Turkic states convened in Samarkand for cooperation in medicine…
Üsküdar University participated in a significant organization as part of efforts to enhance medical cooperation among Turkic states and to lay the groundwork for new projects in medical education and training. In this context, in collaboration with Samarkand State Medical University of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and in partnership with the Prof. Fuat Sezgin Islamic Science History Research Foundation, the Azerbaijan Society of Minimal Invasive Surgeons, and the Almaz Academy Medical Education Center, with the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Üsküdar University organized the 2nd International Eurasian Medical Congress from April 4-7, 2025. Üsküdar University served as the executor of the TİKA project on behalf of the researchers and institutions attending from Türkiye.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, along with Samarkand State Medical University Rector Prof. J. Rizayev, served as Co-Chairs of the Congress Organizing Committee. Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak and Director of the Institute for Sufi Studies Prof. Elif Erhan also participated in the congress as Organizing Committee Members.
Technological Innovations in Medicine Presented
The congress featured a total of 38 international invited papers focused on conveying technological innovations in medicine. For the first time, content on the History of Medicine in Islamic Civilization was included in the program with a comprehensive session. Additionally, a highly attended practical workshop was organized, featuring 54 demonstrations showcasing these medical developments on devices and directly on patients. In this workshop, live surgeries were performed, particularly for participants from local and Central Asian countries in the fields of surgery, radiology, urology, and gastroenterology. It was reported that besides the congress panelists, 87 local healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and staff) participated in these trainings.
23 Researchers Attended the Congress
With the support of the TİKA project for the congress, 23 researchers from Türkiye participated. Attendees included faculty members from the Medical Faculties of Üsküdar University, Hacettepe University, Koç University, Acıbadem University, and Marmara University, as well as faculty members specializing in the History of Medicine in Islamic Civilization from Üsküdar University's Institute for Sufi Studies, Istanbul Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University's Department of the History of Science in Islam, and Necmettin Erbakan University's Faculty of Theology, along with representatives of professional medical organizations.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, one of the opening speakers of the congress, touched upon topics from the history of medicine in Islamic Civilization in his presentation titled “The Roots of Modern Psychiatric Medicine.”
“They Combined Natural Philosophy with Islamic Creed”
Providing information about the first hospital and pharmacy established by the Abbasids, Tarhan stated that "The Umayyads of Andalusia established the first hospital in Europe. The belief that 'There is a cure for every disease except death' encouraged medicine in the Islamic world. Herbal medicines and syrups were produced. The word 'syrup' is derived from this. Islamic scholars adopted Galen's hypothesis of the mixture of 'Earth, Air, Fire, Water.' They explained temperaments and dispositions in this way. They described hormonal imbalance. They combined Natural Philosophy with Islamic Creed. They brought about the golden age of Islam."
A Groundbreaking Physician of His Time, Ebû Bekir er-Râzî…
Stating that Abū Bakr al-Rāzī was a groundbreaking physician of his time, Tarhan said that "He wrote 237 books, half of which relate to medicine. He advocated for empirical medicine and emphasized observation. He was the first to practice physician consultation. He wrote a book on smallpox and measles. He defined differential diagnosis. His 25-volume encyclopedia named 'Al-Hawi' is famous."
“The Trajectory of Islamic Medicine Shone Again with Sīnā”
Highlighting the importance of Ibn Sīnā in the history of medicine in his speech, Tarhan noted: "The trajectory of Islamic medicine shone again with Sīnā. What Goethe is to Germans, Da Vinci to Italians, Aristotle to Greeks, Ibn Sīnā is to Muslim Turks. Ibn Sīnā documented all existing medical knowledge in his works Kitāb al-Shifā (The Book of Healing) and Al-Qānūn fī al-Ṭibb (The Canon of Medicine). He introduced the concepts of infection, hygiene, and quarantine to the West. It was studied as a fundamental textbook for 500 years. No other book has been studied for as long."
“Mevlânâ Strengthens Positive Values”
Addressing positive psychology and Mevlânâ, Tarhan said that "Positive psychology strengthens the positive; Mevlânâ also strengthens positive values. Positive Psychology aims to heal without causing wounds; the Masnavi approaches similarly. Positive Psychology means the Science of Happiness. The Masnavi also established its own rituals. Modern psychiatric medicine owes much to Islamic teachings, even if it doesn't reference them directly."
Prof. Tarhan also presented information on TMS (rTMS) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy.
Congress President, also a founding member and Board Member of the Prof. Fuat Sezgin Islamic Science History Research Foundation, Prof. Şükrettin Güldütuna shared the following message at the opening:
Samarkand: A symbol tracing science, culture, and truth
“Today, we are in a city that has been a crossroads of global knowledge and intellectual exchange for centuries. Samarkand, once one of the most important centers of the Silk Road, stands out not only for its captivating beauty but also as a universal symbol of the pursuit of science, culture, and truth.
