A sword, a hat and three unforgettable days in Helsinki

Alan L. Schwartz, PhD, MD (left), receives the sword of truth as part of an honorary doctorate ceremony at the University of Helsinki.

Honorary degrees are a time-honored tradition among universities to recognize achievements of the best and brightest in a field. While they are all a great honor, the University of Helsinki is unique among institutions in how it bestows this honor, and a Washington University School of Medicine faculty member was the fortunate recipient.


Alan L. Schwartz, PhD, MD, recently received an honorary doctorate of medicine and surgery from the University of Helsinki that came steeped in nearly 400 years of tradition and ceremony and included some unique, symbolic gifts.

Schwartz, the Harriet B. Spoehrer Professor and head of the Department of Pediatrics, was one of 15 physician-scientists from around the globe to receive one of the honorary doctorates, which the university’s medical faculty awards only once a decade. The University of Helsinki is one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities.

READ MORE