At the graduation ceremony held at Üsküdar University NP Health Campus İbni Sina Auditorium, the 1st period graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry and the 2nd period graduates of the Faculty of Medicine experienced excitement and enthusiasm together. This year, 36 dentists and 120 doctors transitioned into professional life as Üsküdar University graduates.
The ceremony, which was also attended by Üsküdar University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan and TARHAN - İDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan, saw the presence of academics including President of Üsküdar University and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör, Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Ziver Ergün Yücel, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Mehmet Aydın.
Prof. Tarhan: “From now on, you will be one-on-one with patients, you will touch their lives”
Addressing the graduating students and their families at the ceremony, which garnered significant interest from families, President of Üsküdar University and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, referred to the Faculty of Dentistry graduates as ‘our firstborn’.
Prof. Tarhan stated that they diligently tried to raise the children entrusted to them by their families, saying, “We strived to provide all the infrastructure for our students, and our faculty members also made great sacrifices. Every end is a new beginning. From now on, you will be one-on-one with patients, you will touch their lives.”
“Be like water against obstacles in life…”
Reminding that Artificial Intelligence technologies are gaining increasing importance in the field of health, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan advised graduates to closely follow technology.
Prof. Tarhan said the following in his speech:
“Your academic success may be good, but it does not determine your success in life. It is important to be a good person before being a good physician. You need to have conscientious and moral values. Obstacles may arise in your path; be like water against obstacles in life. If necessary, bypass the obstacle in front of you. Outsiders might try to mislead you; ‘being able to say no’ is also important. You will make mistakes, what is valuable is to realize and correct the mistake.”
“Remember, failure is also a teacher”
Stating that there are certain turning points in human life, Prof. Tarhan said, “These turning points are unforgettable. This ceremony will also be one of those moments that leave a mark on your life. As both dentists and medical doctors, the white coat you wear from now on represents purity, transparency, science, and conscience; it is the uniform of trust. Being a good physician is a journey. Remember, failure is also a teacher; after falling, ask yourself, ‘What did I learn from this?’”
Prof. Güngör: “Our primary goal is to raise good people”
In her speech at the ceremony, Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör reminded that the Faculty of Dentistry was graduating its first students and expressed her excitement to be at the podium after many years.
Prof. Güngör noted that Üsküdar University is sending brilliant physicians into the sector and addressed the families: “I imagine the families are even more excited. You put so much effort into them, nurturing them stitch by stitch… The path you showed them has brought them here today. You entrusted your most precious ones to us. We took very good care of them. Our primary goal is to raise good people. Your entrusted ones are equipped with both professional skills and human values.”
“School is over, you will no longer have exams, but your responsibilities have increased”
Emphasizing that the new graduates will make magnificent contributions to humanity's journey, Prof. Güngör advised, “You are now physicians. Be good dentists, good doctors. Follow technology well; it will be an important area of support for you. Keep reading.”
Prof. Güngör, stating, “Do not surrender your minds to artificial intelligence; we created them, and they will help us as long as we control them,” added, “You are embarking on an enjoyable yet challenging journey, but you have overcome difficulties so far. School is over, you will no longer have exams, but your responsibilities have increased. You are responsible to the world, to people. You possess the necessary qualifications; we believe in that.”
“This world will advance to brighter tomorrows thanks to you”
Highlighting the importance of empathy in healthcare, Prof. Güngör said, “When you greet a patient with a smile, you win. Some of you will work in different parts of the country. You will take human values with you wherever you go. Because you learned this first. Also, be sure to bring your light. You are now opinion leaders. You will be committed to the values of the Republic. You will walk on the path opened by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, towards the goal he pointed to. This world will advance to brighter tomorrows thanks to you.”
Prof. Koçak: “Do not exchange your compassion for any technology”
In his speech, Vice Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak stated that not only was the graduation being celebrated, but also the physicians who would touch human lives.
Noting that a person goes to the hospital not just with their illness, but with their dreams and fears, Prof. Koçak said, “Do not disregard patients' thoughts. Being a good physician means being a good person.”
Prof. Koçak stated that the graduates are entering the medical profession during the greatest period of technological transformation in history, and said the following:
“You might ask if the medical profession will disappear; no. Artificial intelligence cannot understand a patient's anxiety, or fear of death. As technology develops, the value of a physician increases. The most valuable quality a physician must possess is not to abandon human values. Every patient is a new teacher. You might be there when a baby takes its first breath, a mother might hear the worst news from you, a patient might see your face last, hear your voice. Do not exchange your compassion for any technology.”
