Sinan Akdoğan (OMÜ Kurumsal İletişim Koordinatörlüğü Haber Merkezi)
Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Veterinary Faculty bid farewell to its graduates of the 2023-2024 academic year with a Graduation Ceremony. A total of 89 veterinarians from the 17th cohort took their first steps in their professional journey.
The Graduation Ceremony, held at the OMU Atatürk Congress and Culture Center (AKM), was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, Veterinary Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü and his deputies, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Sağlam, President of Samsun Sinop Veterinary Doctors Chamber Elif Köse Avan, Director of Samsun Veterinary Control Institute Dr. Hamza Kadı, faculty academics, and the graduates' families.
In the opening speech of the graduation ceremony, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi stated, “OMU is a university that embodies the spirit of its name. You have spent five years in such a city and university, which is very valuable to all of us. I have witnessed the 17 years of our Veterinary Faculty. I have observed the graduates' Research and Development (R&D) studies and projects. The working hours at the Animal Hospital have been extended from 12 to 24 hours. I have also witnessed various projects like vaccine studies, bee studies, and the establishment of anatomy and physiology laboratories. We appreciate the dedicated work of our Veterinary Faculty. OMU is an accredited university, and this accreditation is a success achieved through the efforts of the faculties.”
Highlighting that the graduates have been prepared for the future through five years of theoretical and practical education, Prof. Dr. Terzi addressed them with the following words: “From today on, you will be out in the field practicing your profession. You must adhere to ethical and deontological rules (the ethical and moral rules to be followed in a profession) while practicing your profession. After graduation, maintain your dialogue with your professors and become a member of the OMU Alumni Coordination Office. At OMU, we continue to offer postgraduate education. We are always open to students who want to continue in academia. Revisions in postgraduate education are always needed, and the feedback we receive from our students is essential to us. We have always considered your positive or negative feedback throughout the five years and continued on our path accordingly. A new building for the Veterinary Faculty is being constructed and planned to open in the new academic year. This new building will shape the coming years. I also thank the families who brought you here today and all the faculty professors who prepared our students for the field.”
Veterinary Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü emphasized that the faculty, with its strong academic staff and well-equipped Animal Hospital, is one of the leading faculties in the region and country, stating, “Our faculty ranks in the top 4 among the 31 Veterinary Faculties in Türkiye in terms of preference. Our faculty's academic staff has performed successfully with numerous scientific researches. On the service side, our hospital serves an average of 30,000 patients. Patients come from surrounding provinces, and it serves as the only and most modern hospital in the region. Additionally, according to the protocols made with municipalities, emergency interventions, and treatments are provided for stray animals 24/7.”
Dean Prof. Dr. Tütüncü elaborated on their goals and the new faculty building ready for service: “Our goal is to continuously restructure and improve our institutional quality according to updated VEDEK (Association for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Veterinary Medical Education Programs) and EAEVE (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education) accreditation criteria. With the new faculty building coming into service in the new term, our education quality and scientific productivity will increase, and there will be a new living area between our faculty and Animal Hospital. Additionally, a project-ready 400-square-meter annex building with seven examination rooms will be added to our Animal Hospital to reduce patient waiting times. In the near future, it is planned to establish our Faculty's Education, Research, and Application Farm, where students can stay and follow the breeding processes of farm animals at all stages.”
In the final part of his speech, Prof. Dr. Tütüncü addressed the graduates: “Colleagues, as you enter your profession, continually develop your knowledge and professional experience, be honest and reliable, which should be your fundamental life principles. Alongside your professional achievements, I would like to remind you that considering the daily time spent in the virtual world is 4-5 hours. It is imperative also to spend time with your families and loved ones who are always by your side in the real world. Nothing in your life will ever replace them and the time you spend with them. The most important people in your success are your parents, who support you and are always by your side. I sincerely congratulate them as well. I would also like to thank our Rectorate, all academic and administrative staff who contributed to preparing the graduates and the ceremony, my deputy deans, the organizing committee members, and you. May your path be clear and your life beautiful.”
In her speech at the Graduation Ceremony, Faculty top graduate Kübra Sünter expressed her pride in graduating at the top of her class, saying, “Today, we are experiencing one of the most important days of our lives. We have gone through many challenging exams, had sleepless nights, and experienced days full of sacrifices. The excitement and uncertainty of the early days have turned into knowledge and experience over time. We supported each other in difficult times. The most important things I have learned in this process are patience, time, and empathy. Veterinary medicine is not just a profession, but also a great passion and love. Beyond protecting the health and welfare of animals, I have learned how valuable it is to touch their lives, ease their pain, and share their joy. We exist to keep them alive. Graduating with honors is not just an individual achievement. I am infinitely grateful to my professors, my family, and my fellow graduates who supported me on this journey.”
After her speech, Faculty top graduate Kübra Sünter affixed her plaque to the graduation memory board of the faculty. Then, the protocol members presented gifts to Faculty top graduate Kübra Sünter, second place graduate Zehranur Sevindik, and third place graduate Zehra Demir. During the ceremony, the top-ranked students cut the graduation cake accompanied by Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tütüncü, and then the other graduates received their symbolic diplomas from the Faculty academics. The Veterinary Faculty Graduation Ceremony ended with the students taking the veterinary oath and joyfully throwing their caps into the air.
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