At Medipol, young doctors have taken up the banner of serving humanity

Having learned to understand disease, listen to patients, and assume responsibility during life's most fragile moments, graduates of the School of Medicine at Istanbul Medipol University were formally welcomed into the medical profession at the 2026 Graduation Ceremony. Held at the B4 Garden of the Kavacık South Campus, the ceremony marked the completion of a demanding six-year educational journey, during which young physicians received their diplomas and assumed the professional and ethical responsibilities symbolized by the white coat. 

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Süleyman Elban, Governor of İzmir; Prof. Bahadır Kürşat Güntürk, President of Istanbul Medipol University; Prof. Sabahattin Aydın, Founding President; Prof. Recep Öztürk, Vice President; Prof. Aslı Çakır, Dean of the School of Medicine; Prof. Abdulkadir Ömer, Dean of the International School of Medicine; Prof. Naci Karacaoğlan, Coordinator of the School of Medicine and the International School of Medicine; Prof. Zübeyir Bayraktaroğlu, Vice Dean of the International School of Medicine, together with academic staff, graduating students, and their families.
 

PROF. GÜNTÜRK: WE EDUCATE DOCTORS WHO SHAPE THE FUTURE RATHER THAN FOLLOW IT
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Bahadır Kürşat Güntürk, President of Istanbul Medipol University, stated that graduation represents not only the completion of an educational journey but also the beginning of a new chapter for young people who will contribute to the future of both the country and humanity.

Emphasizing that universities are not merely institutions that transmit knowledge, Güntürk said:

"Universities are institutions that produce knowledge, develop technology, guide society, and shape the future."

Highlighting the University's continued growth with more than 40,000 students, over 50,000 alumni, a strong academic staff, and international achievements, Güntürk noted that the accreditation of the School of Medicine by the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Medical Education Programs (TEPDAD) is a strong indicator of the quality of its education and its commitment to continuous improvement.

He also stated that artificial intelligence is reshaping professions, methods of work, and access to information, adding that universities must now prepare students not only for today's professions but also for challenges that have yet to emerge.

"Medipol's vision is not to follow but to lead." 
 

"YOUR DIPLOMA IS A GATEWAY TO NEW RESPONSIBILITIES"
Addressing the graduates directly, Güntürk emphasized that healthcare is evolving more rapidly than ever through scientific progress and technological transformation.

He noted that innovations ranging from AI-assisted diagnostic systems and personalized medicine to genomic technologies and digital healthcare applications are redefining the future of medicine.

Pointing out that graduates had gained valuable clinical experience through the University's healthcare practice and research centers located throughout Istanbul, Güntürk said:

"One of our primary goals has been to educate physicians who closely follow scientific developments, think critically, conduct research, question established knowledge, and place people at the center of their practice."

Emphasizing that a diploma is not a destination but a gateway to new opportunities and responsibilities, he concluded:

"Being a graduate of Istanbul Medipol University means combining science with conscience, using knowledge for the benefit of humanity, and creating value for society."
 

PROF. ÇAKIR: TODAY WE WELCOME NOT GRADUATES, BUT NEW COLLEAGUES
Prof. Aslı Çakır, Dean of the School of Medicine, stated that the graduates should now be regarded as colleagues, emphasizing that medical education extends far beyond examinations and coursework.

She explained that students initially learn about cells, tissues, organs, and diseases, but during their clinical training they discover that medicine is not limited to academic knowledge.

"When you first met patients face to face, you realized that every patient has different fears, every family carries different concerns, that delivering good news brings great joy, and that some sentences are incredibly difficult to say."

Çakır stressed that the graduates had reached this point not simply by passing examinations, but by working tirelessly, overcoming exhaustion, doubting themselves at times, and persevering.

She also emphasized that medicine is a profession that requires constant self-reflection.

"A good physician is not someone who never doubts themselves. A good physician is someone who can stop and ask, 'Could there be another possibility?' look again, investigate further, and seek advice when necessary."
 

"TREAT THE PATIENT, NOT JUST THE DISEASE"
Offering advice for their professional careers, Çakır reminded graduates that no physician is expected to know everything. What matters, she said, is recognizing one's limitations, investigating unanswered questions, and consulting colleagues when necessary.

Noting that emerging treatments, new technologies, and artificial intelligence will continue to redefine medicine, she encouraged young physicians to remain curious and continue asking the right questions.

