The final month of the outgoing year 2025 became special for the students of S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) thanks to an extraordinary event in their student life. The university’s leadership spared no effort or energy in organizing a motivational meeting for its students with one of the brightest and most inspiring representatives of modern youth in Kazakhstan and the world. The university’s guest of honor was the world-famous singer Dimash Kudaibergen.
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
The conversation between the artist and future medical professionals, as well as the ceremony of awarding Dimash the title of Honorary Professor of KazNMU, was broadcast worldwide. This allowed the international editorial team of DK Media Europe not only to follow the content of the meeting, but also to receive feedback on this remarkable event from KazNMU Rector Marat Shoranov.
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
Dimash Kudaibergen is always a welcome guest wherever personal development, humanism, and the human factor are placed at the forefront - whether in boarding schools and nursing homes, hospitals, schools, or secondary and higher educational institutions. Wherever and before whomever this internationally recognized and exceptionally successful artist appears, he is invariably greeted with undisguised enthusiasm. This is hardly surprising, as Dimash has long become a role model for those who see the path to success in hard work, the pursuit of knowledge, and proper upbringing grounded in humanistic ideals.
Thus, the assembly hall of KazNMU was filled with lively anticipation. At any moment, the audience expected the appearance of the 31-year-old artist who, despite his young age, has earned the highest awards and titles - it is enough to mention the titles of People’s Artist of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Global Ambassador of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations. However, Dimash, with his ability to intuitively sense any audience and find the right approach to it, sought from his very first words to set a friendly and relaxed tone:
“Let’s communicate in a friendly atmosphere. Please, don’t be shy. When people say ‘UN, People’s Artist…’, it creates a certain tension. Let’s forget about that. It’s like in Kazakh tradition - after a feast, people drink tea in a small circle.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
The guest of honor’s humorous responses added even more lightness and youthful energy to the conversation. The audience was particularly amused by Dimash’s answer to the question of which specialization he would choose if he studied medicine:
“I would choose pathology. It’s the only specialization where I can’t ruin anything.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
However, the organizer of the meeting and advisor to the rector, Zhanibek Soltanai, disagreed with this assessment:
“If you ask about the anatomy and histology of ENT organs, this singer knows more about them than I do, even though I am a doctor myself. I think Dimash would make an excellent otolaryngologist or phoniatrician.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
It is worth noting that this was not Dimash’s first meeting with KazNMU students. Ten years ago, after his confident victory at the Slavianski Bazaar in 2015, he - then a student of the Kazakh National University of Arts - was invited to meet with peers who had chosen a different field of study. Now, just as then, ambitious students were given a unique opportunity to interact with one of the country’s most successful young people.
We asked the Rector of KazNMU how he sees similarities between Dimash’s career path and that of a medical professional, and what future doctors can learn from a world-class singer. Marat Shoranov explains:
“At first glance, the stage and a hospital ward seem like different universes. But if you look deeper, the logic is the same. Dimash Kudaibergen’s career, like a doctor’s path, is built on discipline, daily hard work, continuous self-development, and responsibility to people. The principles of humanity, ethics, and respect for the individual are the foundation of our profession, and it is precisely these qualities that young people recognize most quickly. Ultimately, both the artist and the doctor work with trust: one heals with music and meaning, the other with knowledge and hands, and in both professions it is impossible to work at half strength. Mistakes in both fields are costly, and sincerity is always felt instantly. Our students can learn a very important thing from Dimash: to be a world-class professional while remaining human. To be modern without losing one’s roots. To be successful without becoming arrogant. This, incidentally, is one of the key competencies of a good doctor, although it is not always written about in textbooks. And applause and a patient’s gratitude are different forms of the same recognition - in the second case it sounds quieter, but is valued more deeply.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
Dimash himself spoke about this when addressing the attentive students:
“Guys, you know it yourselves: your profession is very difficult. It is a very hard path. Medicine is a field that does not forgive mistakes or negligence. I want to wish you that the Almighty grants you strength and energy for research, for acquiring knowledge, for self-improvement. Our ancestors were right when they said: ‘Labor conquers everything.’ ‘He who works diligently without laziness will never go hungry’ - this is an absolute truth. You must work hard and continue to search. If you stumble somewhere on the way to the вершина, that’s normal, it happens. Mike Tyson said: ‘If you don’t fall, you won’t get up.’ So I wish you many victories in life. Never lose hope.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
However, not only resilience and diligence are important for future doctors. Compassion and empathy are qualities without which it is impossible to be a good physician. Dimash, who from early childhood, as his parents and teachers recall, strove to help those in need, can serve as a living example here as well. Although the artist himself prefers to remain silent about this, the sincere gratitude of those he has helped cannot be hidden. Such an attitude toward people evokes a mirror response toward him.
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
It is telling that KazNMU students themselves became an example of kindness and compassion by actively participating in Dimash’s very first “Stranger” tour concert in Almaty. Zhanibek Soltanai proudly mentioned this:
“I want to talk about the ‘Stranger’ concert tour, which began in 2022 in our southern capital. More than 200 students of Asfendiyarov University participated in this concert as volunteers.”
Needless to say, not only did Dimash once again thank the students for their help and genuine Kazakh hospitality, but through the screen, so did the many thousands of spectators who traveled to Almaty from all corners of the world for his concert in 2022.
