In the solemn and moving atmosphere of the Advent season, the St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work (SEU) honored the memory of its founder. On December 8, during the Advent Memorial Evening—held as part of the international IHSOS 2025 forum—the inaugural Professor Vladimír Krčméry Awards were presented for the first time.
The event, held at the University Hall on 1st May Square in Bratislava, brought together the academic community and experts to celebrate those whose lives embody the ideals of humanism, professional excellence, and service.
One of the evening’s primary laureates in the Public Health category was the long-standing Chief Hygienist, Dr. h. c. PhDr. RNDr. MUDr. Ján Mikas, PhD., MPH. The laudatio in his honor was delivered by Professor Jozef Šuvada, who highlighted Mikas’s pivotal role during the critical stages of the pandemic.
"This is a gesture of gratitude to a man who stood for many years, quietly, on the invisible front lines of protecting our health," Šuvada stated. He noted that public health has a unique quality: when it functions well, it often goes unnoticed because the epidemics and tragedies it averts remain unseen.
"This moment is not merely a recognition of his career or titles. Above all, it is a thank you for his perseverance, character, and public service during times when people are quick to judge but slow to bear responsibility," Professor Šuvada emphasized. He added that Mikas often stood by his decisions in solitude, acting systematically and with humanity, even while under immense pressure and facing more questions than answers.
Upon accepting the award, Dr. Ján Mikas recalled Professor Krčméry, with whom he shared some of the most difficult moments of the pandemic struggle. When asked what specific memory came to mind while looking at the award, he answered candidly:
"Probably the times during the pandemic when we worked late into the night. He would be connected online, or we would sit together at the crisis management meetings until the early hours, searching for solutions to questions for which no answers yet existed," Mikas recalled, reflecting on the challenging moments where Professor Krčméry was a pillar of support.
The Professor Vladimír Krčméry Award, an expression of gratitude for spreading the legacy of expertise and compassion, was also presented to other distinguished figures:
Prof. MUDr. Mária Šustrová, CSc. in the Social Work category, for her lifelong dedication and assistance to people with Down syndrome.
Sr. Magda Smet and Dr. Elie Saker in the Development and Humanitarian Work category, for their service in the world’s most impoverished regions.
The evening confirmed that Professor Krčméry’s legacy lives on through people who do not work for applause, but for the impact they have on every single human being.
