At Selçuk University (SU) Faculty of Medicine, 210 students wore white coats with a ceremony. Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy stated that the profession of medicine is one of the most difficult and sacred professions in the world.

Selçuk University Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Emrullah Eken, Prof. Dr. İlhan Çiftci and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tuğrul Polat, Secretary General Prof. Dr. Kamil Beşoluk, Chief Physician of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Prof. Dr. Mustafa Koplay, faculty members and students attended the ceremony held at Sultan Alparslan Cultural Center.

In his speech at the ceremony, Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy said that the students are candidates for the profession of "physician", which is one of the most difficult and sacred professions in the world, thanks to their hard work and dedication. Stating that the white coat brings with it certain responsibilities, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, "In professions that touch people such as medicine, it is necessary to be equipped with some 'humanitarian' virtues. For this reason, a good physician is also expected to be kind-hearted, compassionate, honest, reliable, conscientious and clean moral. Indeed, the white coat symbolizes these elements. It is not possible to be a good physician without being a good person. In the light of science and adhering to human values, you must work for the benefit of humanity and uphold the values symbolized by your white coats. Medicine is a very difficult and stressful profession. My advice to you: You should constantly renew yourself throughout your life and closely follow the literature and technology. Remember, what suits a physician better than a white shirt is the shirt of compassion. With this awareness, be compassionate and smiling towards your patients. It is our greatest wish that you will make us and your families feel the excitement and happiness we experienced when we dressed you in white coats today, with the oath you will take at the end of your sixth year."

"WE GO TO AFRIN AND AZEZ FOR TREATMENT"

Prof. Dr. Yavuz Selvi, Dean of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, stated that medical students have to educate themselves as well as studying and said: "We have to be leaders, we have to worry about the problems of others, we have to be broad-minded and international physicians, we have to be human rights defenders. Our workspace is not only lecture halls. We will also need you in places where the world is silent, in events that are covered up. Your activities and research will reveal humanitarian crises and provide relief. As in Afrin, Azaz and Azerbaijan. As Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, we are going to perform cleft palate and cleft lip surgeries on children affected by chemical weapons in Afrin and Azaz. We have collected more than a truckload of medical supplies and we are working on a network that will intervene online from our faculty in emergency medical situations that develop there. We will also provide training support to the health personnel working in that region. This is just a small example of the structure of a great university that prioritizes people and aims for the whole world."

Stating that the decision to establish a Gene Therapy Center under the leadership of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine was passed by the Senate, Prof. Dr. Selvi said that a Phase Center for vaccine and drug studies was established within Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine.

After the speeches, Prof. Dr. Aksoy presented certificates of appreciation to the captains and advisors of the teams that made it to the finals and received awards at the "Aviation, Space and Technology Festival TEKNOFEST'21". Afterwards, the students were given their white coats.