First medical graduates from SDU in Esbjerg have taken the physician’s oath
Historic Day at Esbjerg Hospital – University Hospital of Southern Denmark: First Medical Graduates Have Completed Their Studies
Wednesday 25 June marked a special day in Esbjerg. For the first time, newly graduated doctors who completed the regional Master's programme in Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark were able to take the physician’s oath. The event was celebrated with a formal ceremony in a festive tent at Esbjerg Hospital – University Hospital of Southern Denmark – with family, teachers, and partners in attendance.
A locally significant education
The regional Master's programme in Medicine was established in 2022 with a clear goal: to help improve the availability of doctors outside Denmark’s major university cities. The programme is a collaboration between the University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg Hospital – University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Hospital Lillebælt, Hospital Sønderjylland, the psychiatric services, and general practice. The first graduates are now ready for the next chapter in their medical careers – many of them with a desire to stay in the region.
Musical performances and applause set the tone for a festive day that many had looked forward to since the beginning of their studies. Each student was called up one by one and received their certificate after collectively taking the physician’s oath.
“With the regional medical education programme, we’ve invested in the doctors of the future – professionals we need both in hospitals and in general practice. It is also an investment in the future availability of doctors, and I hope many of the newly graduated physicians will continue their careers in our region and help make a difference for the people of Southern Denmark,” said Bo Libergren (V), Chairman of the Regional Council of the Region of Southern Denmark, in his speech.
A new way of becoming a doctor
The regional medical education differs particularly from the corresponding programme in Odense by assigning students to a fixed base department throughout their entire study period. This provides students with a gradual and close introduction to clinical practice.
“This means they don’t experience a shock when they start working as doctors. They are already colleagues while still studying, and that creates both security and quality – for them and for us as employers,” said Anna-Marie Bloch Münster, Hospital Director at Esbjerg and Grindsted Hospital.
She also highlighted how the new educational environment has had a positive impact across the hospital:
“It has elevated us as a hospital and across professional groups that the university level is now so clearly present in both patient care and in our work with research and education.”
Words from the students and a celebration of professionalism
Perhaps the most personal moment of the day came when one of the new graduates, Lisa Uldahl Lambæk, gave a speech on behalf of the entire cohort. With both gratitude and humour, she spoke about how meaningful this day was – particularly the moment of taking the physician’s oath. She also thanked her fellow students for the mutual support they had shown each other throughout the three years in Esbjerg.
During the ceremony, the Erik Münster Award for Humanity in Medicine was presented for the first time – an honorary award given to a young doctor who combines professional excellence with empathy, clear communication, and social responsibility.
The award is named after medical specialist and Denmark’s beloved advice columnist Dr. Erik Münster, and it celebrates values such as humanity, compassion for vulnerable groups, and the ability to make the healthcare system more accessible and inclusive. The aim is to inspire young doctors to see the patient as a whole person – and to make the medical profession about more than just science.
The prize, which includes an honorary title and a DKK 20,000 award, was presented by Erik Münster’s grandson, Frederik Bloch Münster, who offered heartfelt words. The award went to Lisa Uldahl Lambæk, who – visibly moved and joyful – took the stage once again.
Close collaboration between hospital and university
The regional Master’s programme is the result of many years of collaboration between SDU and the healthcare system in the Region of Southern Denmark. During the ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ole Skøtt, emphasised the importance of local medical education:
“This is a great day – not just for the new doctors, but for the entire region. We have shown that it is possible to establish a high-quality medical education outside the large university cities. It strengthens both patient care and recruitment.”
As the afternoon came to a close and the new graduates received applause and congratulations from their families, one thing became clear: This day marked not just the end of an education, but the beginning of a medical career – and the start of a new tradition for medical education in the Region of Southern Denmark.