Üsküdar Üniversitesi became part of an important organization within the scope of efforts to develop cooperation in medicine among Turkic states and to prepare the ground for new projects in medical education and training. In this context, in cooperation with Samarkand University of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Foundation for Research in Islamic Sciences, the Azerbaijan Society of Minimal Invasive Surgeons, and Almaz Academy Medical Training Center, and with the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Üsküdar Üniversitesi organized the II. INTERNATIONAL EURASIAN MEDICAL CONGRESS between April 4-7, 2025. Üsküdar Üniversitesi acted as the executor of the TİKA project on behalf of the researchers and institutions participating from Turkey.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, together with Samarkand University Rector Prof. Dr. J. Rızayev, took on the role of Congress Organizing Committee Chair, while Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak and Institute of Sufi Studies Director Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan also participated in the congress as Organizing Committee Members.
Technological innovations in medicine conveyed
A total of 38 international invited papers focusing on conveying technological innovations in medicine were presented at the congress, and 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 with 54 applications demonstrating the aforementioned medical developments on devices and directly on patients. In this workshop, live surgeries were performed, especially in the fields of surgery, radiology, urology, and gastroenterology, for participants from Turkey and Central Asian countries. It was reported that 87 local healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and staff), in addition to the congress panelists, participated in these trainings.
23 researchers attended the congress
With the support of the TİKA project for the congress, 23 researchers from Turkey participated. Among the participants were faculty members from Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Hacettepe University, Koç University, Acıbadem University, Marmara University Faculties of Medicine, and, on topics of Islamic Civilization and Medical History, faculty members from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Sufi Studies, Istanbul Fatih Sultan Mehmet Waqf University Department of Islamic Science History, and Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Theology, as well as representatives from professional organizations in the field of medicine.
Among the opening speakers of the congress, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan addressed topics related to the history of medicine in Islamic Civilization in his presentation titled “The Roots of Modern Psychiatric Medicine.”
“They combined Natural Philosophy with Islamic Creed”
Tarhan, providing information about the first hospital and pharmacy established by the Abbasids; “The Umayyads of Al-Andalus 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 a mixture of ‘Earth, Air, Fire, Water.’ They also explained temperaments and dispositions this way. They defined hormonal imbalance. They combined Natural Philosophy with Islamic Creed. They ushered in the golden age of Islam.”
A groundbreaking physician of his time, Abū Bakr al-Rāzī…
Tarhan, stating that Abū Bakr al-Rāzī was a groundbreaking physician of his time; “He wrote 237 books, half of which are related to medicine. He advocated empirical medicine and emphasized observation. He was the first to implement physician consultation. He wrote books on smallpox and measles. He also defined differential diagnosis. His 25-volume encyclopedia named ‘Al-Hāwī’ is famous.”
“The line of Islamic medicine shone again with Sīnā”
Tarhan, drawing attention to the importance of Ibn Sīnā in the history of medicine in his speech; “The line of Islamic medicine shone again with Sīnā. What Goethe is for Germans, Da Vinci for Italians, Aristotle for Greeks, Ibn Sīnā is for Muslim Turks. Ibn Sīnā recorded all existing medical knowledge with his works Kitabü'ş-Şifa and El-Kanun fi't-Tıb. He introduced the concepts of infection, hygiene, and quarantine to the West. His book was taught as a fundamental text for 500 years. No other book has been taught for so long.”
“Rumi strengthens positive value”
Tarhan, addressing positive psychology and Rumi; “Positive psychology strengthens the positive, and Rumi also strengthens positive values. Positive psychology seeks to heal without causing wounds, and the Masnavi approaches it similarly. Positive psychology means the Science of Happiness. The Masnavi has also created its own rituals. Modern psychiatric medicine owes much to Islamic teachings, even if it does not explicitly refer to them.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also provided information about TMS (rTMS) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy.
The Congress President and also a Board Member among the founders of the Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Foundation for Research in Islamic Sciences, Prof. Dr. Şükrettin Güldütuna shared the following message at the opening:
Samarkand, a symbol tracing the pursuit of 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 Central Asian states. A common language, religion, traditions, and historical awareness create a strong sense of solidarity not only within Central Asia but also in ties with Turkey. Today, these deep-rooted cultural ties form the basis for re-establishing cooperation, developing 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 (Avicenna), 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 with admiration, Ulugh Beg measured them with precision. The observatory he built rose as a monument to intellect, calculation, and human curiosity. His dedication to science, despite political challenges, continues to inspire academics worldwide today.
