Graduates in three disciplines - MHB celebration in triplicate

Brandenburg an der Havel, 12 July 2025

A very special event at the Paulikloster, a former monastery: The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB) said farewell to 79 graduates on 12 July – and opened a new chapter in its history: this was the first joint ceremony for graduation from medicine, psychology and health services research. 62 out of a total of 79 graduates – 45 in medicine, 30 in psychology, four in health services research – attended in person.

MHB president Prof. Hans-Uwe Simon underlined the symbolic nature of the moment when he told graduates that they were leaving the university not singly but as parts of a larger whole, as members of the MHB family for a lifetime: “This picture here, this is exactly our kind of celebration. It fits in perfectly with the MHB spirit, and it fits in with you. What makes us so special is being together and being there for each other. Our university thrives on the dedication of its students, and vice versa: You have grown through your joint efforts.” He gave his thanks to a number of students for outstanding commitment and mentioned in particular: Lilith Bechinger, Selina Böttcher, Julian Bredehorst, Vanessa Bremer, Charlotte Buhre, Franz Eggert, Eva Hamm, Janno Hellmann, Sonja Jahnke, Alexander Krutz, Rebecca Lehmann, Christopher Mönch, Jan Auswitz, Seraphina Puderbach, Miriam Rabehl, Götz Rövenstrunk, Lea Schröder, Olivia Schübel, Anika Volkmar, Greta Weber, Ole Wendland and Jonas Wördemann.

A presentation by Prof. Thomas Stamm, vice dean for curricular and student affairs, was followed by graduates Charlotte Buhre and Anika Volkmar (medicine) and Janno Hellmann (Bachelor psychology) who spoke on behalf of their year groups. Prof. Stamm, Prof. Dawid Pieper and Katrin Toptschian (health services research), Prof. Andreas Winkelmann (medicine) and Prof. Bertram Opitz (psychology) then handed over the degree certificates, to the sound of applause from the assembly.

Citations for outstanding performance and outstanding commitment

Citations for outstanding academic performance went to Tabea Winkler (psychology), Rebecca Lehmann (medicine) and Maximilian Würz (health services research). Selina Böttcher (medicine) and Janno Hellmann (psychology) received awards for outstanding commitment from Florian Koch on behalf of the regional savings bank Ostprignitz-Ruppin. A special prize of honor went to medical graduate Jan Auswitz for his untiring and successful activities at the MHB, not least as a co-founder and erstwhile chair of the students council. Dr. Eric Alexander Hoffmann as head of strategic communications and university spokesman held the laudatory speech and listed Jan Auswitz’ numerous merits, among them his initiative to create a bike repair station, his campaign against discrimination and for diversity, and his essential contributions to the first MHB gender guidelines. He played a key role in the foundation of MedSi and AStA and was proactive in taking student representation and self-administration at the MHB to a new level. Moreover, his negotiating powers and persistence helped to ensure public finances for the MHB.

The graduates are now starting out in their professional careers, many of them in the State of Brandenburg, where they will make valuable contributions to the provision of healthcare. Founded with just 86 students in 2014, the MHB now has more than 1000 enrolled students, and rising.

Sebastian Ripl & Band provided musical accompaniment, and Tina Knop acted as presenter. A champagne reception saw nothing but radiant faces and concluded a day which participants will remember for a long time.