Eastern Mediterranean University Health Sciences Faculty organised an oath ceremony for the graduands of 2017-2018 Academic Year Spring Semester. During the said organisation which took place at Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center at 9:30 a.m. on 19 June 2018, over 400 newly graduating health professionals recited their oaths.
At the ceremony which commenced with a moment of silence and the national anthem, Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts Chair Prof. Memduh Özdemir and academic staff member Erkan Dağlı delivered a mini musical performance followed by the speeches of the top ranking graduand of Health Sciences Faculty, Nutrition and Dietetics Department Melis Aysu Sünel and the top ranking graduand of School of Health Services, Physiotherapy Associate Program Dilay Sungur. Expressing their happiness in graduating from a world-renowned institution of higher education, the valedictorians thanked EMU for supporting them throughout their studies by all means. Stating that they will leave the university with an awareness of protecting the right to health and supporting the development of health, students also promised to fulfill all requirements of the profession.
EMU Health Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç also delivered a speech in which she stated her honor in observing the first step of the young health professionals taken towards their careers. Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç continued her speech by providing information on Health Sciences Faculty and their mission, which is to bring up highly qualified health professionals who would deliver services at different corners of the world. Addressing the new graduates, Prof. Dr. Malkoç said “Today, you are taking your first step towards your profession. Do not forget that you are a member of the EMU Family and also live the pride of being a graduate of EMU Health Sciences Faculty.”
In a speech of his own, EMU Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam stated “EMU is a university with a mission located at high levels. Despite the fact that the concept of health is new to EMU, the university has achieved immense development in the said field. Eastern Mediterranean University has achieved the impossible by managing to make it to the 101-150 band in the world’s best young universities under 50. Life will not be easy as it is here at the university. Surely, you will encounter difficulties but the point that you have to remember is that humans are the roots of the problems and that you have to understand them to solve the problems. Our university’s identity will go hand in hand with your identity for the rest of your lives. Harming this identity will only damage your own identity. I believe that you will do your best to protect it. I congratulate all students and parents on this meaningful day and wish them all the success”.
Following the opening addresses, Prof. Dr. Osam presented gifts to the top ranking students of the faculty and school. Then, Departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, Health Management and Sports Sciences graduands recited their oaths as well as graduands of the associate programs, namely Oral and Dental Health, Anaesthesia, Surgery Services, Dialysis, Physiotherapy, First and Emergency Aid, Radiotherapy, and Medical Imaging Techniques. The oaths specific to each department, were recited together with department chairs.
All health personnel take oath before starting their careers in the field. The oath shows devotion to the principles and ethical values they will abide by throughout their careers. Oaths that are generally accepted as tradition in the field of health can show slight variations between different universities and departments.
