Dr Stanimir Stanimirov of Deva Maria University Hospital, and Dr Boris Angelov and Dr Ivan Kazmin of Burgas University Hospital, have won the "Doctor of the Year 2026" awards, Burgas council said. The awards come from the Burgas regional medical chamber of the Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA). The council backed the event.

The awards were given on Bulgarian Doctors' Day, which falls on the feast of St John of Rila the Miracle Worker, patron saint of medics. Dr Zheni Stoichkova, who chairs the chamber, was due to talk about the holiday and a doctor's calling on Bulgarian National Radio today, after the 3pm news.

See also: Dr Zheni Stoichkova speaks on Bulgarian National Radio about Bulgarian Doctor's Day

Dr Stanimirov won in the "Our Future" category, Dr Angelov in "Academic Merit" and Dr Kazmin in "Lifetime Achievement".

The festive programme opened with a prayer service led by Archimandrite Dimitriy at the St John of Rila the Miracle Worker church. The ceremony took place at the NHK Cultural Centre, with Alexandra and Alexander from the Lyuben Groys TV company as hosts.

Dr Stoichkova congratulated the doctors on the holiday and on the BMA's 125th anniversary. Deputy mayor Mihail Nenov, who is responsible for education, health, social services and youth policy, read out the greetings and thanks of mayor Dimitar Nikolov.

Regional governor Diko Dikov, the Bulgarian Association of Health Care Professionals and the Regional Dental Chamber also congratulated the doctors. Prof Sotir Sotirov, rector of Prof Dr Asen Zlatarov University in Burgas, and Assoc Prof Daniel Petkov, dean of the university's medical faculty, attended, as did doctors and medics from Burgas.

The council describes the awards as recognition of the doctors' professionalism, dedication and contribution to medicine and health care. It says the work of medics matters for people's health and lives and for the development of health care in Burgas. The council wished the doctors health, strength and satisfaction in their calling.

The evening at the NHK Cultural Centre ended with a concert for medics by Vasil Petrov and Sinfonietta Vratsa.