80 years of the MUG. Jubilee

15.01.2025

The MUG Museum plays a key role in nurturing the memory of our University’s history. This year, however, it is even more special because of an exceptional anniversary. Medical University of Gdansk is celebrating its 80th birthday. In connection with this, traditionally penned by Marek Bukowski, M.D., Ph.D. we travel back in time to the 1980s and the rise of Solidarity, the renovation of the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic and the special gift that the then Medical Academy received from the Gdansk Refinery. What is worth mentioning – these transfers in time, thanks to the Museum’s caretaker, will be innumerable in the near future. But before reminiscing about the 1980s, let’s go back “only” 30 years for now….

The year of the 80th anniversary of the Medical University of Gdańsk. Closer to the centennial than the fiftieth anniversary, celebrated very solemnly. It was 1995, the rector of the Gdansk Medical Academy (from 1950 to 2009) was Prof. Zdzisław Wajda, a strong personality. From the time of his studies, throughout his professional career and in retirement, he was always dedicated to the Academy. He did an enormous amount of work for the Academy. He was a representative of the generation for whom medicine, the University and work were a great passion, so strongly felt in conversations and memories. In the same year, 1995, medical diplomas were received by the first graduating class, which had already studied after the fall of communism in Poland. He had a chance to learn, observe and talk to graduates of the first post-war vintages, hardened by the war and the years that followed. And at the same time enjoy the freedom so new and delightful to all. These two generations were separated by classes that included Mothers, Fathers, Sisters and Brothers of the youngest medical students. A story within a story, inside a story….

In 2015, in the year of the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of the Medical Academy in Gdańsk (Akademia Lekarska), in the pages of the Bulletin of the Museum of the Medical University of Gdańsk, we spun reflections on the passage of time: Seventy years of the University’s existence. Is it little or many? Probably not that many, considering the oldest universities established several hundred years ago, whose names are cited by history textbooks. At the same time, a lot from the point of view of the progress of science and the time of human life. The seventieth anniversary of the founding of the university is certainly reason enough to be tempted to try to look back and reflect on the past time. For any university museum, such an anniversary is a challenge. It naturally dictates, if not the title, then the context of the exhibition, at first glance dreamed up for the presentation of the university’s achievements. However, a brief moment of reflection cools this enthusiasm. For another question arises, as natural as it is difficult to answer: what to show and how to show it? Even in seventy years, so many events have taken place, so much has changed in the world around, and with it the University, so many people have worked and studied here. What should one choose? What key to use when creating an anniversary exhibition? How to present what we consider to be the most significant in history?

The result of the deliberations and considerations was an exhibition presenting 70 selected objects illustrating the most important events and people related to the history of the MUG. After ten years, we again had to ask ourselves how to celebrate and present the 80th anniversary of our University. Not wanting to duplicate an already somewhat exploited idea, and at the same time remaining within the circle set by numbers, we invite you to look at the history of the Medical University of Gdansk through the prism of our chosen dates, events, objects and, above all, the activities of people associated with the University. It will probably be easy to identify the key that guided us in creating this gallery of the past. Eight, eight, eighty, eighteen… all combinations with the number 8, often considered lucky.

The hot year of 1980

“This year can be compared to a volcano, which from time to time must erupt with greater or lesser force. The health service has to work regardless of the unfolding events. They nevertheless had a great impact on the work and atmosphere of the clinic and the staff associated with it. The first six months passed relatively quietly. It has already been 2 years since the move to the temporary building and there is no end in sight to the renovation of pavilion 18. The huge cramped space, especially in the infant room, affects the development of frequent infections in the youngest age group. The small room for older children is being held at a truly American pace due to the short hospitalization of these children and the high turnover.”

This is how Prof. Stanisława Dymnicka, who was in charge of the unit, summarized the year 1980 in the chronicle of the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic. A few paragraphs further the author noted:

Then finally came August, which changed attitudes and approaches to many issues in our country. The place of the old Trade Unions was now taken by the new union “Solidarity,” which emerged from the Inter-Union Strike Committee at the Gdansk Shipyard. Will this be the hope of a better tomorrow, or again the disappointment that has haunted us for centuries? – this is the question to which it is still difficult to find an answer.

The chronicle covering the history of the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic includes several volumes. In them, extremely valuable records of the development of the Gdansk Medical Academy, the Clinic, paediatric cardiology and current events at home and abroad. All illustrated with newspaper clippings, memories, excerpts from letters. An essential part of the tradition and heritage of our already 80-year-old University.

Illustrations: pages of the Chronicle of the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic, an article from Dziennik Bałtycki about a new acquisition for the Clinic pasted into the Chronicle, the device at the Clinic.