Sami ZAN

Sami Zan (1921-1984) was a Professor of Anatomy at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. Known for his contributions to the world of medicine and his unique approach to education, Sami Zan is remembered as an unforgettable figure by both his colleagues and students.

Who is Sami Zan?

Sami Zan was born in Istanbul in 1921. He started his education at Beşiktaş 19th Primary School and Ankara İnkılâp Primary School. After completing his secondary school education in Çanakkale, he continued his high school education at Istanbul Haydarpaşa High School. In 1940, Zan was accepted to Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, where he entered the world of medicine. In 1945, although he graduated from Istanbul University, the only medical school in Turkey at the time, he was transferred to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine by ministerial decision and graduated from there in 1946. After graduation, he completed his military service as a general practitioner and then did his compulsory service in İdil district of Mardin. In 1948, Zan was appointed as an assistant at the Anatomy Institute of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine and made a significant progress in his academic career.

Contributions to Medical Education

After completing his specialty training in 1952, Sami Zan started to work at the Anatomy Chair of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine. In 1955 he was promoted to associate professor and in 1960 to professor. While serving as the Chair of Anatomy between 1978 and 1984, his reputation and influence within the university gradually increased. Zan, who usually displayed a fun and creative approach in his lectures, succeeded in conveying his academic knowledge to his students in interesting ways. He attracted the attention of students especially with the models and diagrams he started to use in his anatomy lectures. In addition, to make his lectures more interesting, he sometimes told humorous and racy anecdotes by reenacting with his students. These methods attracted great attention, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, and many students flocked to his class just to take part in his lecture that day. Zan's use of anecdotes, aphorisms and entertaining narrative style in his lectures became one of the most popular teaching methods of the period.

Influence and Legacy

Sami Zan has left a great impact on his academic and professional life, introducing himself not only as a lecturer but also as an inspiring mentor. His students were captivated not only by the content of his lectures, but also by his personal approach and educational spirit. Zan often quoted the famous quote "To be a physician is to have a command of every subject" and argued that medicine is not only a science, but also a profession that requires a multifaceted skill set. For him, a physician had to be competent not only in medical knowledge but also in many other areas such as humanity, communication and psychology.

Sami Zan's lectures were not limited to anatomy students. Students from other faculties and departments also filled the lecture hall to attend his lectures. His humorous lecture style and deep interest in the subject left his students with unforgettable memories. The jokes he told in his lectures and the mise-en-scenes he applied stood out not only for the content of his lectures, but also for the joyful memories he left his students with.

Zan was the Chair of Anatomy at Istanbul University when he died of a heart attack in 1984. His legacy has contributed not only to medical education, but also to our understanding of the human aspect of education. Today, Prof. Dr. Sami Zan, for whom a lecture hall at Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine is named, is still remembered with respect and affection by his students and colleagues. His creative approach to education is remembered and passed down from generation to generation, even years later.