Nuremberg: 2020 Class of Human Medicine Students Celebrate Graduation
41 Graduates of the Human Medicine Program at Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU) in Nuremberg Enter Professional Life
The graduation ceremony took place in the historic town hall of Nuremberg.
The mortarboards are in place, the diplomas are signed. Recently, 26 women and 15 men from the 2020 class received their medical degrees in Nuremberg’s town hall. Seven graduates, all women, and one male graduate completed their studies with distinction. Families, university staff, and representatives of the Nuremberg Clinic attended the festive ceremony.
Speeches & Congratulations
PMU Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Sperl welcomed the graduates “to the sunny side,” referencing the unusually warm late summer weather in the city. He also intended this as a good omen for their professional futures. He quoted the university’s patron, Paracelsus: “The physician grows in the heart,” a call for compassion and authenticity. For Sperl, this was his final graduation ceremony in Nuremberg before his retirement.
Nuremberg’s Lord Mayor Marcus König called the 41 graduates “ambassadors for our democracy.” He emphasized that their work contributes to the reliability of top-tier medicine and to trust in science and progress. “It is our duty in politics to provide you with the best possible framework,” he said. König, a great admirer of the clinic and its cooperation with PMU, invited the graduates to stay in Nuremberg. Half of the graduating class plans to start their careers at the Nuremberg Clinic (König: “the best, the true university hospital in the region”).
Class spokesperson Dr. med. univ. Daniel Weeder recalled how challenging the start of their studies was in the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. Classes had to be held online or in small groups under strict infection control measures for a long time; group activities like the traditional climbing garden visit were only possible with gloves and face masks. “We were the corona class.” And yet: “We had an amazing time!” Weeder highlighted the colorful diversity of the group and emphasized that everyone shared the same vision.
“Never forget your personal reason for choosing the path of medicine,” advised PMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hans Herbert Steiner. Those who preserve curiosity, passion, humor, and resilience should not be afraid to stand out and make a difference. The CEO of the Nuremberg Clinic, Prof. Dr. Achim Jockwig, thanked the teachers and staff of PMU and the clinic, as well as the families who supported the students.
In a keynote speech on the joys and challenges of the medical profession, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jan Liman, Director of the Neurology Clinic, also congratulated the graduates. Medicine is currently changing at a rapid pace; artificial intelligence and networking offer enormous development opportunities. “Keep learning. Build windmills, not walls, as the Chinese proverb says. Love your profession. Work as a team. Find balance in your stressful job. And: Stay human.”
After a champagne reception in the Hall of Honor for the approximately 300 guests, the young doctors continued the celebration with their families and a final joint party in the city.
Applying for Medical School
Applications for the 2026/2027 academic year will be accepted starting November 15, 2025. The Nuremberg campus offers 55 places. For more information: www.pmu.ac.at/studium-weiterbildung/humanmedizin.
Fotos: Giulia Iannicelli
Translated by Le Chat
