Prof. Shahrokh Shariat, a surgeon and specialist in the area of urology renowned in both Europe and the world, has received the gold Plus ratio quam vis medal, the highest honour bestowed by the oldest Polish university. The award was presented to him on 27 June in the Collegium Novum Assembly Hall.
‘The Jagiellonian University may honour a person for their activities and accomplishments in service of the academic community as well as extraordinary commitment to the good of the University by awarding them with the Plus ratio quam vis medal. The motto Plus ratio quam vis (‘let reason prevail over force’) is inscribed on the portal leading from the Assembly Hall to the Copernicus Room in the JU Collegium Maius. The maxim, borrowed from the poem ‘Elegy’ by the sixth-century poet Maximianus, is included in the JU Statute and expresses the idea that has guided the oldest Polish higher education institution throughout its existence. It also reflects the moral bearing of the University in the face of historical challenges’, said JU Vice-Rector for Medical College Prof. Tomasz Grodzicki at the beginning of the event.
He then elaborated on why the Jagiellonian University decided to present the gold Plus ratio quam vis medal to Prof. Shahrokh Shariat, whose achievements include: promoting the advancement of urology on the university level; supporting the University in striving for achieving excellence in the teaching of urology; greatly contributing to urology as a surgeon, teacher, leader and researcher; notable accomplishments in scientific, organisational and clinical collaboration as well as creating an inter-university research platform.
Having presented the reasons for bestowing the award on Prof. Shariat, Prof. Tomasz Grodzicki asked Prof. Piotr Chłosta, Head of the Clinic and Chair in Urology of the JU Medical College Faculty of Medicine, to deliver his laudatory speech.
‘The scientific, organisational and pedagogical attainments of Prof. Shahrokh Shariat are impressive and meticulously laid out in his curriculum vitae, which I had the opportunity to read. Prof. Shariat is widely regarded by his colleagues in Europe and around the world as one of the most distinguished specialists in this branch of medicine: an experienced clinician and an excellent teacher and researcher. Prof. Shariat’s prolific clinical and academic work has earned him the highest recognition amongst the leading urologists worldwide’, stated Prof. Piotr Chłosta.
‘I’m deeply convinced that the contributions Prof. Shariat has given and still continues to give to the development of Polish urology will further enhance our potential and may very soon lead to great achievements that will gain recognition of urologists both in Europe and around the world. The multitude of issues investigated at research institutions led by Prof. Shariat as well as his scientific accomplishments, including publications, are the driving force that fosters the academic growth of his colleagues. He is an exceptional teacher and a talented urologist. Prof. Shariat is extraordinarily capable in leading research teams, and his interpersonal skills establish him as a doctor of unparalleled modesty, ethics and bedside manner. I strongly believe that awarding Prof. Shariat with the prestigious Plus ratio quam vis gold medal will serve as an irrefutable proof of the Jagiellonian University’s recognition of his academic, scientific and social status’, continued Prof. Chłosta.
After the Dean of the JU MC Faculty of Medicine Prof. Maciej Małecki read out the Latin text of the Plus ratio quam vis medal diploma, Prof. Shariat took the floor to say a few words. He expressed his gratitude for being bestowed with an award by the oldest Polish university, which throughout history has advocated for the primacy of reason over force. He then mentioned some of the remarkable people with ties to the Jagiellonian University, including astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, King John III Sobieski, Pope John Paul II and doctor and politician Józef Dietl, who served as the rector of the University in 1861–62 and the President of Kraków in 1866–74. He drew special attention to the latter, stressing that his work had laid the foundation for the modern urological practices and serves as an example of a lasting impact of rigorous scientific research on the development of medical knowledge and patient care’.
Prof. Shariat also offered kind words about Prof. Piotr Chłosta, his long time friend and professional associate. He spoke about his pride in the Central European Urological Society (CEUS), an institution first envisioned by Prof. Chłosta, established to aid in the pursuit of the highest standards of medical care. According to Prof. Shariat, CEUS is instrumental in creating a network of strong future leaders, whose aim is to increase the level of science and medicine in Central Europe. It is an initiative that promotes innovation and excellence, ensuring better future for the region and the rest of the world.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Shariat expressed his hope that we might find a way to reconcile honouring the past and striving towards a brighter, more enlightened future.
Prof. Shahrokh François Shariat is the head of the Department and Clinic of Urology at the Medical University of Vienna (Austria) and an honorary doctor of the Semmelweiss University in Budapest (Hungary). He has published over 1,500 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 26 book chapters. Prof. Shahrokh Shariat is a surgeon and specialist urologist whose main and fundamental area of interest is uro-oncology. He is one of the most frequently cited scientists in the world, mainly in the field of treatment of prostate cancer patients.
Since graduating, he has completed all stages of his professional and academic career in leading clinical centres in the world: Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College / New York–Presbyterian Hospital and the University of Medical Sciences in Vienna.
Prof. Shariat is a member of numerous organisations, including the European Association of Urology, Endourological Society, American Association for Cancer Research and American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is the founder of the Association of U.S. Trained European Physicians, founder and chairman of the Bladder Cancer Research Consortium and president of the Austrian Urological Society, co-founder of the Iranian Urological Society and founder and honorary member of CEUS - Central European Urological Society. Moreover, by a unanimous decision of the General Meeting of Polish Urological Society, he also obtained honorary membership in that association, at the request of the Management Board.
Prof. Shahrokh Shariat is the recipient of numerous national and international awards. He received the prestigious Crystal Matula Award from the European Urological Association and the Golden Cystoscope from the American Urological Association. Additionally, he is a member of the editorial board of European Urology, BJU International, World Journal of Urology, and the editor-in-chief of Current Opinion in Urology and many others. Prof. Shariat heads a medical charity for refugees and is on the medical advisory board of two charities. In 2024, his research was featured in the prestigious Urology Times. He is the holder of four patents resulting from his scientific work on patients with prostate cancer and bladder cancer.
