Professor Zoltán Rakonczay took professorship at the Faculty of Dentistry in July 2004. He has been the head of the Oral Biology Division of the Department of Prosthetics and Oral Biology. Between 2008 and 2012 he has also been the vice dean of the faculty.

He graduated from the József Attila University (Szeged) in 1971 as a biologist, he earned his doctoral degree in 1973, and in 1983 he became DSc in biology (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest). In 1994 he earned the academic doctoral degree of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. One year later, in 1995 he became a habilitated doctor of the biological sciences at the Medical School of Szeged (SZOTE). Between 1973 and 1980 he worked at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Biology Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Szeged as scientific fellow. In the period 1980-2004 he worked at the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical School of Szeged (later: University of Szeged, Faculty of Medicine), first as scientific fellow, then as lead fellow, and finally as scientific advisor.

He has been guest lecturer and guest professor at well renowned European and American institutions, like the Centre de Neurochimie, Strasbourg, France; Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Dept. Pharmacol., Springfield, IL, USA; Mayo Clinic, Dept. Pharmacol., Rochester, MN, USA; Universidad de Catholica, Santiago, Chile - just to mention the most important ones.

In 1987 he earned the Excellence Award of the Ministry of Health, and in the period 1997-2000 he was supported by the Széchenyi Professorial Grant of the Hungarian state.

Although his main scientific interest is Alzheimer’s and the role of acetylcholine esterase, he joined the research activity at the Faculty of Dentistry in 2004, especially the research on the biointegration of titanium implants. The number of his scientific publications is over 70 (original publications and book chapters), their cumulative impact factor is 147.784. His publications have been cited 1140 times. He has also co-authored more than 100 congress reviews (with an impact factor of 85.69).

His most notable merit at the Faculty of Dentistry is the establishment of an independent dentistry research doctoral programme within the Clinical Medicine Doctoral School of the University of Szeged. The Faculty of Dentistry is one of the youngest faculties of the university, which has earned its independence five years ago, thus becoming the twelfth faculty of the University of Szeged. The establishment of a doctoral programme and an own research laboratory had been important prerequisites for becoming an independent faculty, so that clinicians could join research and thereby the faculty could educate its own qualified staff. So far 17 persons have taken up this PhD course, of which eight have already earned their PhD during the last five years.

Several national and international grants (like OTKA, ETT, EU5) have been earned as a result of Professor Rakonczay’s work. With the help of these grants it became possible to furnish the laboratory with modern equipment, and finally a separate Cell Culture and Histomorphometry could also be established.

Ever since his arrival in 2004 he has actively participated in the education at the Faculty: He has developed an up-to-date curriculum for the subject Oral Biology both in Hungarian and English, and he lectures on „Materials and Technology in Dentistry”, „Application of Bio- and Alloplastic Materials in Dentistry”, „Dental Diagnosis and Treatment Planning” and „Dental Care of the Elderly and Persons With Special Needs”.

He has also established the Scientific Study Circle at the Faculty of Dentistry. He plays a major role in the mentoring of students and he also organizes local and national student conferences. He has been the secretary of the Scientific Study Circle Committee of the Faculty of Medicine since 1997, and last year he was awarded the Jubilee Memorial Plaquette of the National Committee of Scientific Study Circles.

In his person we are lucky to know a devoted and enthusiastic professional, a great teacher, researcher and colleague.
 

The Faculty of Dentistry salutes Professor Rakonczay on his birthday and wishes Him excellent health. May His work be even more successful!