As we gather here today within the scope of this congress, we follow 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.
I hope this congress reflects this spirit: let it be a space for dialogue, discovery, and connection. Let us be bold in our ideas, humble in learning, and open to collaboration in our vision for the future of healthcare."
Bilal Erdoğan participated with a video message
Bilal Erdoğan, Trustee of the Foundation for Research in Islamic Sciences, participated in the congress with a video message from Turkey, delivering messages of support and emphasizing the importance they attach to cooperation among regional countries.
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, a founding member of the Union of Turkish Universities and Vice-Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, also attended the program. Koçak led the Üsküdar Üniversitesi delegation by staying until the end of the meeting. Koçak, who served as Rector of Atatürk University for two terms, also held the founding presidency of the Union of Turkish Universities during this period. Stating that the organization currently has a total of 110 university members, including 11 from Uzbekistan, Koçak expressed his belief that the outcomes of the meeting would contribute to the work and spirit of the Union of Turkish Universities program. Koçak used the following expressions:
A work that will contribute to the spirit of Turkic universities…
“The aim was to develop relations between the Turkish Academy, which has transformed into an international organization, and the Union of Turkish Universities of the Turkic Council, to hold scientific meetings, and to conduct joint higher education and doctoral programs. During my three years as the founding president of the Union of Turkish Universities, numerous studies and projects were carried out. I can say that all of these were works and projects that harbored a future vision and offered deep-rooted interactions and contributions. It is pleasing to see that this union, with over a hundred members, has 'common alphabet' studies. I hope this will be a beginning for İsmail Gasprinsky's motto 'Unity in Language, Work, and Thought,' which advocated for the linguistic unity of Turkic peoples worldwide."
Emphasis placed on the medical roots of the Bukhara scholarly basin
On the first day of the congress, a comprehensive panel specifically dedicated to studies on the History of Medicine in Islamic Civilization was held. The panel emphasized the medical roots of the historical Samarkand-Bukhara scholarly basin. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak chaired the panel.
During the panel, studies on historical medical texts conducted at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Sufi Studies were presented by Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören with “Sufi Physicians and Treatment Methods in the Ottoman Empire” and by Asst. Prof. H. Dilek Güldütuna with “Abū Zayd al-Balkhī (d. 934)'s Work Titled Kitāb Maṣāliḥ al-Abdān wa al-Anfus (The Welfare of Bodies and Souls).”
Related doctoral studies conducted under the Islamic Civilization, Thought History and Literature Program at Üsküdar Üniversitesi were presented by Asst. Prof. Yosun Mater with “An Overview of the History of Medicine in the Turkic World and the Mevlevi Physician Ömer Şifâî” and by Dr. Sema İskit with “An Overview of the Relationship Between Ottoman Medicine and Sufism in the 16th Century in Light of the Sufi Physician Nidâî's Menâfiu'n-Nâs." This section also included Prof. Dr. Nil Sarı's work titled “Gains and Losses of Modern European Medicine Throughout History” and Prof. Dr. Hülya Küçük's work titled “Some Sufi Physicians in the History of Medicine.”
On the other hand, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kaçar presented his paper “Medical Education from Classical to Modern in the Ottoman Period” and Merve Nur Gür presented “Iatrochemistry and New Chemical Drugs in the Ottoman Empire in the 18th Century.”
From Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Said Keleş participated in the panel on surgical procedures and post-intervention care with his paper titled “Oral Nutrition in Post-Operative Care.”
Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan: “It is important that the presentations at the congress were in Turkish”
Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, a member of the Organizing Committee who followed the congress from Turkey, drew attention to the importance of the presentations being delivered in Turkish and made the following remarks:
“Immediately after the program, guest delegations from Uzbekistan honored Üsküdar Üniversitesi to sign cooperation agreements. The work was completed within TİKA under the guidance of Mr. Department Head Uğur Tanyeli and with the exceptional efforts of Project Specialist Necla Yöndar. The TİKA Tashkent Office carefully monitored the process on the Uzbekistan side. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Serkan Kayalar, President of TİKA, and his valuable colleagues for bringing this meticulous work to fruition."
