Why Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine?

About Our Faculty

We are extremely happy to welcome you, as valuable future physicians, to the Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine family. Welcome to the honorable and rewarding profession of medicine, which requires effort and dedication. We wish you success both in your education and your career as physicians.

A Brief History of Our Faculty

Our faculty is one of the 9 faculties of Maltepe University, which has more than 10,000 students. Since its establishment in 1997 by the Istanbul Marmara Education Foundation, a Turkish-language program has been offered, and in 2013, an English-language program was added. Our faculty has been awarded the "Diploma Supplement Label" by the European Commission and is a member of the European Universities Association: http://ects.maltepe.edu.tr/tip/

Education at Our Faculty

The 6-year curriculum at our faculty is divided into pre-clinical (Phase I) and clinical education (Phase II), each lasting three years. Each academic year is referred to as a "term," which consists of lecture blocks and internships.

The curriculum is based on the National Core Education Program (NCEP), with additions made in alignment with the faculty's goals and strategic plans. It is reviewed annually and updated based on new scientific data.

The curriculum for each phase is summarized as follows:

A. Pre-Clinical Education: The first three years of medical education, focused on laboratory-based and institutional learning.

• Term 1: The primary goal of this term is to introduce the structure and function of the human body. Subjects such as anatomy, histology, embryology, medical biology, biophysics, medical biochemistry, and physiology are covered. At the start of this term, you will undergo an "orientation training" for one week to adjust to the medical program and our faculty. You will also study medical history, human behavior, mental structure, bio-statistics for research, and attend early clinical practice sessions at the university's hospitals.

• Term 2: Continuing with the study of normal body functions from the previous term, this phase introduces the causes of diseases, the body’s defense mechanisms, and the mechanisms of drug actions, covered in microbiology, pathology, and medical pharmacology.

• Term 3: In this term, you will focus on diseases according to body systems, diagnosis, and treatment methods. You will also study environmental factors that affect public health, forensic medicine responsibilities, and ethical issues in medical practice.

B. Clinical Education (Phase II): The last three years focus on clinical internships, with a practical approach.

• Term 4: You will intern in pediatrics, internal medicine, cardiology, general surgery, obstetrics, and gynecology clinics.

• Term 5: You will continue clinical internships in medical specialties outside of those covered in the previous term, including respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, neurology, dermatology, psychiatry, radiology, clinical pharmacology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, ENT, ophthalmology, urology, orthopedics and trauma, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, anesthesia and reanimation, and forensic medicine.

• Term 6 (Family Medicine Internship): In the final year, known as the "Internship-Family Medicine" period, you will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned during the first five years. As an intern, you will work in eight medical fields and strengthen your knowledge and abilities. These include pediatrics, internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics, and emergency medicine. You will also have the opportunity to work in a clinical field of your choice and gain experience in health services outside the hospital during your public health internship.

Integration between Phase I (Pre-Clinical) and Phase II (Clinical) education is achieved through both horizontal and vertical learning models. In the pre-clinical period, "Introduction to Clinical Practice" courses spread across the term help prepare you for clinical settings through simulated patient interactions and procedural practices.

Elective Courses

In addition to training skilled physicians, we aim to prepare individuals who can stand out in various fields in the future. Therefore, elective courses are offered in cooperation with the School of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Fine Arts, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Examples of available electives include Latin, Russian, human rights, communication psychology, and interdisciplinary arts.

English Education

In the Turkish medical program, students receive medical English education during the first three years, preparing them for scientific publications and exams. In the English medical program, the medium of instruction is 100% English. In the Turkish program, English preparation is optional, while in the English program, a preparatory year is mandatory unless the student passes the English proficiency exam.

Advising (Mentorship)

Each student who enrolls in our faculty is assigned a faculty member as their advisor-mentor. The list of advisors is updated each academic year and made available to students. Students can discuss educational, university life-related, and personal matters with their advisors to find solutions.

Rules

The rules for education, exams, course success, disciplinary issues, fee payments, registration processes, and other matters are clearly outlined in the regulations and guidelines on the Faculty of Medicine website. All students are expected to familiarize themselves with these rules and follow them when they begin their studies.

Social, Cultural, Artistic, and Sports Opportunities

Our university provides students with opportunities and environments to explore their interests and abilities outside of academic work. Students participate in social, cultural, and sports activities through nearly 50 student clubs.

Each year, the Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine hosts an International Medical Students' Congress.

Sports facilities available to students include:

• Outdoor and indoor sports facilities
• Ice skating rink
• 6 Tennis courts
• Olympic swimming pool
• 2 Tennis exercise walls
• Step and aerobic rooms
• 3 Basketball courts
• Fitness center
• Large football field
• Basketball and volleyball courts
• 2 Medium-sized football fields
• 2 Squash courts
• 2 Small football fields
• Athletics track
• Hammer, shot put, high jump, long jump

Post-Graduation

Graduates with a medical degree from a faculty of medicine earn the title of "General Practitioner." After graduation, the following apply:

• According to current laws, every graduate must serve between 300-600 days of state service as appointed by the Ministry of Health. Those who begin specialization training after the Medical Specialty Examination (TUS) will have their service obligation deferred.

• The Medical Specialty Examination (TUS) is a preference and ranking exam held twice a year by OSYM. Based on this exam, physicians are selected to study in a university or training and research hospital for a specified period, earning the right to become specialists. Specialists also have a 2-year state service obligation.

• Another option for physicians is to pursue a "Master's" (MS) or "Doctorate" (PhD) in medicine or a related field.

• Physicians may work in public or private health institutions, clinics with or without beds, in management positions in centers or rural areas, or in universities as educators. They may also work in fields related to medicine, such as in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, as technical staff, consultants, managers, or educators.

It is important to know that the diploma you receive upon graduation is just an authorization certificate that allows you to practice medicine. A diploma does not mean the end of your education. Medicine is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field, and medical education begins the day you enter medical school and continues throughout your life. Our faculty will continue to support you after graduation.

The Profession of Medicine

Physicians should not be seen solely as individuals who examine and treat patients. The fundamental responsibility of physicians is to prevent diseases and ensure that people can live long, healthy, and quality lives. Health services, which are a broad and technical field that no one profession can handle alone, can only be delivered through a team of professionals who complement each other’s knowledge, skills, authorities, and responsibilities for the same goal. Physicians are often key members of this team.

According to the World Health Organization's definition of the "five-star physician," a physician should take a holistic approach to patient care, provide high-quality care, make ethical decisions about technology use, communicate effectively with people to protect and promote their health, gain the trust of colleagues and patients, act as a mediator for individual and societal needs, initiate public health interventions, and develop programs to improve the health levels of individuals and communities based on data evaluation.

Our faculty’s main aim is to train physicians with these qualities.

The Universal Qualities of a Good Physician

Anyone can graduate from medical school, but not everyone becomes a good physician. A good physician is expected to have certain qualities that distinguish them from other professionals:

• Trustworthy
• Calming
• Honest
• Cool-headed
• Knowledgeable
• Accessible
• Hardworking
• Clear in communication
• Compassionate
• Patient
• Non-discriminatory
• Well-groomed
• Conscientious
• Cultured
• Altruistic
• Empathetic
• Smiling
• Evidence-based
• Polite
• Curious
• Respectful
• Committed to science
• Humble
• Continuously improving
• Selfless
• Team-oriented
• Tolerant
• A role model for society