience to accept the challenge of time with dignity. I hope that all the difficulties will not reduce the perseverance of students in their studies, scientists in conducting scientific work, and employees of all departments in the exemplary performance of their duties. After all, we are all investing in the preparation of the future generation of doctors — the most necessary specialists in our country.

Valerii ZAPOROZHAN, academician, rector of ONMedU