The 2025–2026 academic year at Bezmialem Vakıf University Faculty of Medicine began with an inaugural lecture delivered by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Adem Akçakaya. The first lecture, attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Ramazan Özdemir, Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Özlem Su Küçük, and first-year coordinators, marked a meaningful gathering where students embarked on their professional journey with enthusiasm and motivation.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Akçakaya emphasized that medical education is not only about acquiring a profession but also about serving humanity. Drawing on Bezmialem's deep-rooted foundation culture, he highlighted the importance of physicians embodying knowledge, ethics, and conscience together. He encouraged students to advance in their professional lives guided by science while always upholding justice and compassion.
Dean Prof. Dr. Ramazan Özdemir, in his remarks, elaborated on the Faculty of Medicine's educational approach. He emphasized to students the importance of gaining early clinical experience alongside fundamental medical sciences, developing research and scientific thinking skills, and raising awareness of public health and ethical values. It was also highlighted that students' academic and personal development would be closely monitored through advisory and coordination systems.
First Lecture: The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and Palestine
During the inaugural lecture, students engaged with the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in Palestine. The discussion focused on the challenges faced by civilians due to war and violence, serious shortages in access to basic necessities, and disruptions to healthcare services. The lecture addressed the brutality in the region, the destruction inflicted on innocent lives, and violations of fundamental rights. Students were urged that the genocide in Gaza must come to an end immediately, emphasizing that this tragedy imposes a profound responsibility and calls for awareness from all of humanity.
In this context, the lecture underscored that, alongside professional knowledge, medical education also requires sensitivity to human rights, conscience, and social responsibility. It was stressed that future physicians should not only treat illnesses but also protect human dignity and fundamental values. Students were reminded that serving humanity and respecting human rights are inseparable components of their professional duties.
