The University submission awards the Silver Medal to 99 professionals.

The University of Navarra has awarded its Silver Medal to 99 professionals in recognition of their 25 years at work in the academic center. This year, the medals were awarded to two people from IESE, who received the distinction on December 22 in Barcelona, and 97 from campus in Pamplona and San Sebastián.

The ceremony of submission was held in the Museum Theater, with the intervention of President, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero; and Marta Ferrer, director of department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology of the Clínica Universidad de Navarraon behalf of the award winners. The event was in person for the medalists and was broadcast in streaming for family members, colleagues of work and friends.

In his speech, the President, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, referred to the pandemic and reflected on the possibility of being happy "in these times of prolonged adversity". The conditions for happiness, he stressed, are being useful to others and rendering a service to society; and being surrounded by good people.

In his opinion, these are two conditions that "are admirably fulfilled" at the University of Navarra: "Firstly, in our activity professor, assistance and research, we try to provide the best possible service to students, patients and society in general; and secondly, if we look at our side, we always find extraordinary colleagues, who make our task easier and encourage us to advance, grow and progress," he stressed.

Regarding the last year, he affirmed that the University has faced the pandemic with initiative and a sense of responsibility: "We have complained little and innovated a lot; we have overcome unexpected difficulties with creativity and as a team; we have had clear priorities; we have acted with order and a spirit of solidarity; our response has caused many people to trust the University and to value the work we do every day with our best efforts".

A memorable promotion

 Dr. Marta Ferrer thanked on behalf of the medalists: "We are a memorable graduating class, a challenge for the laws of epidemiology; we have survived kisses and hugs, tobacco smoke in our classrooms and work, bollicaos and tigretones, bombs and intoxications", she recounted among other events experienced in the last 25 years. And, as if that were not enough, he continued, "we manage with ease in the midst of a pandemic while maintaining academic excellence and we are able to have floors full of COVIDs and attend consultations, endoscopies and operating rooms".

Dr. Ferrer spoke of the stages in working life. "We have given way to maturity. Today is a day to forgive, to be grateful, to put our hearts into what we do. Only we can make our place at work look like that place we dreamed of and experienced when we first walked in here," she explained.  

List of the 99 medalists