Laurels of Skills and Competence awarded
A gala presentation of Laurels of Skills and Competence took place on 31 March 2022 in the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Opole. For the thirtieth time, the Opole Chamber of Commerce awarded personalities whose work, charisma, and talent influence the life of the Opole region and beyond.
The Laurels of Skills and Competence were granted to moral authorities, entrepreneurs, local government officials, outstanding representatives of science, education, culture, art, politics, and health care in the Opole region.
Among them there were as many as seven people connected with our university.
This year, the Diamond Laurel was granted to Bishop Andrzej Czaja, Grand Chancellor of the Faculty of Theology, UO. The Laurel was awarded for, inter alia: social involvement in mediations during the difficult process of extending the boundaries of Opole and in the spiritual formation of local government officials, a book interview Szczerze o Kościele [Frankly about the Church] conducted by Tomasz Ponikło in which he refers to the most important problems of the contemporary Church and society, chairing the Commission for the Pastoral Care of the Episcopal Conference, charity initiatives in the diocese, such as 'House of Hope', organising Christmas Eve and Easter breakfasts for the poor in the diocesan curia, and involvement in ecumenical activities between various Christian denominations, also on the national arena.
Bishop Czaja thanked for the award and pointed out that it is an award for the whole Church. “This laurel is to draw attention to the fact that things are not as negative as they are often written and said about the Church. This is a time of resolving difficult issues. Of course, we must feel ashamed of some priests. At the same time, I draw attention to the misunderstanding that the Church has to contend with. Our Church is about more good than bad,” said Bishop Czaja.
The Platinum Laurel in the category of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering was awarded to Prof. Jerzy Sacha, head of the Laboratory of Hemodynamic Research at the UH in Opole. He was rewarded for developing new invasive treatment methods in cardiology. These include coronary procedures without the use of contrast in patients with renal failure, transcutaneous access to the heart - through the subclavian and axillary arteries - for the implantation of heart valves and heart pumps (the Opole UH is the only centre in Poland and one of a dozen in the world using this method), and treatment with mechanical circulatory support in patients requiring high-risk procedures and in cardiogenic shock.
Last year, Prof. Sacha performed - as the second in the world - an innovative procedure on the mitral valve using holographic imaging, in the so-called augmented reality, which, as he stressed, is the future of cardiac interventions. Earlier this year, he performed another procedure using goggles on the left atrial appendage.
The Golden Laurel in the category of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering went to Prof. Barbara Radecka, head of the Oncology Clinic with day unit at the Opole Oncology Centre in Opole, lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Opole. She was distinguished for following the principle that oncological treatment, which is usually long-lasting, should be carried out in a manner as friendly to the patient as possible, conducting treatment in the framework of clinical studies together with her team, which improves patients' access to modern, non-reimbursed drugs, conducting and completing an action of collecting votes as part of the Marshal's Civic Budget for a project entitled "Chemotherapy without hair loss - it is possible". Thanks to the involvement of many employees and patients of the Opole Oncology Centre, as well as the authorities and students of the University of Opole, the project received the highest number of votes and the hospital received funds for the purchase of a device to cool the scalp during chemotherapy treatment.
The Golden Laurel was also awarded to Maria Grzeczna, chief nurse at the UH. She is a lawyer and a specialist in epidemiological nursing. At the University Hospital, she is responsible for work organisation, formation and development of non-medical and non-medical staff (nurses, paramedics, technicians, cleaning and patient nutrition staff). She was also involved in developing and coordinating the work of this staff at the temporary hospital, which has just ceased to operate.
Maria Grzeczna has co-authored innovative solutions at the UH in medical records, patient and staff identification, nutrition and sterilisation; she supervises the hospital's preparations for accreditation and certification of the Integrated Management System; she actively participates in the work of teams and committees to improve the service quality. She is actively involved in the nurses' community - she conducts courses and specializations, and holds positions in the professional self-government and trade organizations.
The Silver Laurel “Ambassador of Polish Affairs” was awarded to Maciej Kochański - President of the Uni Opole club, Director of the Office of Marketing and PR at the UO, and Anna Monkiewicz, Vice-President of the Uni Opole club. Laurels were awarded for duly representing the country on the European and world arena in the field of entrepreneurship, culture and national heritage, science and sport; achieving extraordinary competence in culture, science, sport and management, thanks to which Poland's contribution to the development of these areas is visible; actions for international corporate social responsibility. The jury considered as a success worthy of distinction the qualification of the Uni Opole volleyball team to the highest competition class and the excellent performance of the promoted team during the season, which was possible, among others, thanks to the efficient management of the club.
The Silver Laurel in the Medicine and Biomedical Engineering category went to Katarzyna Sołtys-Bolibrzuch, an epidemiology specialist at the University Clinical Hospital. As an epidemiology specialist at the UH in Opole, she performs tasks aimed at preventing hospital infections that are inextricably linked with the development of modern medicine. Her role is to monitor infections, as well as the work and education of staff in this area; she participates in developing strategies for hospital operation; she develops procedures. It is thanks to her knowledge and involvement during the SARS-CoV2 outbreak and other hospital infections that it was possible to maintain continuity of the USK and temporary hospital operation. Katarzyna Sołtys-Bolibrzuch is also a voivodeship consultant in this field of medicine.