The traditional “White Coat Ceremony” for new students of the Faculty of Medicine at Manisa Celal Bayar University (MCBÜ) for the 2025-2026 academic year was held with great participation at the Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center.

The ceremony was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oktay Üçer, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Artuner Deveci, Manisa Provincial Health Director Opr. Dr. Mehmet Fatih Zeren, Chief Physician of Hafsa Sultan Hospital Prof. Dr. İsmet Topçu, deans, faculty members, students, and their families.

The program began with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem. In her speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar emphasized the meaning of the white coat, stating:

"The white coat represents cleanliness, purity, and trust, and it is also a symbol of the great responsibility that the medical profession carries. Today, we welcome 260 new students to the Faculty of Medicine at Manisa Celal Bayar University and will help them put on their white coats, marking the first step on their journey to becoming physicians. Dear students, being a doctor is not only about treating the person in front of you; it is about listening, trying to understand, and, most importantly, approaching them with a smile. This is a crucial part of treatment."

Rector Kibar highlighted the university’s strong presence in healthcare, stating:

*"One of the greatest advantages of our Faculty of Medicine is its extensive practical training opportunities. Our unique tertiary care and research hospital in Manisa provides students with unparalleled experience, preparing them to graduate as competent and skilled physicians.

Dear students, today you take pride in being part of Manisa Celal Bayar University and step into the medical profession. Six years from now, each of you will become a specialized and well-equipped physician, fulfilling Atatürk’s words: ‘Entrust me to Turkish doctors,’ and joining the Turkish healthcare system. We are descendants of an ancestry that believed ‘Let the people live so that the state may live.’ I believe you will graduate with this sense of responsibility. Once again, welcome to our university, and I wish you success in your profession."*

During the ceremony, the first-year medical students were assisted in putting on their white coats by Rector Prof. Dr. Rana Kibar and faculty members. The students experienced the pride and excitement of wearing their white coats in front of their families.