March 14 Medicine Day was celebrated with various events held at the Aksaray University (ASÜ) Conference Hall. ASÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Alpay Arıbaş emphasized the sacrifices of healthcare workers and stated, "Never lose your love for humanity, compassion, and sense of justice."

The March 14 Medicine Day program at ASÜ was attended by Aksaray University Rector Prof. Dr. Alpay Arıbaş, Aksaray Municipality Deputy Mayor Yakup Kadri Perek, Aksaray Chief Public Prosecutor Osman Köse, Aksaray Administrative Court President Yakup Camgöz, Aksaray Judicial Justice Commission President Gökhan Oflaz, Aksaray Training and Research Hospital Chief Physician Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onur Karaca, ASÜ Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Ömer Köse and Prof. Dr. Erşan Sever, ASÜ Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Servet Gölgeler, faculty members, and students.

The events began with the opening of an exhibition, followed by a presentation of an introductory video about the ASÜ Faculty of Medicine and interviews with students. A special video in memory of Prof. Dr. İsmet Parlak, a faculty member of the Emergency Medicine Department at ASÜ Faculty of Medicine who passed away last month, was also shown, creating emotional moments among attendees.

"Young Medical Students Remember March 14 with Both Sorrow and Pride"

In his opening speech at the March 14 Medicine Day program, ASÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Alpay Arıbaş emphasized the selfless service of healthcare workers throughout history. He reminded the audience that 100 years ago, medical students strongly opposed the British occupation. He highlighted that Hikmet Boran, one of the symbolic figures of March 14, made significant contributions both in the field of medicine and during the National Struggle.

"At the Sivas Congress, he declared, 'As medical students, we will accept neither American nor British mandate. We will fight to the end.' From that moment on, March 14 became a symbol of resistance. Today, young medical students remember this day with both sorrow and pride," said Rector Arıbaş.

"You Will Be the Tarık Nusrets of the Future"

"Medical students and physicians have always served society by risking their lives and making great sacrifices," Prof. Dr. Arıbaş continued.

"We witnessed the extraordinary bravery of our healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. While healthcare personnel in many countries resigned due to the risks, our doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and medical students fought on the frontlines. We lost many healthcare martyrs. We saw similar heroism in 1915. Dr. Tarık Nusret, for example, did not differentiate between his severely wounded son and other soldiers. After his son’s passing, he said, ‘Forgive me, my son. That morphine was not yours to have.’ This reflects the noble character of our society. I hope you, young medical students, will be the Tarık Nusrets of the future. I ask you to never lose your love for humanity, your compassion, and, most importantly, your sense of justice."

He also addressed student concerns, mentioning that the construction of the new morphology building is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Healthcare Workers Serve with Dedication

ASÜ Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Servet Gölgeler gave a brief presentation on the history of March 14 Medicine Day and spoke about ongoing projects at the faculty. He emphasized the dedication of physicians and healthcare workers in all circumstances.

"The importance of our doctors and healthcare workers became even clearer during the pandemic. They do not only apply medical knowledge but also put their hearts into their work to save lives under any condition. I commemorate our healthcare martyrs with respect and gratitude. With this spirit of sacrifice and dedication, I celebrate the March 14 Medicine Day of all healthcare professionals," he said.

Robing Ceremony for Faculty Members

As part of the celebrations, a ceremony was held for faculty members who received academic promotions. Prof. Dr. Yücel Duman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Nagehan Akyol Önder, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Güler, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurhan Akaras, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sibel Çiğdem Tuncer, Dr. Lecturer Recep Dönmez, Dr. Lecturer Selçuk Türkel, Dr. Lecturer Esra Aslan, Dr. Lecturer Ayşegül Aykaç İbişoğlu, Dr. Lecturer Furkan Çevirgen, Dr. Lecturer Fatih Bertaş, and Dr. Lecturer Seval Sönmez Yıldırım were presented with their academic robes by protocol members and received certificates of appreciation.

Awards were given to the winning teams of the Evidence-Based Medicine Project Competition by ASÜ Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Servet Gölgeler. Trophies were also presented to the winners of the March 14 Medicine Day Week basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and foosball tournaments, as well as the quiz competition.

Additionally, certificates of appreciation were presented to cadaver donation volunteers Dr. Erdem Arslan and Dr. Furkan Çevirgen. The program concluded with a mini piano and guitar concert performed by ASÜ Faculty of Medicine Pharmacology Department Lecturer Dr. Erdem Arslan and a medical student.