There was graduation excitement at Selçuk University (SU) Faculty of Medicine. Young soldiers of the health army received their diplomas at the ceremony attended by Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. İlhan Çiftci.

The graduation ceremony of Selçuk University (SU) Faculty of Medicine for the 2020-2021 academic year was held at Alaeddin Keykubat Campus. Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. İlhan Çiftci, Secretary General Prof. Dr. Kamil Beşoluk, Dean of the Faculty Prof. Dr. Yavuz Selvi, Iraqi Turkmen Front Executive Committee Member and Turkmen Minister Aydın Maruf, academicians, students and their families attended the ceremony.

"ALWAYS PROTECT THE SACRED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN"

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Çiftci said to the academicians: "Every physician we graduate shows the traces of the education you have given by showing superior effort and determination. The spiritual climate of the prayers of each of your students, who will benefit their nation and all humanity, also descends on you. I would like to express our gratitude for your contributions to their education with great sacrifices."  For the parents, he said: "Our students are graduating from one of Turkey's most well-established universities today after completing six years of challenging, yet enjoyable education. We are proud that our children are starting their lives as brilliant physicians. We are grateful for all your material and moral contributions to their education."

                                          "IT'S TIME TO LEAD, NOT FOLLOW"

Prof. Dr. Yavuz Selvi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, stated that knowledge is a great power that affects the belief and financial system, countries, generations and destiny, and said, "We must have knowledge. It is time for self-development. Wherever you work in the world or stay in your country, but have knowledge. Knowledge is the common property of humanity. Knowledge has no religion, nationality or partisanship. Knowledge travels all over the world. It is time to be a leader, not a follower. Today, Aziz Sancar, who received the Nobel Prize for his biological rhythm studies, Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, who developed the Biontech vaccine... And our professors in the precious Medical Genetics Department of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Nadir, Tülin, Ebru, Hüseyin, who developed the mRNA vaccine. I would like to give  good news here. Our decision to establish a Gene Therapy Center under the leadership of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine has been passed by our senate. We will now have a "Gene Therapy Center". We have also established our Phase Center for our vaccine and drug studies within the Faculty of Medicine of Selçuk University. This center will be able to conduct bioequivalence studies."

                   "STAND LIKE A SNOWDROP AGAINST INJUSTICE AND DESPAIR"

Emphasizing that learned helplessness is contagious, Prof. Dr. Selvi said, "Do not accept the obstacles put in front of you, do not think that we cannot change it anyway. Get away from the hopeless and aimless people around you. Criticize, change and improve. Take a look at the backgrounds of the professors you take lessons from today. Your professors who have overseas experience, who are presidents of international and national professional organizations, who have patents, who perform surgeries that no one else can perform with great confidence, who volunteer in poor countries, who are managers in EU and TÜBİTAK projects, who provide exemplary service with diagnosis, follow-up and now vaccination centers during the pandemic... You have taken courses from respected and qualified faculty members of an accredited Faculty of Medicine, you can be proud of this. Do not be afraid, be brave. Do not deviate from the path you know is right.  The first condition of independence and freedom is not to be afraid.  As long as you are afraid, you will continue to live in captivity. Stand like a snowdrop against injustice, disorder, bullying and hopelessness."

           "WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF SELÇUK UNIVERSITY FAMILY"

Dr. Esra Koç, the valedictorian of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, said, "We know that being a doctor, which we have dreamed of since childhood, is not just a profession or a title, but a part of our lives. Today, we are at the starting point of our journey as physicians. We are proud to be a part of the Selçuk University family. We will continue to work hard and learn in order to always go further in the footsteps of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's principles and scientists. We do not want to witness physical and psychological violence against healthcare professionals. We condemn violence in health and wish it to end. We remember with respect and longing our friend Dr. Merve Mercan and Aziza Bustonova, who could not be with us today, whom we knew with her smiling face and good heart, and I wish God's mercy."

After the speeches, Dr. Esra Koç, the valedictorian of the semester the graduates were awarded their plaques and the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Selvi, made the graduating students take the oath as physicians. The ceremony ended with the awarding of diplomas to 173 young doctors who graduated from the 13th semester of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, the cap throwing ceremony and a photo shoot.