Near East University Faculty of Dentistry’s 2021-2022 academic year spring semester graduates received their diplomas at the ceremony. The ceremony started with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, followed by a violin concert by Nina Koçubey.

Many guests and lecturers attended the graduation ceremony, which was also attended by the Minister of Health of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra.

The opening speeches of the ceremony were delivered by Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dean of Near East University Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy and the Minister of Health of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, as well as Esra Erkan, the top graduate of the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry who expressed her feelings on behalf of all graduates. Lana Mohammed Taha, who completed the English program of the Faculty of Dentistry of Near East University as the top graduate, and graduated as the third in the general ranking, spoke on behalf of international students.

After the speeches, all graduate students accompanied by Mutahhar Ulusoy took the oath of dentistry and received their diplomas.

İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra: “You, our esteemed young people, do not forget that medicine is not only a profession, but also a way of life.”
The Minister of Health of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, started her speech at the graduation ceremony of the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry by saying that she experienced two happiness at the same time.

Emphasizing the meaning and importance that the Near East University added to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Minister İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra said, “Today, I am happy to experience two happiness together. First of all, as a mother, I am happy that my daughter Şerife İlke Altuğra graduated from this distinguished university with the title of dentist. The second one is, as a politician, sharing the proud that the Founding Rector of Near East University, Dr. Suat Günsel, brought to our country with the establishment and achievements of Near East University as a brand in the international education community and the TRNC

Addressing the graduates in her speech, Minister Izlem Gürçağ Altuğra said, “You, our esteemed youth, do not forget that medicine is not only a profession, but also a way of life. Always remember the responsibility of the white coat you wear. As a Minister of Health, I do congratulate you for successfully walking this difficult path. I wish you every success in your professional life.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Take yourself such a mission that you can change the world.”
Addressing the students at the graduation ceremony, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “When I look at you today, I go back thirty-four years. I was experiencing the same excitement you have now experienced. I know that you are experiencing both pride and sadness at the same time.”

Stating that the world is developing and changing rapidly, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ told the graduates to be open to continuous learning and fearless and said, “I know and believe that you will accumulate your own experiences and find your own path in the most correct way. Life and the world will always be one step ahead of you. That’s why you will always be individuals with an open mind, foresight, changing, developing, questioning, criticizing and open to criticism.”

Stating that every profession has its own difficulties, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “No matter what profession you are from, you will encounter many difficulties. Perhaps you will come to the point of giving up. Whatever happens, never let go of the helm of your ship. Focusing on the causes of problems makes you a part of these problems. Make investigations about the reasons of the problem and focus on the solution. Set yourself a mission that will change the world. Build a world where you can be proud of yourself by breaking the mold.”

Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy: “I am sure that you will be honest with patients and society in your professional practices and use your knowledge and skills for patient and community health. I wish you continued success.”
Near East University Faculty of Dentistry Dean Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy started his speech by stating that the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry now has had 292 graduates, 96 from the English program and 196 from the Turkish program, in the 2021-2022 spring semester graduation. Stating that the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry was established in 2007, Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy said, “Our faculty has graduated 1395 undergraduate and 76 doctorate graduates so far.”

Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy addressed the graduate students and said, “You, our esteemed graduates, will need ethics, especially the principles of medical ethics, as long as humanity exists. I am sure that in your professional practices, you will be honest with patients and society, and use your knowledge and skills for patient and community health. I wish you continued success.”

Esra Erkan: “Neither our skills nor luck alone can bring success. I think the real secret of success is believing and working hard in this profession.”
Esra Erkan, who finished the Turkish program of the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry as the top graduate, gave her speech on behalf of all graduates: “We all came from different cities to become dentists. We all had dreams and goals. Now we are excited to achieve those dreams.” Stating that human health is not something to be taken lightly, Esra Erkan said, “We have felt the heavy responsibility of being a physician since the very first day of our education life. During this difficult five-year training period, we faced many difficulties. Despite all this, we worked devotedly to become well-equipped physicians. Neither our skills nor luck alone can bring success. I think the real secret of success is believing and working hard in this profession.

Stating that they will never lose their empathy skills and that they will try to keep the quality of life of the patients at the highest level by putting themselves in the place of each patient they will treat, Esra Erkan said, “We would like to thank our esteemed teachers who trained us as modern physicians with enlightened ideas and thoughts and did not spare us from their knowledge.”

Lana Mohammed Taha: “With the devoted support of our teachers, we graduate as professionally competent dentists who can empathize with their patients and love their profession.”
Lana Mohammed Taha, who completed the English program of the Faculty of Dentistry of Near East University as the top graduate of the overseas students and graduated as the third in the general ranking, started by expressing her happiness for experiencing the pride of graduation and thanking her family, friends and teachers in her speech. Lana Mohammed Taha, who said that they left behind a difficult five-year education, stated that they graduated as professionally competent dentists who can empathize with their patients and love their profession, with the devoted support of their teachers.