Students in Health Programs at CIU Wore their White Coats with Pride
Students of Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Vocational School of Health Sciences, who are the potential candidates to work in the health sector, took the first step into their profession and wore their white coats at the ceremony attended by TRNC Minister of Health, Izlem Gürçağ Altuğra.
The ceremony was held at Çevik Uraz Center Conference Hall and those in attendance who delivered the opening speeches were TRNC Minister of Health İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, CIU Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri, Dean of CIU Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Salih Angın, Cyprus Turkish Physiotherapy Association (KTFB) Deputy Chairman Specialist Physiotherapist Münevver Özakalın and Cyprus Turkish Dietetic Association (CTDA) President Specialist Dietician Hidayet Ağören.
Speaking at the CIU White Coat Ceremony, Minister of Health Altuğra stated that the white coat is a symbol of honesty, morality, being a confidant, and the love of service to all people without discrimination of language, religion or race, and said, “It is a privilege to wear a white coat in our country and in the world. You should always feel the responsibility of this privilege.”
Minister Altuğra said that being a good health worker also entails being a good individual and added, "Being a good person means being prudent, fair, understanding and having a reliable personality." Minister Altuğra also emphasized that being compassionate is an indispensable feature of healthcare professionals, and said, "Your patients may not understand your medical explanations, but they will understand that you are a compassionate person from your behavior and they will definitely help you in treating their ailment."
CIU Rector Prof. Dr. Nadiri stated that the students studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and the Vocational School of Health Sciences are experiencing the excitement and pride of being together at the traditional " White Coat" ceremony, and said, "As of today, you will find yourself intensifying your efforts to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities required by the profession and be beneficial to humanity.”
In his speech, Nadiri pointed out that Cyprus International University is celebrating its 25th year at the service of higher education and underlined that the university has become one of the important health education centers in the region with the investments it has made in the field of health education in recent years.
In his opening speech, Cyprus Turkish Physiotherapy Association Deputy Chairman Özakalın stated that putting on the White Coat has brought forth upon you a great responsibility and said, "Welcome to our community with the white coat donning ceremony. I wish you to work in cooperation and without being far from any ethical understanding with interdisciplinary and other occupational groups working in the field of health as well as other professionals.”
Cyprus Turkish Dietetic Association (CTDA) President Ağören said, “These white coats that you have put on today as the dietitians of the future, as the health professionals of the future represent human health, and the cleanliness, honesty, reliability, human love and compassion of the healthcare professionals working for this cause.”
After the opening speeches, the ceremony ended with the future healthcare worker candidates donning their White Coats.