CIU Med students don white coats to mark the start of their professional journey
Cyprus International University (CIU), Faculty of Medicine students embarked into the medical profession by wearing their white coats at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Health, Ali Pilli.
The ceremony was held at the CIU Çevik Uraz Conference Hall and the opening speeches were delivered by Ali Pilli, the Minister of Health; Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri, the Rector of CIU and the Dean of Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Güldal Mehmetçik.
In his speech, the Minister of Health Ali Pilli said donning their white coats marks the first day when doctors of the future start their professional journey. He continued on to say, “I can empathize with your happiness and joy, years ago, as a doctor candidate, I had experienced the very same feelings.”
The Minister of Health Pilli said the white coat is of great importance in the medical profession, and highlighted these implications of the white coat: “It signifies honesty, good morals, trustworthiness, tolerance, and treating all people equally regardless of their religion, language, color and gender.”
The Minister also gave some advice to the medical candidates mentioning some of the ingredients that make a good doctor: “The secret to being a good doctor is being a good person. It is crucial to develop good human relations. You have to respect ethical values. You have to be collaborative. You have to attach significance to master-apprentice relationship. You have to complete the tasks assigned by your instructors in a timely manner.”
Medicine is a profession that requires great responsibility and trust is the cornerstone of patient-doctor relationship. “Our doctors have worked selflessly since the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2019. While everyone was isolated, our doctors and health workers were on the frontline,” Pilli said.
At the end of his speech, Minister Pilli wished success medical candidates and expressed his happiness upon seeing the foreign nationals at the University who will be representatives of the country after graduation.
CIU Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri, on the other hand, stated that the significance of all the health care workers emerged once again all over the world with the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and expressed his gratitude to all the professionals in the medical field who performed their duties at the expense of their own lives during this period.
Nadiri addressed the medical students saying they will embark on a professional journey in a very challenging field, adding, “As of now you will focus on equipping yourself with the knowledge, skills and abilities the profession requires; on further improving yourself professionally and last but not least on being beneficial to mankind.“
Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri said CIU has been serving as an institution of higher learning for the past 24 years, and has become the most important tertiary education institution in the region. With its recent investments in health education, the university has become one of the most important centers of health education. He addressed the students at the ceremony telling them, “The education you have received here at our university has definitely prepared you in the best possible way for your future career. You will assume roles in the health sector as dynamic, productive and creative members of the profession, and you will quickly move up the career ladder making your families and your university feel proud of you.”
Prof. Dr. Güldal Mehmetçik, the Dean of CIU Faculty of Medicine, in her speech marked the significance of the profession saying, “You have embarked on a very difficult journey. Welcome to one of the most difficult professions. Also, welcome to the happiness and pleasure you will feel upon saving someone’s life.” She reminded the students that the white coat has been the symbol of medicine since the 1800s, and that being a doctor requires hard work and a great responsibility.
Following the speeches, CIU Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri honored the Minister of Health Ali Pilli with a plaque in remembrance of the day.
The ceremony ended with the doctor candidates donning their white coats.