Prof. Dr. Barkai László graduated from the University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, after which he obtained specialist qualifications in paediatrics and paediatric pulmonology, as well as certifications in diabetology, hypertension management, and healthcare management. In Budapest, he worked as a research fellow of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medical Laboratory Sciences of the Postgraduate Medical University. In the early 1990s, he worked in Australia as a clinical research fellow at the University of Sydney, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children.
He earned the Candidate of Sciences (PhD) degree, later obtained his habilitation, and subsequently was awarded the Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (DSc) title.
Following graduation, he began his professional career at the Child Health Centre in Miskolc. After appointments as hospital assistant professor, university assistant professor, and senior consultant, he served as Head of Department. Later, he was appointed Associate Professor, then Director and Full Professor at the Child Health Postgraduate Training Institute of the University of Debrecen, while also serving as Director General and Head Physician of the Child Health Centre. During this period, he was appointed Chief Paediatric Consultant for Northern Hungary (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Heves, and Nógrád counties), a position he held for several years. In parallel, he served for several years as Director of Education and Scientific Affairs at the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Hospital and University Teaching Hospital.
As one of the founders of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Miskolc, and later as Dean, he directed health sciences education and scientific activity. He was a member of the National Health Council for several years and served as Secretary of the Medical and Health Sciences Committee of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference.
Under his leadership, the Child Health Centre in Miskolc (also serving as the University of Debrecen Child Health Postgraduate Training Institute) developed into the regional centre of care and a nationally recognized, authoritative clinical institution. Alongside high-quality patient care, specialist training, postgraduate education, and internationally recognized scientific research became integral parts of daily practice. In recognition of its high-level activity, the institution received the “Excellence Award” of the City of Miskolc. His professional achievements were recognized by the Hungarian Paediatric Association with the László Kulin Memorial Medal and by the University of Debrecen with the Outstanding Educator Award.
As Dean at the University of Miskolc, he recruited numerous highly qualified educators and researchers. Under his leadership, a modern research laboratory and research centre were established, laying the foundations for competitive education and research at the faculty. He developed extensive cooperation with the University of Debrecen and Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. As a result, the legitimacy and sustainability of health sciences education in the city of Miskolc were firmly established.
Upon invitation, he temporarily undertook professional leadership duties at the Markhot Ferenc Teaching Hospital in Eger. He is currently Professor and Consultant at the Department of Paediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine in Košice, and Research Professor at the Research Centre for Physiological Regulations of the University Research and Innovation Center of Óbuda University. He provides consultant clinical care at the Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Centre in Újbuda, as well. His work has been recognized with the Markhot Ferenc Memorial Medal of the Eger Hospital and the Ferdinand Demant Award of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University. In 2024, he began specialist outpatient care in Szeged for the first time at the Újszeged Medical Center.
His main research interests include the epidemiology, pathomechanisms, treatment, and complications of childhood and adolescent diabetes mellitus, as well as the investigation of cardiometabolic risk factors. He was the first in Hungary to initiate insulin pump therapy in a child with diabetes. As a researcher, in cooperation between the Hungarian Diabetes Association and Óbuda University, he serves as the medical professional leader of the national interdisciplinary artificial pancreas research program. He regularly publishes his research findings in national and international scientific journals and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international conferences. He teaches in doctoral schools and supervises PhD students. He is a member of numerous national and international scientific societies, a former Secretary General and President of the Hungarian Diabetes Association, currently a board member, President of the MDT Paediatric Diabetes Section, and Co-Chair of the Artificial Pancreas Working Group.
In addition to numerous professional and scientific awards (including the Ministerial Award for Outstanding Work, the Géza Petényi Award, the Imre Magyar Award, the Géza Hetényi Grant Award, and the Distinguished Scientific Award of the Miskolc Academic Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), his work in diabetology has been recognized by the Hungarian Diabetes Association with the Pro Diabetologia, Imre Magyar, Géza Hetényi, Lajos Barta, and Pro Aegrotis Awards. In recognition of his medical activity, he received the Batthyány-Strattmann László Award from the Minister of Health in 2009, and as a state honor, he was awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary in 2019.