Emphasizing that medicine is fundamentally a team effort, she urged graduates not to define patients solely by their diseases. "Look into your patients' eyes. Listen to them. Take their fears and concerns seriously."

She also reminded graduates not to neglect their own well-being despite the demanding nature of the profession. "Strive to become excellent physicians without missing out on life."

Concluding her remarks, she said:

"Wherever you go, being a good physician begins with being a good person. I am proud of all of you and congratulate you wholeheartedly."
 

"THIS DIPLOMA REPRESENTS A STORY OF DREAMS AND PERSEVERANCE"
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Dr. Muhammed Yusuf Şimşek, valedictorian of the School of Medicine, described medical school as the story of a dream, a struggle, and a personal journey extending from childhood to the present day.

"What ends for me today is not merely six years of medical education, but the story of a dream, a struggle, and a lifelong journey that began in my childhood."

He emphasized that medical education requires tremendous dedication and responsibility and that medicine is far more than academic knowledge alone.

Recalling the lessons learned during countless patient rounds, he said:

"Our professors always reminded us to treat patients, not diseases. Over the years, those words gained new meaning with every patient I encountered."

Şimşek also thanked his family, acknowledging that their unwavering support made his achievement possible.

"Only my name appears on this diploma, but behind it stand my parents, who worried with me, believed in me even more than I believed in myself, and never stopped praying for me. This success belongs not only to me, but to all of us."
 

OUTSTANDING GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WERE HONORED
The ceremony also recognized the School's highest-achieving graduates.

Dr. Muhammed Yusuf Şimşek, ranked first; Dr. Ahmet Şükrü Özdemir, ranked second; and Dr. Nil Pınar Er, ranked third, received commemorative plaques from Prof. Bahadır Kürşat Güntürk, President of Istanbul Medipol University.

In addition, Dr. Müge Melis Kınacı, selected by the Emergency Medicine Specialists Association as the "Most Outstanding Intern in Emergency Medicine" received a special award. Her diploma and commemorative plaque were presented by Prof. Naci Karacaoğlan, Coordinator of the School of Medicine and the International School of Medicine.
 

DIPLOMAS WERE PASSED FROM HAND TO HAND, AND PRIDE FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT
During the diploma presentation ceremony, diplomas were awarded by Prof. Sabahattin Aydın, Founding President; Prof. Recep Öztürk, Vice President; Prof. Naci Karacaoğlan, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine and Coordinator of the School of Medicine and the International School of Medicine; Prof. Abdulkadir Ömer, Dean of the International School of Medicine; Prof. Aslı Çakır, Dean of the School of Medicine; Prof. Zübeyir Bayraktaroğlu, Vice Dean of the International School of Medicine; and members of the academic staff.

The graduation ceremony became even more meaningful as many graduates received their diplomas from family members who are themselves academics.

Prof. Ahmet Gökhan Akkan, faculty member at Bezmiâlem Vakıf University School of Medicine, presented the diploma to his daughter, Dr. Zeynep Akkan. Prof. Aynur Görmez, faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at Istanbul Medeniyet University, presented the diploma to her daughter, Dr. Zeynep Aliye Görmez.

Similarly, Prof. Mithat Büyükçelik, faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics at Gaziantep University School of Medicine, presented the diploma to his daughter, Dr. Öykü Naz Büyükçelik, while Prof. Ali Yeginsu, faculty member in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Akdeniz University School of Medicine, presented the diploma to his daughter, Dr. Ilgın Yeginsu.

One of the ceremony's memorable moments came when Prof. Bahri Teker, faculty member in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Istanbul Medipol University School of Medicine, presented diplomas both to his child and to his students.
 

THE HONOR PLEDGE OF MEDICINE: THEY TOOK AN OATH TO KNOWLEDGE, CONSCIENCE, AND HUMANITY
One of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony was the recitation of the physicians' oath.

Led by Prof. Naci Karacaoğlan, Founding Dean of the School of Medicine and Coordinator of the School of Medicine and the International School of Medicine, the graduates pledged to dedicate their lives to the service of humanity and to practice medicine in accordance with their conscience.

Together they declared:

"I solemnly swear, freely and upon my honor, that I will never use my medical knowledge against the values and principles of humanity."
 

Waving the Turkish flag as a symbol of national unity, the newly graduated physicians also carried Palestinian flags and keffiyehs in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The ceremony concluded with the graduates joyfully tossing their caps into the air after receiving their diplomas.