In the academic year 1953/54, Professor Gyula Petrányi headed the Debrecen Medical University, which became independent in 1951, as Dean with the power of a rector, and then served as Vice-Rector of the Clinical Faculty of the University from 1971-74. He came to the University of Debrecen in 1950 at the young age of 38, when he was entrusted with the establishment and organization of the II. Department of Internal Medicine. Initially, the clinic was located in Bem Square within the Municipal Hospital, then moved to the clinical premises in July 1951. From 1967 to 1974 he was director of the I. Department of Internal Medicine. Until 1983, he was head of the Internal Medicine Clinic II at Semmelweis Medical University and, at the same time director of the National Institute of Internal Medicine. During his 24 years in Debrecen, he drew on his previous international experience to establish a new clinic that was up to date. He laid the foundations for an integrated approach to internal medicine and sub-disciplinary specialization. His repeatedly published textbooks on internal medicine have underpinned the knowledge and professional work of generations of medical doctors. He is credited with the establishment of the Immunology Laboratory, the Isotope Laboratory, the Intensive Care Unit of the Department of Internal Medicine, the Endoscopy Laboratory, the Dialysis Centre, and the foundation of the Central Clinical Chemistry Laboratory. In his scientific activity, he focused on immunology, which was a pioneering field at the time, and as an academician, he laid the clinical foundations for this field in Hungary. His university leadership was characterized by systemic and quality elevation of teaching, clinical and research activities. As dean and clinical deputy rector, he played a significant role in the Medical University of Debrecen serving as an example for other Hungarian medical universities.