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Students took an important step in their journey towards becoming physicians at the White Coat Ceremony organized by Istanbul Nişantaşı University Faculty of Medicine. Held at the Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cevdet Uysal Conference Hal, the ceremony emphasized the scientific responsibility, respect for human life, and ethical values of the medical profession represented by the white coat.
Students of Istanbul Nişantaşı University Faculty of Medicine came together with academics and families at the White Coat Ceremony. Marking a symbolic milestone in the students' journey towards their professional careers, the ceremony highlighted that medicine involves not only scientific knowledge and technical skills but also understanding people, adhering to ethical values, and accepting the responsibility to serve society.
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu Çıtıpıtıoğlu, emphasized in her speech that the white coat symbolizes the unn of scientific knowledge and the responsibility to protect human life. She highlighted the importance of asking the right questions, listening carefully to patients, and evaluating scientific knowledge in the context of each individual's unique circumstances throughout medical education.
Stating that she had witnessed firsthand throughout her life the dedication and responsibility required by the profession, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu, expressed that she shared in the students' excitement and their families' pride.
Our Rector also reviewed the university's progress over the past two years, highlighting institutional and programme accreditations, its placement among the top 1,000 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, its first-place ranking in Türkiye for the research quality indicator, and its full membership in the CERN CMS experiment. She emphasized that international agreements, Erasmus opportunities, and the NEV Research Bridge programme have expanded students' educational and research opportunities.
Thanking academic and administrative staff for their contributions to this development and families for their efforts in supporting their children's education, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu congratulated the aspiring physicians and encouraged them to wear their white coats with scientific integrity, compassion for others, and professional dignity.
Our Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Emrah İpek, addressed the humanistic, social, and scientific dimensions of the medical profession in his presentation titled "A Gateway to Humanity: Medicine, Humanism, and Service to Science."
Emphasizing that understanding people and building a relationship of trust with patients are fundamental to good medical practice, Prof. Dr. Emrah İpek highlighted the importance of a patient-centred approach with the words, "Good medical practice begins with listening carefully to the patient."
Placing the concept of humanism at the heart of the medical profession, Prof. Dr. İpek emphasized that respecting patients' privacy, decisions, and individual differences is just as important as medical knowledge.
Addressing physicians' social responsibilities, İpek recaled the historical legacy of the medical profession through the examples of Tıbbiyeli Hikmet and Dr. Refik Saydam, who played important roles during the Turkish War of Independence. He also commemorated Dr. Ersin Arslan and Dr. Ekrem Karakaya, who lost their lives while on duty, drawing attention to the importance of safe working conditions for healthcare professionals.
Stating that scientific research is an integral part of the medical profession, İpek referred to the work of Nobel Prize-winning chemist Aziz Sancar and emphasized the importance of educating students to become physicians who conduct research, ask questions, and contribute to the production of scientific knowledge.
Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on healthcare, İpek stated that future physicians must use technology effectively while safeguarding patient privacy, ethical principles, and human values.
During the ceremony, our student Ayşe Betül Kavukçu, who was admitted to Istanbul Nişantaşı University Faculty of Medicine with the highest ranking, was honoured with a plaque in recognition of her academic achievement. The plaque was presented to Kavukçu by our Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Emrah İpek.
By donning their white coats at the ceremony, Faculty of Medicine students marked a meaningful beginning to their educational journey towards becoming physicians.
With scientific curiosity, ethical responsibility, respect for human dignity, and a commitment to serving society at its core, the ceremony became a proud and memorable occasion for students and their families.
Istanbul Nişantaşı University aims to educate future physicians with scientific competence, professional ethics, and a strong sense of social responsibility through its research-oriented and human-centred approach to medical education.