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
The main surprise awaited Dimash at the end of the meeting. With the awarding of the honorary title of Professor of KazNMU, the public relationship between the artist and Asfendiyarov University entered a qualitatively new level. Marat Shoranov spoke in detail about the rights and responsibilities associated with this title:
“This title is not academic, but public and symbolic. And let me reassure everyone right away: an honorary professor does not have to fill out journals, submit reports, or go on night shifts - let that remain our heroic daily routine. We award this title not for hours in the classroom or academic regalia, but for contributions to the development of society, culture, spiritual values, and the international image of Kazakhstan. Therefore, the ‘rights’ of an honorary professor are special: the opportunity to be heard at the university, to meet with students, to participate in the social and cultural life of the institution, to inspire young people, and to set a high moral standard. I often tell students that sometimes one meeting with a world-class personality educates more than an entire course of lectures, because it shapes an inner compass - and in medicine it is no less important than knowledge. I would even put it this way: an honorary professor is not the one who checks knowledge, but the one who tunes the conscience, and in medicine nothing works without it, not even the smartest algorithm. If we speak briefly, his main ‘duty’ is not to teach by the textbook, but to teach how to live with dignity. Sometimes one conversation with such a personality gives a student more than a semester of lectures. This has been proven in practice.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
The practice of awarding honorary titles by academic institutions to public figures is widespread around the world. Such titles are granted for outstanding contributions in various fields, both cultural and social. Dimash Kudaibergen, the most recognizable contemporary Kazakh singer, is far from the only creative figure to have received such an honor. Among others are Paul McCartney, Sting, Placido Domingo, Aretha Franklin, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many others.
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
In response to our question about other honorary professors of the university, Marat Shoranov said:
“KazNMU has honorary professors, and they represent different fields: medicine, science, and public service. These are people whose professional and life paths have become benchmarks for several generations. They are outstanding scientists, clinicians, healthcare organizers, and personalities whose professional biographies have become part of history. But the principle is the same: this is not a ‘mass’ title and not a formality. Among the honorary professors of KazNMU are authoritative figures of international stature and leaders of the professional community: cardiac surgeon and innovator Yuri Pya, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge, and other outstanding representatives of healthcare and science. It is important to emphasize that we do not award this title ‘by list’ or ‘by schedule’. For us, it is not a formality, but a conscious choice. Each honorary professor is not just a name, but a value that the university shares and transmits. It is a sign of respect for the individual, for their contribution to the development of society, and for the legacy they leave to future generations.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
We also asked what exactly the university leadership expects from its honorary professor. Marat Shoranov replied:
“We view honorary professorship as a sign of moral authority and public trust. It is an opportunity for students to see a living example of how values, humanism, and service to society work not in theory, but in real life. Dimash’s contribution to the spiritual and moral upbringing of youth and to the formation of a positive international image of Kazakhstan cannot be measured in numbers or rankings. But it is very accurately measured by the reactions of young people who begin to think more broadly, dream more boldly, and understand that success without ethics is a dead end. We expect from our honorary professor not a formal status, but a living presence in the university environment: dialogue with students, meetings, joint initiatives, and most importantly - inspiration. Because sometimes inspiration becomes that very trigger after which a student suddenly clearly understands why they chose medicine at all. To be completely honest, technologies can be bought, buildings constructed, programs updated. But values and the human dimension of the profession can only be passed from person to person. And in this sense, Dimash is not just an honorary professor for us, but a strong ally in educating future doctors. I sometimes tell students: medical ethics cannot be passed with an ‘excellent’ grade if there is emptiness inside, because in real life a patient perceives not only the diagnosis, but also the person. And when there is an example of a personality of national and international scale nearby, it works better than any motivational poster. As for what we expect in practical terms, there is another important level. Dimash is a Goodwill Ambassador, a person who already works with issues directly related to the humanitarian agenda, including migration. And in matters of migration, access to medical care and basic health services plays a special role. Here, the university’s position and Dimash’s mission naturally coincide. Kazakhstan is the birthplace of the Almaty Declaration, and primary health care (PHC) is the foundation of a sustainable healthcare system. We see great potential in the fact that Dimash’s authority, his international recognition, and his humanitarian agenda can support the promotion of PHC values and the development of global partnerships in this area. I am confident that his participation in promoting the Global Coalition on PHC, created on the initiative of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, will be a strong contribution and an important bonus for the healthcare system - both for our country and for the international professional community.”
photo by Maxim Zolotukhin
Dimash Kudaibergen, more than any other Kazakh artist, sparks vivid interest in his homeland. At the same time, foreign fans of his work are interested not only in the Kazakh language and culture, but also in the education system. Zhanibek Soltanai notes:
“Asfendiyarov University has the largest number of international students in Kazakhstan. And among them, students from India rank first.”
Among these students, for example, there is a young woman who, according to Z. Soltanai, enrolled at Asfendiyarov University precisely because Dimash Kudaibergen is from Kazakhstan. One can only ask whether this is not the very mission of a singer with international popularity and strong social awareness - to be both a moral and spiritual example for the younger generation. And also to increase the visibility of his country by drawing global attention not only to tourism, but also to the education system and the training of highly qualified professionals, a category to which Dimash himself undoubtedly belongs.
