The 2024-2025 Academic Year “White Coat Ceremony” at the Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was held with enthusiasm at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center. The ceremony, which started after a moment of silence and the National Anthem, was held with the intense participation of academics, students and their families.
The opening speeches of the ceremony were made by Near East University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Umut Aksoy and Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş. Senior student Duru Elif Baydilli spoke on behalf of all students at the ceremony.
After the speeches, the students wore their white coats from the hands of their instructors and made their families very proud. At the end of the ceremony, accompanied by Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Animal Science and Animal Nutrition Department Head Prof. Dr. Dilek Arsoy, the students took the oath of veterinary and then took their first steps into their profession.
Prof. Dr. Umut Aksoy: “This profession represents a sacred duty that undertakes the duty of protecting not only animal health but also human health and the environment.”
Stating that Near East University hosts more than 20 thousand students from 143 different countries, Near East University Vice President Prof. Dr. Umut Aksoy said; “Near East University is not only an educational institution but also a science and development center. Today, you are taking your first step into the veterinary profession. This profession represents a sacred duty that undertakes the duty of protecting not only animal health but also human health and the environment. You have a long and challenging education process ahead of you. This process will strengthen you with knowledge, experience and professional equipment. And I would like you to know that there is an academic staff and a faculty that will always support you throughout this process.”
Emphasizing that the field of veterinary medicine is full of great innovations and technological developments, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, “Artificial intelligence, genetic research and advanced medical techniques are taking your profession even further every day. I wholeheartedly believe that you will be a part of these developments and that you will continuously improve yourself both scientifically and professionally.”
Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş: “As veterinarians who defend the rights of their colleagues, develop animal husbandry and protect animal and human health, you will undertake important roles in society.”
Stating that the “White Coat Ceremony” is the first step for the medical profession, Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş said, “The white coat has long been accepted as the professional symbol of every physician and is associated with medical knowledge, reliability, diligence and responsibility.”
Stating that the white coat aims to strengthen the student’s sense of belonging and responsibility, Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş said, “The whiteness and cleanliness of the apron will be a symbol of our students’ labor and devotion to their professions.” Addressing the students, Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş said, “As a veterinarian, you will have important duties such as increasing productivity in animal husbandry, protecting animal rights, and defending the environment and ecological balance. In addition, you will need to adopt the concept of health in the fight against zoonotic diseases and address animal, human and environmental health as a whole.” Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş also said, “We will train you on your profession in five years by providing you with the contemporary information in the light of science. I believe that after graduating, you will undertake important roles in society as veterinarians who defend the rights of their colleagues, develop animal husbandry, and protect animal and human health.”
Duru Elif Baydilli: “You will be the future of this profession, the protectors of animals and the hands they trust in.”
Speaking on behalf of the students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, senior student Duru Elif Baydilli, addressing her new student friends who started the faculty, said, “The white coats you will soon wear are not just a symbol; they are a door that opens to knowledge, compassion and responsibility. Each button on that coat is a reflection of the contribution you will make to the lives of animals.”
“The veterinary profession is not only to treat animals, but also to be their voice, to defend their right to life, to strive to provide them with the best life; to protect public health and to ensure that both animals and people live in a safe and sustainable environment by supporting environmental health,” said Duru Elif Baydilli, adding “Today, we are handing these coats over to you. You will be the future of this profession, the protectors of animals and the hands they trust. May your path be clear, your coat be always white, your moral compass always be just.”
