The international symposium on “Health History of Palestine in the Ottoman Era” organized in cooperation with Biruni University, BETİM (Beşikçizade Medical and Human Sciences Center), Esenler Municipality and ISHIM (International Society for the History of Medicine) was held on 12-13 September 2022 at Reyhan Conference Hall of our university.
Many academics from Turkey and abroad attended the symposium. The symposium was organized to encourage research on the health life of Palestine during the Ottoman period, to compile and discuss information. The symposium “Ottoman Period Health Life in Palestine” attracted a lot of attention as it was the first time that the Ottoman period health life in Palestine was brought to the agenda within the framework of an international meeting.
The opening speech of the symposium was delivered by Prof. Dr. Hatice Nil Sarı, Head of the Department of History of Medicine and Ethics at Biruni University Faculty of Medicine. After her speeches, Prof. Dr. Hatice Nil Sarı thanked Esenler Deputy Mayor Dr. Hasan Taşçı on behalf of Mayor of Esenler M. Tevfik Göksu, Dr. Ahmet Özdemir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hayat Health and Social Services Foundation, Prof. Dr. Abdulnaser Kaadan, Professor of Medical History at Weber State University, Dr. Ahmet Özdinç, Lecturer of History of Medicine and Ethics at Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, and E. B. Kanıkey Güvenç Akçay from TÜMATA music group. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özdinç and E. B. Kanıkey Güvenç Akçay, Sertaç Akçay and Bilge Ergin from TÜMATA music group were presented certificates of appreciation.
Speaking at the symposium, Biruni University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa SOLAK said, “The health institutions established in Palestine during the Ottoman Period are among the health topics that have been little researched. I am very happy to take part in and host this important symposium, which will shed light on the health institutions in Jerusalem during the Ottoman period by examining the Ottoman archive documents.” The meeting was co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Nil Sarı from Biruni University and Prof. Dr. Aref Abu-Rabia from Ben-Gurion University.
In the sessions of the symposium, the main topics of research and discussion included health institutions established in Palestine, health policy and laws concerning Palestine, health professionals with and without diplomas practicing medicine in Palestine, relations of the West and Middle Eastern countries with Palestine in the context of health, traditional medical practices in Palestine, medicinal flora and fauna of Palestine, observations of travelers on Palestinian health life, infectious epidemics in Palestine.
After the presentation of certificates of appreciation and opening speeches, the Symposium on “Ottoman Period Health Life in Palestine” continued with the “TÜMATA Musical Treatment Show” on the theme of Music and Movement Treatment Tradition in Turks from Central Asia to the Ottoman Period.
In the concert performed by artists named E.B. Kanıkey, Güvenç Akçay (Çeng, Oud, Vocals), Sertaç Akçay (Bendir, Dombra, Vocals), Bilge Ergin (Vocals, Water sound), Alıp Kil Mina Yaznı, Tansamalım – Seher Yeli, Rast Embroidery Composition – Abdülkadir Meragi, Science is Knowledge – Yunus Emre and Rast Music Therapy Practice were presented.
Within the scope of the symposium program “Health Life in Palestine during the Ottoman Period”, an exhibition titled “Reflection of Ottoman Civilization to the Present with Illumination and Miniature Art” with 33 original works, has been opened on September 12, 2022 at the entrance of Reyhan Building by the Classical Turkish Decorative Arts Workshop affiliated to the I.U Continuing Education Center under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Nil Sarı, the head of the workshop, Jale Yavuz, and the vice president of the workshop, Gaye Özen. The exhibition was opened by Prof. Dr. Sevim Savaşer, Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Hatice Nil Sarı, Head of the Department of History of Medicine and Ethics, Biruni University Faculty of Medicine, and Gaye Özen, Assistant Head of the Classical Turkish Decorative Arts Workshop affiliated to the I.U. Continuing Education Center.
The exhibition includes original works of artists named Alev Niğdeli, Ayşegül Çebi, Bilgi Erman, Demet Moğulkoç, Dilek Kaur, Emel Duan, Gaye Özen, Hamdiye Kanık, İlknur Dayoğlu, Jale Yavuz, Kübra Beşir, Lalehan Günev, Lutfiye Şimşek, Muazzez Ferelioğlu, Nazan Berbercioğlu, Nil Sarı, Nurhan Barutçular.
Opened on September 12, 2022 at the entrance of Biruni University Reyhan Building, the exhibition can be visited for a month.
The sessions of the “Health Life in Palestine during the Ottoman Period” Symposium, which was opened in Reyhan Conference Hall, continued in Reyhan Seminar Hall. In the sessions of the symposium, health institutions established in Palestine, health politics and laws concerning Palestine, diploma and non-diploma health workers practicing medicine in Palestine, relations of the West and Middle Eastern countries with Palestine in the context of health, traditional medicine practices in Palestine, Palestine’s medicinal flora and fauna, observations of travelers about Palestine’s health life, contagious epidemics in Palestine were among the main research and discussion topics.
Prof. Miri Shefer-Mossensohn from Tel Aviv University, Prof. Nadav Davidovitch from Ben-Gurion University, Prof. Mahmoud Yazbak from Haifa University, Dr. Sharif Kaf Al-Ghazal from Leeds University, Prof. Faisal Alnaser, Secretary General of ISHIM and many other academics participated as speakers.
At the end of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Abdul Nasser Kaadan, President of the International Society for the History of Medicine (ISHIM) from the University of Utah, USA, presented an honorary membership certificate to our Rector Prof. Dr. Adnan Yüksel. Our Rector received the certificate of honorary membership from the new President of the International Society for the History of Medicine (ISHIM) Prof. Dr. Hatice Nil Sarı.
The two-day symposium, where many sessions were held, ended in the afternoon of the second day of the program after the participants were given a tour of Haseki and Süleymaniye Hospitals.
