Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Pharmacy organized a White Coat Ceremony on the occasion of 25 September World Pharmacists Day. Marking the beginning of the 2026-2027 Academic Year, the ceremony took place on Friday, 25 September 2026 at 10:00 at the Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall.
The ceremony was attended by EMU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe, EMU Vice Rector for Promotion and Institutional Communication Prof. Dr. Ali Öztüren, EMU General Secretary Derviş Ekşici, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy Prof. Dr. H. Ozan Gülcan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Assoc. Prof. Dr. Işıl Ö Kalyoncu, vice deans of the relevant faculties, academic personnel, students and their families.
Commenced with the observation of a Minute of Silence and National Anthem, the ceremony continued with a musical performance delivered by Assist. Prof. Dr. Atakan Sarı, an academic staff member of EMU Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts Education, Music Teaching Program, and Deniz Özkalay, a master’s student from the same program. Following the musical performance, Vice Deans of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet İlktaç and Assist. Prof. Dr. Jale Yüzügülen presented certificates of appreciation to Assist. Prof. Dr. Sarı and Özkalay.
“Our Goal is to Train Future Pharmacists”
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Gülcan expressed his pleasure at celebrating World Pharmacists Day, the beginning of the new academic year, and the Faculty’s international accreditation achievement together. Emphasizing the importance of accreditation in evaluating the quality of education against international standards and ensuring its continuous improvement, Prof. Dr. Gülcan thanked the academic and administrative staff, students, and stakeholders who contributed to this achievement.
Stressing that the profession of pharmacy brings science and people together and assumes significant responsibilities in protecting public health, Prof. Dr. Gülcan noted that they prepare their students to think scientifically, question, and make evidence-based decisions. Stating that they aim to educate future pharmacists in line with technological developments in the field of health, Prof. Dr. Gülcan underscored the importance of training healthcare professionals who adhere to ethical values, continue learning, and place people at the center.
“White Coat - The Symbol of Touching Human Life”
EMU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Karatepe began his speech by celebrating World Pharmacists Day and emphasized that the white coat is a symbol of knowledge, effort, trust, responsibility, and touching human lives. Stating that the profession of pharmacy requires sharing accurate information, guiding patients, and fulfilling professional responsibilities, Prof. Dr. Karatepe encouraged students to remain curious, ask questions, conduct research, and continue learning without compromising their ethical values.
Stating that accreditation processes are an important indicator of institutions’ commitment to continuously improving the quality of education, Prof. Dr. Karatepe noted that the achievement contributes to EMU’s internationalization goals. Congratulating everyone who contributed to the process, Prof. Dr. Karatepe wished the new academic year to bring success to the students and academic and administrative staff.
Following the speeches, a message from Corina Sutter, International Accreditation Officer at the Accreditation Agency in Health and Social Sciences (AHPGS), was screened. On the occasion of the Faculty’s MPharm and PharmD undergraduate programs and the PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences being accredited for a period of five years in August 2026 by the Germany-based international accreditation agency AHPGS, the accreditation certificates and plaque were presented to Prof. Dr. Gülcan by Prof. Dr. Karatepe. In addition, a plaque of appreciation was presented to Assist. Prof. Dr. Aybike Yektaoğlu Şahali, Coordinator of the Accreditation Committee, for her contributions to the accreditation process, while certificates of appreciation were presented to the committee members and the academic staff who contributed to the preparation of the accreditation report.
Following the presentation of the certificates, first-year students were presented with their white coats. As part of the program, Esra Halkın, a 2017 graduate of the EMU Faculty of Pharmacy and the responsible pharmacist of Halkın Pharmacy in Famagusta, delivered the opening lecture of the new academic year. Following the lecture, Prof. Dr. Gülcan presented Halkın with a certificate of appreciation. The ceremony concluded with a group photo.
