The 'Intern Doctor Orientation Program' was held by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine. During the program, students taking their first steps toward becoming intern doctors at the Faculty of Medicine were informed about the new period. The opening conference of the program, titled 'Clinical Communication', was delivered by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan. Tarhan offered golden advice to the students. Emphasizing that understanding and being able to 'read' the patient is the beginning of healthy communication, Tarhan pointed out the importance of being a healthy, secure, and active listener when communicating with patients. Noting that communication should be seen as part of the treatment, Tarhan stated; 'There is a secret agreement between us and the patient, saying, 'If you become my listener, I will be yours.' This means we must be willing and determined to understand.'
The program, held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Health Campus Ibn-i Sina Auditorium, attracted significant interest.
The opening speeches of the orientation program, attended by Üsküdar Medicine's first interns, were delivered by Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur and Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak. The opening conference of the program was given by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan. Academics from the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences also participated in the program.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: 'The beginning of communication is healthy thinking'
In his conference titled 'Clinical Communication,' Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that understanding and being able to 'read' the patient is the beginning of healthy communication; 'How quickly 5 years passed, didn't it? Think about it, 5 years just passes... 2 more years will fly by. The important thing is to spend time well and productively. As you start your intern medical career, you will, of course, begin to interact with patients. You will be a good observer. You will rotate through all branches in groups of five, six, or three in the clinics you visit. During these rotations, you will see cases where theoretical knowledge is put into practice. Those cases are the best educators. We learn everything from patients. You know, to truly 'read' and understand a patient well, the guidance of the instructors there is crucial. This is closely related to receiving and transferring information. How will this happen? Currently, the beginning of secure communication in the world is healthy thinking, the ability to think securely and correctly within thought.'
'See Communication as an Investment Item'
Tarhan, who was listened to carefully by medical students, drew attention to individuals who view time spent on communication as lost time, underlining that without communication, effort is wasted. Tarhan stated; 'The foundation of treatment responsibility is communication; it is the prerequisite for the healthcare professional's inner peace. We can call this the use of emotional intelligence in treatment. There are variables in communication. It is important to look at cases and situations not in terms of like-dislike, love-dislike, but in terms of right-wrong. Act with reason, not emotion. We tend to see time allocated for communication as lost time. Like, 'I don't have that much time, I don't have time to explain to you,' but this is not a loss. See communication as an investment. Because if you cannot communicate effectively, your work goes to waste. The other party does not understand, and effort is expended for nothing. For all processes, it is necessary to make asking 3 questions a reflex: 'Is there healthy communication? Is it being measured, am I measuring it? Did I do it, or didn't I? Can I improve it?' That is, can I learn from communication errors and improve? We need to ask this. It is important to closely monitor the rapid direction of change not in values, but in the culture of doing business, corporate culture, and professional culture.'
'Being an active listener is important'
Emphasizing the need to be willing and determined to understand, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan mentioned that if not listened to, the reasons for behaviors might be missed. Tarhan stated; 'The therapeutic relationship begins from the moment the healthcare professional and the patient first meet. The key word is the patient's best interest. Therefore, it's not about satisfying my professional ego, or 'I will do this, I will do that,' but if it's for the patient's best interest, you act ethically. This also leads to healthy communication from the patient's perspective. If the patient's best interest is a priority in your 'mindset,' your mental map, this reflects in your verbal language and your behavior. The other party perceives an effort that 'this person wants to help me.' The other party's judgmental approach is minimized. For this reason, it definitely requires practice, and if we specifically embed this in our 'mindset,' our mental map, we make fewer mistakes. When a patient comes, we actually make a secret agreement. It's a secret agreement that says, 'If you become my listener, I will be yours.' The other party must be willing and determined to alleviate anxiety and understand. Not listening is dangerous; you miss the reasons behind behaviors. So, we must be willing and determined to understand. The feeling of 'I care about what happened to you, your life or experience is important.' In such a situation, being able to convey this, to listen, means responsibility and respect. Being an active listener is important for this. Patients who come say, 'I need your knowledge, I accept your leadership.' Both sides need your professional knowledge and the diagnostic information from the hospital. See communication as part of the treatment...'
