First-year students of Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry experienced great excitement as they donned their white coats in a ceremony symbolizing the first step of their professional journey. Their families also witnessed the proud moment of the students.
Speaking at the ceremony, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör said, “Your qualified upbringing will not only contribute to the world of dentistry but also to humanity. The world of dentistry needs very good professionals, but for a more beautiful world, there is a need for good people with strong moral values and internalized human values.”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry Dean Prof. Dr. Ergün Yücel stated, “The white coat is not a rank, but a flag. Wear it with pride. While dispensing health to everyone you serve, most importantly, uphold the dignity of your profession. Let every thread of your white coat represent a clean start, a bright future, and a great responsibility.”
The white coat ceremony took place at Üsküdar University Health Campus İbni Sina Auditorium.
The ceremony was attended by Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Şefik Dursun, Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry Dean Prof. Dr. Ergün Yücel, Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci, Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services Director Dr. Lecturer Ömer Faruk Karasakal, Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Head of Medical Pathology Department Prof. Dr. İbrahim Öztek, faculty academics, students, and parents.
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: “Your qualified upbringing will contribute not only to the world of dentistry but also to humanity.”
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör delivered the opening speeches at the white coat ceremony. Güngör said, “Our Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry began its education and training life with a very strong founding staff. Our faculty was established with Turkey's leading dentists, dental academicians, and many local academicians. You are receiving education and training in our clinics equipped with the latest technology methods. We recently hosted the YÖK Quality Assessment team. They evaluated all units in our university and examined all departments. Perhaps they also met with some of our students. They left very happy. We are very proud because we know that your qualified upbringing will contribute not only to the world of dentistry but also to humanity. Of course, you must first be raised as good, quality professionals, but our main priority is for you to be raised as good people. We attach great importance to this because the world of dentistry needs very good professionals, but for a more beautiful world, there is a need for good people with beautiful moral values and internalized human values. Therefore, you have two different goals here. You will be raised as good professionals and as good people. Your upbringing as good professionals will make us all very proud, but your upbringing as good people will make both your family and all humanity proud. Because you are the future. Because you are the future of people. Each rising generation will advance humanity a little further. Therefore, this is all our responsibility, and we attach great importance to it.”
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak: “Good empathy is very important in the patient-physician relationship.”
Underlining the sense of trust between patient and physician, Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak said, “You have chosen a profession that serves people, and from day one, you will always be interacting with people. You have to practice empathy. Good empathy is very important in the patient-physician relationship. The patient entrusts everything to you and expects hope from you. Therefore, a sense of trust begins between the patient and the physician. Without trust, the patient will not heal; the doctor will only remain honest, through scientific means. The profession you have chosen is an an art. Knowledge, skill, and art. You are in a department where all three are together. You will undoubtedly be knowledgeable, have good manual dexterity, and process it in some way. At the same time, since it also has an artistic aspect, you will practice your art. You will practice the profession by taking examples from the knowledge, skills, artistic direction, and attitudes of our instructors. From today onwards, accustom yourselves to the profession, and as a physician, you need to be physically and mentally ready to approach the patient with a different perspective from every angle.”
Prof. Dr. Ergün Yücel: “The white coat is not a rank, but a flag.”
Drawing attention to science as the fundamental guide in professional life, Faculty of Dentistry Dean Prof. Dr. Ergün Yücel said, “As young physician candidates, never deviate from this path you have embarked on in the light of science. The white coat you will wear today is a silent uniform of the Hippocratic Oath. It is a symbol of honesty, conscience, and most importantly, unwavering respect for human health. In summary, being a physician means protecting people's health, relieving them of existing problems, and improving their quality of life. Therefore, I want you to have two things. First, ethics and empathy. The person in front of you is not just a case but a human being with hopes, fears, and a story. Providing the best treatment is a situation that results in patients with whom you show the most empathetic approach. It is our duty to overcome fear. Second is lifelong education and learning. What you will learn from today onwards is just a beginning. Follow scientific developments throughout your life, be skeptical, think critically, and continuously educate yourselves to reach good knowledge. Mentorship is a challenging profession and an art. Dear young colleagues, the white coat is not a rank, but a flag. Wear it with pride. While dispensing health to everyone you serve, most importantly, uphold the dignity of your profession. Let every thread and every stitch of your white coat represent a clean start, a bright future, and a great responsibility.”
Our Vision is to Reach Wisdom, Not Just Knowledge…
Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry first-year students Defnenaz Bostancı and Tuana Görmüş said, “We see examining patients with a white coat not just as a job, but as part of the art we will perform, and we respect it to that extent. We know that the white coats we will wear today will remain a concrete symbol of our respect for our profession throughout our medical lives, and we are very happy about this. Since 1908, when dentistry separated from medical sciences and became a field on its own, all our professors have emphasized one thing: Health begins in the mouth. In these days at the beginning of our medical profession, we all set out, taking these challenges into account and aware of how important the work we do and will do is. When we embarked on this path, we knew one thing: a good physician is not just someone who fulfills the requirements of their profession in a technical and scientific sense, but also someone who values the ethical principles sacred to this profession, knows how to approach their patients with these values, and practices their profession with a scientific and modern sense of responsibility. Today, we can access information very easily, but as Üsküdar University, our vision is to reach wisdom, not just knowledge. In parallel with this, despite all the difficulties we will encounter in our professional lives, we are fully confident that we will all do more than our best to fulfill our profession diligently, approach all our patients with the same patience, understanding, and love, and most importantly, prioritize patient health above all else, becoming compassionate physicians with free minds and consciences.”
They Donned Their Coats with Enthusiasm…
Following the opening speeches, the first-year students of the Faculty of Dentistry enthusiastically donned their coats.
The white coats were put on the dentistry students by Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Prof. Dr. Ergün Yücel, and other faculty members.
They Took Their Professional Oath…
The students who donned their coats then took their professional oath together, led by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Dr. Lecturer Zeynep Mutlu.
Emotional Moments for Families…
The happiness and emotional moments of the families witnessing this beautiful moment of their children were truly remarkable.
The ceremony concluded after a group photo session.