Macchabée Ceremony at TVU – Expressing gratitude for noble contributions to those who donated their bodies to medicine

(TVU) – On January 19th, 2024, the School of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tra Vinh University organizes a Macchabée Ceremony to express gratitude to those who donated their bodies for the cause of education and medical research.

The ceremony has the participation of Prof. Dr. Doctor. People’s Teacher. Ta Van Tram, Director of the Central General Hospital of Tien Giang Province, Head of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy; Dr. Specialist Doctor Level II. Tran Kien Vu, Director of Tra Vinh General Hospital, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Acting Head of the Anatomy Department; Specialist Doctor Level II. Huynh Thi Hong Nhung, Director of the TVU hospital, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy; Dr. Doctor. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Director of the Centre of Human Resource Training in Health, Deputy Head of the of Medicine and Pharmacy; Dr. Do Nhat Phuong, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy; MSc. Doctor. Doan Duong Chi Thien, Deputy Head of the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy; Specialist Doctor Level II. Nguyen Doan Hoai, Deputy Head of the School Odonto – Stomatology and Treatment Area together with leaders of university units and many lecturers, staff, and students of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy also attend the ceremony.

Dr. Specialist Doctor Level II. Tran Kien Vu, Director of Tra Vinh General Hospital, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Acting Head of the Anatomy Department, said: “The School of Medicine of Tra Vinh University was established with the mission to train healthcare professionals for our province and region, continuing the tradition of the medical field, we – those who do medical training – come together to organize the Macchabée Ceremony to express our gratitude for noble contributions to those who donated their bodies to the cause of education and medical research and honor the noble acts of the silent teacher.”

 

The ceremony is solemnly taken place in Lecture Hall D5 and the incense offering is held in the anatomy practice room. Then, the students adorn the corpses with wreaths, lanterns, flowers, paper cranes, and burn incense as a respectful tribute to the silent teachers. 

Huynh Trung Hao, a medical student from the 2021 class, read the sacrificial essay to express deep gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the silent teachers who selflessly donated their bodies to the medical profession. “I promise to always cultivate virtue, hone my skills, and strive for academic excellence to become a proficient and morally upright doctor who contributes to society,” Trung Hao emotionally expressed.

“The Macchabée Gratitude Ceremony has been an immensely sacred and significant occasion for students, lecturers, and the medical team of the university over the years. It serves as an educational opportunity for medical students to recognize their responsibility in learning and to take pride in the profession they have chosen. The collective of lecturers and students of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy are committed to utilizing their abilities and intellect to strive for academic excellence and research to become competent doctors dedicated to serving society,” – MSc. Doctor. Doan Duong Chi Thien, Deputy Head of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy shared at the ceremony.

The Macchabée Ceremony – also known as the Gratitude Ceremony “Those Who Dedicate Their Bodies to Medicine,” is an annual event for medical students to demonstrate profound respect and gratitude towards those who have selflessly donated their bodies to medicine and science. Since 2013, the Macchabée Ceremony has become an annual tradition day for medical students at the School of Medicine and Pharmacy.

By Hanh Nguyen