Faculty of Medicine

Hello, I am Mustafa Bertuğ Özen, a sixth-year student at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Trakya. I am also a faculty representative. Our department acquaints students with the medical science, educates future health professionals and conducts research in various branches of the medical science. Students are awarded the title of Doctor of Medicine upon the completion of a six-year-long study. Those who want to undergo specialty training can do so by taking the Medical Specialty Examination and consequently earning the title of medical specialist, surgeon or becoming a lecturer in one of the branches of the medical science. Education in Turkey’s faculties of medicine consists of three years of preclinical sciences and three years of clinical sciences. During the first three years, students take courses such as anatomy, physiology, pathology and biochemistry. As for the final three years, students are taught subjects such as pediatrics and general surgery. Faculty students do not sit for examinations in their last year of study as they undergo internships on relevant subjects within each branch of the medical science. Our faculty has four laboratories: a wet laboratory, a dry laboratory, an anatomy laboratory and a pathology laboratory. These laboratories are where students take their applied courses in preclinical sciences. Students that pass our faculty’s third year preclinical examination become a medical intern. Medical interns continue with their internships into the fourth and fifth years of education. The content of the fourth year’s internship consists of subjects such as general medicine and pediatrics while the fifth year’s internship includes subjects such as cardiology and pulmonology. Students acquire hands-on experience during the internships by treating actual patients under the supervision of the faculty’s professors. Upon completing their education, our graduates can practice general medicine. Most of our graduates find positions in the subfields of emergency health while some go on to work in community health centers. If a physician desires to receive further education, then they can take the specialty examination, earn the title of Specialist, specialize in a branch of their choosing or continue as an academician in preclinical sciences. The reason why I chose to become a doctor is that I wanted to help people by interacting with them, and the medical profession is one of few unique occupational groups that can provide such an opportunity. Without a doubt all occupations are sacred. However, I do believe that it is the medical occupation that is most fit to have a positive impact on humans. Hence my choosing of this field of study. As you may know, University of Trakya is located in the city of Edirne, Turkey’s gate to the West. Bordering Greece and Bulgaria, Edirne attracts a high number of tourists and is a place of a rich cultural exchange. Once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Edirne is a rich cultural and historical wellspring. In terms of medicine, the city has significance as well. Home to the first university hospital in Ottoman period, it was from Edirne that smallpox vaccine was shipped to England back then. These are the reasons behind my decision to come to this university. Upon graduation, I want to be employed as a physiotherapy and rehabilitation specialist. For this reason, I must take the Medical Specialization Examination. If I receive the required score, I will specialize in physiotherapy and rehabilitation and earn the title of specialist doctor. My personal advice to the prospective candidates of our faculty is to practice a high standard of discipline without neglecting socialization with their peers. To give a personal example, had I not frequently socialized with my friends and acquaintances, my industriousness alone would not have been enough to achieve the academic success I have achieved. I am a member of the basketball and football teams of our faculty. It is by virtue of my engagement with these communities that I was able to succeed academically. In conclusion, I would like to wish good luck to all candidates taking the entrance examination. As the Trakya Medical Faculty family, we will be very glad to see you among our ranks.