This year's Teddy Bear Family Day broke attendance records, drawing over 1,300 visitors to the Dr. Rományi György Aula at UPMS on March 8. Families with young children engaged in fun activities and visited the Teddy Bear Hospital, where they learned about medical procedures, proper dental care, and blood pressure measurement. This initiative aimed to reduce the common fear known as "white coat syndrome," which many people experience when visiting doctors.
The event took place from 9 AM to 2 PM and featured entertainment by the EccPecc Band. Representatives from the fire brigade, police, and ambulance services were also in attendance. The Misina Animal Shelter provided a petting zoo, and children had the opportunity to participate in sports competitions.
“I find this Family Day extremely beneficial because my son doesn't like visiting doctors, and this event helps him overcome his fears. The gathering is very child-friendly, and especially with the lovely spring weather, it provides a great opportunity for families. All the children seem happy, and it’s clear they are having fun. We definitely want to return next year,” said Bernadett B. Nagy, a parent who attended the event. She added that their favorite activity was the ball relay race, and the demonstrations of the fire truck and ambulance were also very popular with her family.
„I believe we can consider this year's event a great success. Nothing demonstrates this better than breaking our attendance record once again. While last year we had 893 registered visitors, this year we recorded 1,129; however, many guests chose not to wait in line for registration, bringing our estimated total to approximately 1,300-1,400 visitors” – added Domonkos Kováts, fourth-year medical student and coordinator of the Teddy Bear Hospital.
The event was organized by the Hungarian Medical Students' Association of Pécs (HuMSIRC) in cooperation with the UP MS Hungarian Admissions and Student Service Office. The coordinator emphasized their commitment to providing high-quality, diverse activities. Among the most popular attractions were the Teddy Bear Hospital, balloon folding, and face painting stations.
"We received valuable feedback from our guests and volunteers. We strive to incorporate this feedback while organizing the 14th Teddy Bear Family Day. One significant change will be made to the 'Ask the Doctor' booth; we plan to fully redesign it to ensure that every parent can benefit from this opportunity," the coordinator added.
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Dávid Verébi