"Stay in touch!"

The MHH-Alumni e.V. bid farewell to the graduates of Human medicine on January 13. Over 550 guests gathered for the graduation ceremony in the Canteen of Hannover Medical School.

Begrüßte feierlich: Alumni-Vorsitzender Professor Siegfried Piepenbrock © Annika Morchner, MHH

A large stage with a red curtain, dozens of rows of white chairs and crowds of festively dressed people - the Canteen of the MHH was hardly recognizable on this Saturday. 114 newly qualified physicians had gathered with family and friends to bid farewell to their university after passing their exams.

They were greeted and congratulated by Professor Siegfried Piepenbrock, Chairman of MHH Alumni e.V., who took the opportunity to recall his own graduation days in the mid-1968s. Back then, graduation certificates were sent in the post in a matter-of-fact way, and a ceremony was rejected anyway due to the political climate at the time. Dean of Studies Professor Ingo Just also warmly congratulated the new colleagues, as he was now allowed to call them. Dr. Marion Charlotte Renneberg, Vice President of the Lower Saxony Medical Association and herself an MHH alumna, was clearly delighted with the festive occasion when she gave her welcoming address. Her appeal for the future career path: "Take care of yourself and your health! And: stay in touch - with your fellow students, with the Medical Association and, of course, with your alma mater."

Graduate Maria Hoppe took to the microphone on behalf of those who were celebrated in this way. In cheerful and thoughtful words, she described the rollercoaster ride of her studies, talked about studying in Corona times, reviewed the learning marathons and thanked everyone involved at the MHH who had always had an open ear for the students. Then came the moment when MHH President Prof. Dr. Michael P. Manns was allowed to pursue one of his favorite tasks: He presented the certificates and congratulated each graduate personally, while Professor Piepenbrock presented the MHH Alumni e.V. exam rose.

There was a relaxed and festive atmosphere throughout the Canteen, which was also supported by the musical contributions of singer Juliette Jacobsen and pianist Agnes Hapsari Retno. With soul classics by Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, they hit the guests right in the heart, as did Jacobsen's own composition "Lift you up". Rumor has it that one or two guests whistled a few bars of the farewell song to themselves on the way to the subsequent snack and champagne reception.