Prof. Dr. İbrahim Öztek, President of the Anatolian Intellectuals' Hearth and a lecturer at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, stated, "March 14th is not only 'Medicine Day' in Turkey but also the anniversary of medical students' defiance against the invading imperialist powers."
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Öztek, President of the Anatolian Intellectuals' Hearth and a lecturer at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, stated, "March 14th is not only 'Medicine Day' in Turkey but also the anniversary of medical students' defiance against the invading imperialist powers."
Making a statement about the struggles of medical students during the occupation years within the scope of March 14th Medicine Day, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Lecturer Prof. Dr. İbrahim Öztek said; "Dominant powers stained the world with blood for four years, especially our geography, to bury the Ottoman Empire, annihilate the Turks, and strip them of their values. The so-called invincible navy that we sank into the waters of the Dardanelles unfortunately anchored off Istanbul on November 3, 1918. Every corner of the homeland groaned under occupation. The occupation forces had made the Military Medical School building in Istanbul their headquarters. (Known as Haydarpaşa High School.) Turkish flags had been lowered, and everywhere was adorned with the flags of the occupation forces.
On March 14, 1919, an event occurred that terrified the enemies. Military Medical student Hikmet and his friends had hung a giant Turkish flag, visible from all over Istanbul, between the two towers of the medical school building. And that too, at the headquarters of the occupation forces. What great patriotism, what an example of heroism this was! Istanbul awoke that morning with the torches of its independence, the people were overcome with joy, and thus the first torch of our War of Independence was ignited. This flame will never be extinguished. That day marked the first planned March 14th Medicine Day celebration in our country. With this event, the medical students initiated their struggle for liberation against occupation and imperialism. March 14th is not only 'Medicine Day' in Turkey but also the anniversary of medical students' defiance against the invading imperialist powers."
Öztek continued his statements as follows: "Now let's go back a little further and reach the true March 14th. Sultan Mahmud II founded Tıphane-i Amire and Cerrahhane-i Amire on March 14, 1827, to train physicians in a modern sense for the newly established Asakir-i Mansure-i Muhammediye army. When the medical school moved to Galatasaray in 1839, it took the name Mektebi Tıbbiye-i Adliye-i Şahane.
Mahmud II spoke at the opening ceremony as follows: "Children, I have organized these high buildings as a medical school and named it Mektebi Tıbbiye-i Adliye-i Şahane. Since work will be done here in the service of human health, I have prioritized this school above others. As Turkish medical books are written in Arabic and contain old information, education will be in French and within the framework of medical innovations. Later, you should disseminate this science in the Turkish language. I am not pleased with many unknown individuals settling in our country as foreigners and physicians, and practicing charlatanry here and there. By Allah's permission, I would like to state that after you finish your school and receive your diploma, you will attain high ranks and all your needs will be met. Your food includes everything from hot kebabs to cold strawberries. This week, I will also send you the insignia I specially had made for you. I wish you success from Almighty Allah. To ask is yours, to give is ours.
We see how great the importance the Sultan attached to the Medical School and medical students 196 years ago. Modern Turkish medicine has trained many world-renowned doctors, from Ibn Sina to Aziz Sancar. It is now up to us to train similar ones. Happy March 14th Medicine Day."