Indeed, the rich cultural heritage of this region continues to serve as a strong bond among the Central Asian states. Shared language, religion, traditions, and historical consciousness create a strong sense of solidarity not only within Central Asia but also in ties with Türkiye. Today, these deep-rooted cultural ties form the basis for re-establishing cooperation, fostering mutual understanding, and building a common regional identity for the future. These lands have been home to some of history's most influential thinkers. One of them was the great scholar Ibn Sīnā, known for his work The Canon of Medicine, which shaped medical understanding in the East and West for centuries.
And of course, when speaking of Samarkand, we cannot fail to mention Ulugh Beg, the great astronomer, mathematician, and ruler who transformed this city into a center of science in the 15th century. While others gazed at the stars in awe, Ulugh Beg measured them with precision. The observatory he founded stands as a monument to reason, calculation, and human curiosity. Despite political challenges, his dedication to science continues to inspire scholars worldwide today.
As we gather here today within the scope of this congress, we walk in the footsteps of these great figures. We are united not only by our shared passion for medicine but also by our belief that knowledge knows no boundaries and that progress is possible through mutual learning.
May this congress reflect this spirit: let it be a space for dialogue, discovery, and connection. Let us be bold in our ideas, humble in our learning, and open to collaboration in our vision for the future of healthcare.”
Bilal Erdoğan participated via video message
Bilal Erdoğan, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Science History Research Foundation, participated in the congress with a video message from Türkiye, offering messages of support and emphasizing the importance they place on cooperation among the region's countries.
Founding member of the Turkic Universities Union (TÜRKÜNİB) and Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak also participated in the program, leading the Üsküdar University delegation by staying until the end of the meeting. Koçak, who served two terms as Rector of Atatürk University, also held the founding Presidency of the Turkic Universities Union during that period. Stating that the organization currently has 110 university members in total, including 11 from Uzbekistan, Koçak expressed his belief that the outcomes of the meeting would contribute to the work and spirit of the Turkic Universities Union program. Koçak stated:
An endeavor that will contribute to the spirit of Turkic universities…
“The aim is to develop relations between the Turkic Academy, which has transformed into an international organization, and the Turkic Council Turkic Universities Union, to hold scientific meetings, and to conduct joint higher education and doctoral programs. During the three years I served as the founding president of the Turkic Universities Union, numerous studies and projects were carried out. I can say that all of these were studies and projects embodying a future vision and offering deep-rooted interaction and contributions. It is gratifying to see that this union, with over one hundred members, is working on a 'common alphabet'. I hope it becomes a beginning for Ismail Gaspirali's motto, 'Unity in language, work, and thought,' advocating for the linguistic unity of the world's Turks.”
Emphasis Placed on the Roots of the Bukhara Scientific Basin in Medicine
Within the scope of the congress, a comprehensive panel specific to the studies on the History of Medicine in Islamic Civilization was held on the first day. The panel emphasized the roots of the historical Samarkand-Bukhara scientific basin in the field of medicine. The panel was chaired by Prof. Nevzat Tarhan and Prof. Hikmet Koçak.
In the panel, studies related to medical history texts conducted at Üsküdar University's Institute for Sufi Studies were presented. Prof. Reşat Öngören presented on “Sufi physicians and treatment methods in the Ottoman Empire,” and Asst. Prof. H. Dilek Güldütuna presented on “Abū Zayd al-Balkhī's (d. 934) Work Titled Kitāb Maṣāliḥ al-Abdān wa al-Anfus (The Welfare of Bodies and Souls).”
Related doctoral studies carried out within the Islamic Civilization, History of Thought, and Literature Program at Üsküdar University were presented by Asst. Prof. Yosun Mater with “A General Overview of the History of Medicine in the Turkic World and the Mevlevi Physician Ömer Şifâî” and Dr. Sema İskit with “A General Overview of the Relationship Between Ottoman Medicine and Sufism in the 16th Century in Light of the Sufi Physician Nidâî's Menâfiu'n-Nâs.” In this section, Prof. Nil Sarı also presented her work titled “Gains and Losses of Modern European Medicine Throughout History,” and Prof. Hülya Küçük presented her work titled “Some Sufi Physicians in the History of Medicine.”
Furthermore, Prof. Mustafa Kaçar presented on “Medical education from classical to modern in the Ottoman period,” and Merve Nur Gür presented on “Iatrochemistry and New Chemical Drugs in the Ottoman Empire in the 18th Century.”
Prof. Said Keleş from Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine participated in the panel on post-surgical procedure and intervention care with his presentation titled “Oral Feeding in Postoperative Care.”
Prof. Elif Erhan: “The Turkish Language of Presentations at the Congress is Significant”
Prof. Elif Erhan, an Organizing Committee Member following the congress from Türkiye, drew attention to the importance of the presentations being delivered in Turkish and made the following assessment:
“Immediately after the program, guest delegations from Uzbekistan visited Üsküdar University to sign cooperation agreements. The work was completed under the guidance of Department Head Mr. Uğur Tanyeli and with the outstanding efforts of Project Specialist Necla Yöndar within TİKA. The TİKA Tashkent Office closely monitored the process on the Uzbekistan side. We extend our gratitude to TİKA President Dr. Serkan Kayalar and his valuable colleagues for bringing this meticulous work to fruition.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)