“WHEN I WAS A STUDENT” WITH PROFESSOR DRAGAN DANILOVSKI: BACK THEN, WE HAD IDEALS, WE NURTURED A STRONG SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS, THE BASIC PRINCIPLE WE APPLIED WAS “ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE”…

From a chronological distance of almost a half a century, when asked to evoke his days as a faculty student, it almost becomes a “mission impossible”. Simply, as if most of that period is buried under layers and layers of years – this is how with a great deal of nostalgia speaks of his student story Dr. Dragan Danilovski, epidemiology professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje.

Although in the past couple of months he has been in public focus and has been hired to make numerous analysis and researches due to the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, we still managed to “steal” some of his time and ask him to tell us what kind of a student he was.

In the section “Back in my student days”, created in cooperation with Fakulteti.mk, we took professor Danilovski on a trip back to his faculty days, classes, hangouts, challenges.

First, he was surprised to learn that we were interested into hearing something about his student days and he joked and asked us if we were sure that we wanted to discuss a period that took place almost a half a century ago! However, out interest in going a bit deeper into his mental images from times long gone has unraveled a long poetry thread of memories in his head.

– After a few insecure moments caused by a mild anxiety… and the narration mode is finally on.  Some mental images from those times, after several failed attempts, finally emerge from the depths of half consciousness, a bit blurred… covered with the patina of distant times.  And suddenly, spite appears! And revolt! How come a half century passed by in a single flash?! And how come life has managed to put a shadow on such a beautiful youngness? – started his narration the professor.

Danilovski was born back in 1953 in Belgrade. He completed his primary and secondary education in Skopje, and then he continued his education at the Faculty of Medicine. His family has no background in medicine. His father was an officer, and his mother was a teacher; however, from a very young age, he became very interested into medicine and his parents were always there to support him.

Bulgakov as an inspiration

From this chronological distance, he says that if he had not become a professor and a doctor, he would probably become a painter as he still enjoys painting, and oil painting is the technique of his choice. He has even painted his own portrait, depicting a self-portrait from his youth.

– I have to dig deeper, revive, stir my long-forgotten memories. Not just because I promised that I would share interesting moments from those times, but also for me! A man without memories is a living dead, a zombie, a tree without roots. Oh, I wonder where did this famous Chashule’s quote come from?! Never mind, I resisted the winds blowing me abroad…  There, things would have been worse… Being labeled with a permanent status of “a tree without roots”, “a newcomer”, “a misfit”… Here, back in those days, we hade ideals! Maybe someone now would say that those ideals were wrong… that our brains had been washed… Despite everything, we sincerely believed in “fraternity and unity”, and still, we never forgot who we truly were! Do we know that now? We all nurtured a strong sense of togetherness, and egoists were seen as psychopaths or sociopaths. And they were usually out of our social circles. The basic principle applied everywhere and every time was “one for all, all for one”! Just like the famous musketeer code! Slowly, but surely, the spring of memories starts flowing. Memories emerging to the surface. I remember, I never hesitated what I wanted to do in life. I was clear about it since high school. And that is how things went on. It was simply no surprise to anyone. A medical student! What an indescribable feeling! Becoming just like Bulgakov, the young doctor working in one of the remote Russian guberniyas. I had read and reread his book “A Young Doctor’s Notebook” thousands of times back then… Hah, youthful romanticism… Even now, I sometimes go back to reading it… and leave it couple of pages later. After almost forty generations of students I have taught, I can barely single out few students who were sincerely in love with medicine!  I am not speaking about medicine as a science, but rather medicine as philosophy of life, medicine as an art, as a skill of helping one’s loved people, as a “shepherd” of one’s flock… And then, it came to me! “Without love, we are reduced to nothing…“Love is gone, compassion is gone… Egoism, egoism is our modern pandemic! Where the hell is love?

Were they all in vain, were they all fake, were they just a figment of a washed brain, our youthful fantasies of becoming just like the young Bulgakov some day? I sincerely don’t know. All I know is that back than, we were living that dream – recollects professor Danilovski his student days and the decision of becoming a medical student.