Prof. Yücel: “Your success is our success”
Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Ziver Ergün Yücel said they were proud to graduate students who started 5 years ago with great excitement and vision.
Prof. Yücel pointed out that the goal when establishing the Faculty of Dentistry was not merely to set up laboratories and clinics, stating, “We aimed for pioneering education with technology and artificial intelligence.”
Prof. Yücel thanked the academics who instilled not only knowledge but also the art of medicine in the students, and addressed the Faculty of Dentistry graduates: “Dear young colleagues, being the first is not easy. You are the apple of our eye. You built the future of the faculty with us. In this era where digitalization is reshaping the dentistry profession, you will be successful. Your success is our success.”
Prof. Aydın: “You represent not only yourselves but also this institution where you received your education and us, your instructors”
Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Mehmet Aydın also mentioned in his speech that a lot was accomplished within the 6-year education period of the Faculty of Medicine students. Stating that it is easy to say ‘they studied for 6 years’ from the outside, Prof. Aydın said, “They completed their education at both our affiliated hospital, NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, and various other hospitals. Behind these educations lie tens of thousands of hours of effort, thousands of patient encounters, and the hard work of hundreds of instructors. We are graduating you, but we will also follow your successes. You represent not only yourselves but also this institution where you received your education and us, your instructors.”
Addressing the families, Prof. Aydın said, “Your patience and trust have an important place in their success. Thank you for the young doctors you have raised.”
An emotional speech from the top student of Dentistry
Following the speeches, the graduation certificate presentation ceremony commenced. Cemil Gençtük, who finished third in the Faculty of Dentistry's first graduating class, received his award from Prof. Hikmet Koçak. Elif Aytemür, who placed second, received her award from Prof. Nazife Güngör and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan.
Selin Güvenç, who graduated first from the Faculty of Dentistry, received her award from Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. Selin Güvenç nailed the plaque with her name on it to the school's log. In her speech, Güvenç created emotional moments for all graduates and families. Expressing her pride, Güvenç said, “This is not just academic success for me, but the reward for my hard work.” Expressing her respect and love for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Güvenç thanked her family and instructors, saying, “Mom, I'm glad you exist. You make my life easier. And I wish my father could have been here to share this moment with me. I remember him with longing.”
First place after six years of sacrifices
In the Faculty of Medicine, Beyza Pınar Balcı, who placed third, received her award from Prof. Nazife Güngör; Beyza Gürbüz, who placed second, received hers from Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan and TARHAN - İDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan; and Beyza Bıçakçılar, who placed first, received hers from Prof. Nevzat Tarhan.
After nailing her plaque to the log, Beyza Bıçakçılar, who placed first, gave a speech about the difficulties they experienced during their education: “Sleepless nights, endless exams, hours spent in hospital corridors, shifts, anxieties, fatigues. Sometimes we didn't realize when a day began or ended. Sometimes we felt exhausted, sometimes we doubted our ability to succeed. But all those sacrifices brought us to this day.” Bıçakçılar also thanked the academics who contributed to their education, saying, “You taught us not only medical knowledge but also how to touch a human being.”
During the ceremony, which was also broadcast live on ÜÜ TV and ÜÜ Youtube accounts, stethoscopes were presented to the top-ranking graduates of the Faculty of Medicine by Dr. Nadir Kalfazade, a Board Member of the Istanbul Chamber of Physicians. Dr. Nadir Kalfazade said, “Throughout your medical education, you learned to understand people and witness suffering. From now on, you will touch human lives. The white coat you wear will be a symbol of human values, reason, and science.” and invited the young physicians under the umbrella of the Istanbul Chamber of Physicians.
Graduates threw their caps in the air
After the speeches of the top-ranking students, graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry and the Faculty of Medicine came onto the stage one by one as their names were read out, receiving their graduation certificates.
Some students' graduation certificates were presented by their mothers, fathers, older brothers, and older sisters who are also physicians in their families.
After the flag handover ceremony, coordinated by Asst. Prof. Ümit Tuna, the graduates took their professional oath, threw their caps, and shared their happiness with family and friends.
Photo: Berat Yavuz- Ayşegül Gündoğdu
