14 March Medicine Day Celebrated in EMU

Eastern Mediterranean University Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty organised 14 March Medicine Day and White Gown Ceremony which was held in EMU Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center at 11:00 a.m. on 14 March 2015.

Prior to the ceremony, EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty Dean, academic staff members and students laid a wreath at Atatürk Monument in EMU at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony commenced at Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center with a moment of silence, the national anthem and a piano recital by EMU Fine Arts Education Department, Music Teaching Program academic staff member Gözdem İlkay. Following the concert, freshman year students Tasnim Munther S. Alkayyalı and Emine Meltem delivered speeches on behalf of the freshman year students.

In her opening address, EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora stated that on 14 March they both celebrate medicine day and commemorate late Turkish Cypriot leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük after whom the faculty was named. Prof. Dr. Gökçora put forth that the day also carries special importance as the freshman year students will take their first step into the profession by wearing their white coats. Prof. Dr. Gökçora also addressed the students and stated that white gowns are the most important symbol of respect to the profession and are the indicators of the amount of responsibility students undertook. Prof. Dr. Gökçora added that white gowns are students' promises to humankind that from now on they will spend their best efforts to help people in their prospective careers.

Following Prof. Dr. Gökçora, EMU Rector delivered his opening speech and stated that it is an honor for EMU to celebrate medicine day. Prof. Dr. Osam added that as one of the youngest faculties of EMU, Dr. Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty is a source of pride for the university. Prof. Dr. Osam also addressed students and stated that they have to try their best efforts to become good doctors.

After the speeches, Dean Prof. Dr. Gökçora donned white coats on 59 freshman year students. During the ceremony, honor and high honor certificates were also awarded to successful students by Famagusta District Governor Şifa Çolakoğlu, Famagusta Mayor and President of the Board of Trustees İsmail Arter, Rector of EMU Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, Cyprus Turkish Doctors' Association Chair Dr. Filiz Besim and Dean Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora.

Dean Prof. Dr. Gökçora also presented certificates of appreciation to doctors who have contributed to Dr. Fazıl Fazıl Küçük Medicine Faculty by supporting the students during their internship practice carried out within the framework of the course entitled "Introduction to Clinical Skills".

At the end of the ceremony, Marmara University, Faculty of Medicine, History of Medicine and Medical Ethics Department academic staff member Prof. Dr. Şefik Görkey delivered a presentation entitled "Good Medical Practice".

Among notable names who attended the ceremony were Famagusta District Governor Şifa Çolakoğlu, Mayor of Famagusta and President of the Board of Trustees İsmail Arter, members of the Board of Trustees, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, Vice Rectors, chair of the Cyprus Turkish Doctors' Association Dr. Filiz Besim and Dean Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora. The ceremony which ended with a cocktail also hosted faculty academic staff members, doctors and students' families.