'Emotional leadership, psychological superiority should be with the therapist'
Tarhan, sharing important professional insights for physicians, emphasized that clinical intelligence and emotional leadership are crucial in medicine. Tarhan stated; 'There are always complaining patients. Narcissistic, arrogant ones who always object. They come in immediately blaming you as soon as they enter the door. There are also manic, cheerful patients. Quiet ones, from whom you cannot get a word. Patients who experience four seasons in one day... The physician's approach changes according to the type of illness. This is a skill to be acquired over the years. Therefore, regardless of which patient group comes, emotional leadership must be with you. If you frown because the patient came in with a gloomy face, you lose leadership at that moment. The patient came in overly cheerful. If you go along with that, you lose leadership at that moment, but emotional leadership, psychological superiority, must be with the physician. Clinical intelligence is needed here. This is for the patient's benefit; otherwise, time will be wasted. Evidence-based persuasion is an important element of modern medical practice. When persuasion is not involved, respecting patients' privacy might be impossible. Doctors who use persuasion must ensure they pass six criteria: removing their biases, addressing the patient's specific wishes, and providing honest, impartial, evidence-based information about potential harms or benefits.'
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak: 'Being a doctor is not a profession you can do without love for humanity'
In his speech, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, emphasizing the great importance of empathy in medicine, stated; 'Today is an important day for us as a university, as well as for you. As the first students of our Faculty of Medicine, for whom we have been excited since day one, we eagerly wished and awaited for you to become interns. Indeed, from the day you were admitted to the Faculty of Medicine, you always wondered and talked about when you would have your first contact with a patient and when you would wear your lab coat. As of today, you have put on this white coat, and you are starting the most important point of your professional life. The important point is that you will directly interact with, contact, and examine patients. Being a doctor is a leading lifestyle in the profession. It is not a profession you can do without love for humanity. So, you will love people; you already do. Secondly, do not forget empathy. From time to time, put yourselves in the patient's shoes. Always empathize and act accordingly: 'If you were the patient, what kind of service would you want to receive and how would you like to be greeted?' '
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur: 'Being a professional means feeling a greater burden of responsibility upon ourselves'
Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, speaking about experiencing one of the historical days of his life, stated; 'You are our students, but now you are becoming our colleagues. This is very meaningful; I am experiencing one of the historical days of my life. We established this faculty together. We developed all the advancements, stone by stone, hand in hand, discussing with you, and consulting with the upper administration. We are about to place the last piece of the structure, or rather, the Lego pieces. This intern issue... I call it an 'issue' because it is a transitional period from being a student to becoming a professional, and it is very important. In my opinion, being a professional means feeling a greater burden of responsibility upon ourselves. Also, note the word 'intern'; in English, 'to internalize,' what does it mean? It means to take in, to include. You are now included in the medical profession. When we say 'intern,' it's the effect of 'internalize.' And there are no more exams; we only have our colleagues above us, acting as mentors, elder brothers, or elder sisters. They are your masters. The sweetest thing in the world for a prospective doctor is to receive their medical diploma. On that day, you will also take on the responsibility of being a physician. As long as you keep your joys and responsibilities balanced, you will be very successful physicians; I am sure of it.'
Within the scope of the program, Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur delivered a speech titled 'Provision of Hospital Services', Faculty of Medicine Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Aptullah Haholu spoke on 'Internship Period Training and Working Principles (Intern Doctor Directive)', and 6th Grade Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine Lecturer Dr. Mehmet Şirin Aksu gave a presentation on 'Information About the Intern Program and Intern Report Card Presentation'.
Within the scope of the program, students were informed, and their questions were answered.
The orientation program then concluded with a group photo session.