The academic ceremony, held in the “Ramón y Cajal” amphitheater at UCM, brought together health and academic authorities, faculty, and families. The hospital's representation included its managing director, Dr. Carmen Pantoja Zarza, and the hospital's vice-dean, Prof. Dr. Ricardo Larraínzar Garijo. The cohort's godmother, Prof. Dr. Ana Bustamante Fermosel, shared reflections on mentorship in medical training.
The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at UCM, Prof. Dr. Alberto Galindo Izquierdo, inaugurated the ceremony, highlighting the commitment of the new physicians to society. Representing the graduates, students María Hornero, Natalia Pavón, and Paloma Prieto shared their formative experiences.
Prof. Dr. Ricardo Larraínzar Garijo delivered an emotional speech, supported by previously unseen images from the hospital's four years as a teaching center. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, comparing key alliances between the hospital's management, the faculty, and the university in consolidating the center as the fourth complete teaching center of the Faculty of Medicine at UCM.
Dr. Carmen Pantoja Zarza acknowledged the work of the hospital's professors and staff who, "despite the high clinical pressure," maintain their commitment to undergraduate training. She congratulated the graduates on their effort and highlighted their human capacity, stating they have been "a cohort that has indelibly marked us."
The cohort's godmother, Prof. Dr. Ana Bustamante, focused her speech on the pedagogical concept of accompaniment, emphasizing closeness, listening, and trust. She reflected on how medical training extends beyond technical skills, requiring "presence, judgment, humility, and a specific way of being alongside others."
The ceremony included the imposition of academic hoods, the presentation of diplomas, and the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath, reaffirming the ethical commitment of the medical profession. The event concluded with the performance of the university anthem “Gaudeamus Igitur.”
This graduation marks a milestone for the Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, solidifying its role as a teaching center committed to training future doctors and pursuing excellence in clinical education.