Enthusiast always in favor of changes and reforms.

Dragan was a highly motivated student, he graduated with average grade of 9, which had been yet additional incentive of going the extra mile and doing something to impact and change the overall concept of medical studies. He recalls as a chairman of the Student’s Association, he had his fair share of “fighting” the faculty system.

He also remembers paying for that with some of his grades.

– Back than, we also fantasized about education reforms. Back then, we also dreamed about making changes. I remember, at the pathophysiology exam, we first had to take a test on which wrong answers would actually be negative points. And me, as full of dreams and ideals as I was back then as the chairman of the Student’s Association, I had my fair share of “fighting” against faculty system. We used to file petitions to abolish those negative points… and we surprisingly succeeded! That cost me an eight in pathophysiology, and I eventually graduated from the faculty with average grade of 9 – says professor Danilovski.

His favorite subjects were internal medicine and epidemiology, which is probably why he decided to proceed and opt for his specialization.

He completed his studies within the prescribed time-frame; he has never failed an academic year or a single exam.

Depending on the subject, it would take him from one to three months to prepare for an exam.

He says that back then, there were professors who would randomly call a student’s name and they would “bully” them into reading their notes in front of everyone, at a voice so low it had been audible only for the first three rows of students.

– There were also professors who were just standing there and reading, a mode of teaching that is perfect by the book and boring to death and the same time. However, on the other hand, there were also interesting practical lessons: there were some professors who would bring a patient in class and would demonstrate a rectal examination in front of two hundred students – recollects professor Danilovski.

However, he admits that sleeping during classes in the last two rows of the amphitheater was the most “exotic” thing one could do at the faculty.

Way too serious of a style, however, a preferred member of any company

Danilovski recollects that in addition to studying and student activism, students faced other life challenges as well.

– Of course there was love. Love was our fundamental “spiritus movens”. We were both hunters and hunted. Probably we were hunted even then when we thought we were the hunters – jokes the professor.

Young Danilovski also enjoyed various hobbies.  He enjoyed doing sport, music, but he was also a passionate reader.

– In those times, doing some type of sport was a trait of manhood! I started practicing karate back in high school, and I’m still doing it! I was in love with bicycles and motorcycles and I still am!  I enjoyed reading, painting, playing the accordion, and I still do all those things!

The status of students was much more appreciated

When it comes to his personal style, he now says that it was probably too serious, but he also recollects being very funny, making him one of the most favorite members of his company.

Back in those days, Dragan says that the status of students was much more respected, which is not the case now.

There were also many student benefits, allowing students to travel and discover.

– We traveled a lot. We had monthly train tickets allowing us to travel all across Europe. All it took was to be a student. The status of student was a synonym of an intellectual and therefore translated into respected member of society. Of course, let us not forget that students were highly eligible when it came to marriage – laughs the professor.

We were sticking to values that are now seen as obsolete

He emphasizes that people lived by different sets of values back then. Values that were not only applied in private life, but also in socialization and in business relations as well.

– We hang out a lot, intensively, warmly. We used to hang out at the main square. We would hold hands with our girlfriends for ages… just for the sake of not making them feel cheap. We were gentlemen, cavaliers. We would hold the door for our lady, then would offer her a chair and we would pour her a drink… And, we would never allow for our lady to pay the bill… Nobody was allowed to take a long look at our lady! Otherwise, they would be treated with the courtesy of a punch to the face. We were just accustomed to values that look funny now! – concludes the professor.

He says that both he and his peers used to experience life with all senses.

– We were getting ready for the long (which from my current perspective looks so short) journey called “life”! — added the professor Danilovski.

However, unfortunately, his student carefreeness was short-lived.

– At the beginning of the 1980s, another life’s lesson had to be learned, the military service. Then, his career took off. But, let us leave that story for another occasion – concluded our guest.

Finally, I would like to recommend all current and future medical students to choose this profession for love rather than for lucrative reasons.