A jubilee scientific conference was held at the University of Debrecen on November 8th and 9th to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the opening of the Augusta Sanatorium and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the independent Pulmonary Clinic. During the two-day event, experts reviewed the past and present of pulmonary medicine in Debrecen, discussed the latest therapeutic options, and presented the newest research findings.
The Augusta Sanatorium was opened in April 1914 in Debrecen to provide the most advanced care for patients suffering from tuberculosis in the region. The sanatorium and the outpatient clinic, founded a year earlier in 1913 and the predecessor of the current pulmonary clinic, worked closely together. Thanks to their efforts, tuberculosis became a rare disease in the region by the end of the 20th century. This allowed specialists to focus on so-called non-specific lung diseases, such as lung cancer, asthma, and COPD. As a result of continuous professional development, an independent Pulmonary Clinic was established at the university 25 years ago, in 1999. The institution has since become a regional center for cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
“Besides respiratory infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), and lung cancer are currently the biggest challenges in our field. However, beyond common diseases, I believe that outstanding professional work is also being done in the field of rare lung diseases. Today, pulmonology, and thus the work done at our clinic, is developing dynamically thanks to scientific and technological developments, which have brought new solutions at all levels of prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. With new, innovative drugs, devices, and digital solutions, we can do more and more for the health of our patients,” said Ildikó Horváth, professor at the University of Debrecen and director of the Pulmonary Clinic of the University of Debrecen Clinical Center.
At the ceremonial opening of the conference, György Kossa, president of the board of trustees of the Count István Tisza Foundation for the University of Debrecen, praised the outstanding professional work of the staff of the Pulmonary Clinic and their selfless healing work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Zoltán Szabó, president of the University of Debrecen Clinical Center and deputy rector, emphasized in his greeting that the dedicated role of the staff of the Pulmonary Clinic in connection with the coronavirus pandemic has significantly contributed to the University of Debrecen Clinical Center becoming one of the country’s leading COVID-care facilities with outstanding results. The professor announced that several developments will be implemented at the clinic in the near future, and a new pulmonary department and sub-intensive care unit will soon begin operating, which can significantly contribute to the institution’s continuous professional development and further strengthening of its regional center role.
The participants of the two-day conference, held on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of pulmonary medicine in Debrecen and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the clinic, recalled the achievements and greatest challenges of the past decades, discussed the latest diagnostic and therapeutic options in pulmonology, and outlined future plans.
