“A white uniform and a diploma are not enough to become a doctor. Future doctors have a long way to walk through”, renowned surgeon Artavazd Sahakyan, who has performed more than 45 thousand surgeries during his career, addressed the graduates at the solemn session of the Yerevan State Medical University Scientific Council.
Graduates took the Hippocratic Oath. “Doctor’s path requires honesty, endurance, and devotion to the patient. You should treat them as you would treat your family member”, stressed the surgeon.
Then, he told a remarkable story, wishing to point out how important it is to keep Armenian doctors’ reputation high: “Twenty-four years ago, when I started working in Dnepropetrovsk, one of the famous professors used to say, “the Caucasians are ignorant because they have bought a doctor’s diploma by mandarin”… That time I responded that mandarin does not grow in Armenia… Six years later he begged me not to leave Ukraine”.
Artavazd Sahakyan reminded the graduates about another important mission: “Armenian doctor should serve in the army”.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
