Prof. Piotr Ponikowski honored by AWF

During the ceremonial inauguration of the 2023/2024 academic year, the Academy of Physical Education named after the Polish Olympians in Wroclaw conferred the honorary doctorate on Prof. Piotr Ponikowski.

Reading the content of the resolution adopted by the Senate of the Academy of Physical Education, Rector Professor Andrzej Rokita emphasized not only the merits of the awardee, but also his extraordinary personality.

Reviewers of the doctoral dissertation were Prof. Andrzej Klimek, rector of the Academy of Physical Education in Cracow, and Prof. Ryszard Piotrowicz, affiliated with the Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski National Institute of Cardiology.

In his laudation, Prof. Jan Chmura of the AWF recalled the course of Prof. Piotr Ponikowski's scientific and professional career. He drew attention to his extraordinary publication momentum, international recognition, the pioneering and unique nature of much of his research, but also his organizational activities, especially in the context of the creation of the rapidly growing Institute of Heart Diseases at the University Clinical Hospital. The laudator also mentioned the numerous projects carried out jointly with the Academy of Physical Education and the great sports passion of the honorary doctor - marathons. Recalling Prof. Ponikowski's best time achieved in Berlin (03:59:52), Prof. Chmura added that the laureate is in the process of winning the crown of marathons. He also let out the secret about the jointly conducted research, which showed Prof. Piotr Ponikowski's remarkable regenerative ability.

In his speech entitled "My adventure with science - why it's worth going against the grain", the rector of the Wroclaw University of Medical Sciences referred to the words of Olga Tokarczuk: "Scientific discoveries usually seem irrational at first, because it is rationality that sets the limits of cognition; in order to cross them, one often has to set rationality aside and throw oneself into the dark depths of the unexplored - precisely in order to make them rational and comprehensible piece by piece." He also recalled the engraving cited in one of the Nobel laureate's essays:

- It depicts a wanderer who has reached the borders of the world and, having stuck his head out beyond the earthly sphere, delights in the sight of an orderly and harmonious cosmos. Or at least we assume he is delighted, because we can't see his face. I find this image a perfect illustration of how I myself think about science. We know nothing about the wanderer. We don't know his background, what he must have left behind, or how much the journey whose finale we are watching cost him. We can assume one thing: he would not have been there if curiosity and courage had not guided him. Just think how much courage it takes to bend your head beyond the boundaries of the known world...," said Prof. Ponikowski, and addressing students and those beginning their scientific careers, he added:

- Learning requires courage. A willingness to push boundaries. To raise questions in cases that have been considered explained. To question what we have taken for granted for centuries. Without this, we have no chance to change the world for the better. And I consider this goal to be one of the most important tasks facing science.

In an extremely accessible and illustrative manner, the UMW rector took a look at some key discoveries in cardiology, pointing out the role of passion and enthusiasm. He pointed out the need to take risks, sharing examples from his own life when he made decisions that were not obvious and, for many, controversial, such as leaving the university and going abroad, or moving to the University Clinical Hospital and building the Heart Institute. He emphasized the strength of having the support of his family - his wife and daughters. He also noted the role of the team, the wonderful people he works with every day.

- Each patient leaving our institute on his own strength is proof that it was worth it," he noted. Finally, he quoted Flammarion's words: "To contradict nothing, to assert nothing blindly, to investigate completely impartially, without being influenced by anyone or anything (...) My motto is and will continue to be the word 'seek'." It is an excellent motto. Let's search. There is still much left to discover," appealed Prof. Piotr Ponikowski.