The Meaning and Importance of ‘March 14 Medicine Day’ were discussed…
An event in the theme of ‘The Meaning and Importance of March 14 Medicine Day’ was held by Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine in İbni Sina Auditorium. The history of Medicine Day and medical practitioners were among the topics of the event and Biruni University Faculty of Medicine History of Medicine and Ethics Department Head Prof. Nil Sarı participated as spokesperson in the event.
In the event under the moderatorship of Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Cardiovascular Surgery Department Head, Vice Rector Prof. Hilmek Koçak, those who were participated are as follows; Faculty of Medicine Medical Sciences Department Head Vice Rector Prof. Tayfun Uzbay, Faculty of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Department Head Vice Rector Prof. Şefik Dursun, Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Faculty of Dentistry Dead Prof. Yumuşhan Günay, Faculty of Medicine Physiology Department Health Prof. Halis Köylü, Faculty of Medicine Medical Pathology Department Head Prof. İbrahim Öztek, Faculty of Medicine Physiology Department Prof. Sadettin Çalışkan and Faculty of Medicine Basic Medicine Department Medical Biochemistry Program Head Prof. Mevlüt Sait Keleş.
Prof. Hikmet Koçak: “It is a profession live for others instead of themselves”
Underlying that a sacred profession is fulfilled, Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak said, “This year’s March 14 Medicine Day is being held in a devastating atmosphere. The beginning of the Medicine Day was also like this. Firstly, I wish my condolences to all of our citizens and health personnel who passed away in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake. Health personnel is a profession where they live for others instead of themselves at some point. We are a profession that we leave behind our children, our spouses at home and rush into the hospital when an event occurs. We are a group of people that adopt a certain life style and combat with that life style. We fulfill a sacred profession. During those days, they waken up to a shiny day after a dark night while experience difficulties.”.
Prof. Nil Sarı: “Medicine Day is special to us and it is a national festival”
Informing on history and purpose of March 14 Medicine Day, Biruni University Faculty of Medicine History of Medicine and Ethics Department Head Prof. Nil Sarı said, “Medicine Day has a quality. This Day is not a day that the world celebrates. This is a unique national festival. It is only celebrated in Türkiye and it has a tremendous meaning for us. On October 30, 1918, the Armistice of Mudros was signed. The allied powers added an article: ‘If we feel a security threat we will occupy any place.’. A short period time after being occupied in 1919, it is seen that medical students enter classes with their pajamas on a photograph taken in 1920. After the events, some of the medical students entered the Kuvay-i Milliye (Turkish Revolutionaries) to attend the Turkish War of Independence. Medical students thought that ‘What can we do as a rebellion against this occupation?’. There was also risk of being arrested. Administrators warned them ‘hope, you will not go through a bad patch.’. They thought that ‘This country is our hometown, we will defend it. What can we do for that?’. They chose the date that Tıphane-i Amire (First Modern Medical School in Türkiye) to react, to celebrate. Modern medicine education began in 1827. The education you receive is modern medicine education. It is based on proof. It is a medicine developed in the West and we took it and learned it way later.”.
The reflection of independence spirit of the medical students against the occupation of the country…
Noting that March 14 festival is also the reflection of independence spirit of the medical students against the occupation of the country, Prof. Nil Sarı said, “Memduh Necdet Bey also had a work in the first celebration on March 14, 1919. He mentioned the contributions of medicine to defending the country during the Word War I. In the World War I, a total of 765 medical students who consist of 680 Turks, 40 Greek of Turkish nationality, 35 Armenian, 10 Jewish served in the military and he said that 415 of them became martyrs. Due the opening date 14 March 1827 of Tıbhane-i Amire, our March 14 Medicine day celebrated every year by representing official transition of our medical education from the Eastern medicine to the Western medicine is also the reflection of independence spirit of the medical students against the occupation of the country. It can be either Ottoman or Seljuk period, they were not touching the nature of the architecture. Burning, destruction, demolishing, these are the mentality of the Europe. Damaging nature, hurting people by experimenting on them, these are the mentality of the Europe. We need to leave this behind now.”.
Prof. İbrahim Öztek: “The flag hung is the first torch of our war of independence”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Medical Pathology Department Head Prof. İbrahim Öztek mentioned that Tıbbiyeli Hikmet is a very important figure. Öztek said, “Tıbbiyeli Hikmet is very important. On the March 14, 1919 during occupation days, today’s Health Sciences University, that building is known more as Haydarpaşa high school in İstanbul. 8-10 years before that, it was established as Haydarpaşa Military hospital. During Sultan Abdülhamit period, the importance of the medicine’s value comes from this, the building of the Medicine faculty was headquarters of the occupation forces and Tıbbiyeli Hikmet and his friends want to celebrate March 14. Despite of various hinders, well, that building has two big buildings. Between that towers, they hung Turkish flag that can be seen from anywhere of İstanbul. That flag was waving there and all İstanbul was seeing it. The occupation forces were terrified with this view. In my opinion, that flag hung there by Tıbbiyeli Hikmet is the first torch of our war of independence.”.
The program that received great attention by students ended after the photoshoot.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)