Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine 14 March Medical Day and Traditional Gown Wearing Ceremony was held with the participation of Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı.
The Gowning Ceremony, which could not be held in 2023 due to the 6 February Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, was held at the Cultural Centre 15 July National Will Hall with the participation of the second year students this year.
Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Zafer Aynalı, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Fatih Albayrak, Vice Rectors, Vice Deans, academicians, students and their families attended the ceremony where 713 Faculty of Medicine students wore gowns.
In addition, a total of 36 faculty members, who were academically promoted to Professor and Associate Professor positions in the two-year period, were honoured with the ceremony of wearing academic clothes.
Making the opening speech of the ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Fatih Albayrak talked about the history of 14 March Medical Day. Stating that 14 March, which has been celebrated as Medical Day by medical students since 1918, is an important date in terms of the unity and solidarity of medical students, Prof. Dr. Albayrak said that this meaningful day is celebrated with enthusiasm today.
Emphasising that healthcare professionals worked sacrificially during the Covid-19 and 6 February Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, Albayrak stated that each of the students of the Faculty of Medicine will graduate from this university as a healthcare soldier.
Stating that a generation that will make important contributions to the new Turkish century in the field of medicine will wear their aprons, Zafer Aynalı, Secretary General of the Metropolitan Municipality, said: “Our students have aspired to a very sacred duty. In this way, they will touch humanity and make great contributions to our country in the field of medicine. I sincerely congratulate both our students and their families for their success.”
At the beginning of his speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı said “Health is one of the most saintly of the world’s blessings” and added that medical science is progressing at a great pace with the help of specialisation, modern science and new technologies.
“Medicine is a Difficult Art Shaped on Human Love”
Rector Çomaklı: “There is one factor that does not change in this progress and always keeps its importance in the first place, and that is human knowledge equipment. Although the technology used has changed, the human value of the health worker who uses it, who adds his heart, labour and patience to his work has increased exponentially. It is very difficult to find an expression of our gratitude to healthcare workers for their self-sacrificing struggle away from their families, for the war they put forth with all their physical and spiritual labour. Medicine is a difficult art shaped on human love. Our physicians provide services for patients to find health regardless of working hours. I congratulate the holiday of all our physicians, academicians and healthcare professionals who strive to provide a healthy and happy life. I also sincerely congratulate the future doctor candidates and their families who are excited to wear the apron for the first time on this meaningful day and wish them continued success.”
The programme ended with the doctor candidates putting on their gowns, the ceremony of wearing academic clothes and taking a souvenir photo.
