In an effort to raise awareness during the 3-9 November Organ Donation Week, a conference was organized in collaboration with the Samsun Provincial Health Directorate and Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Health Sciences Social Work Department. 

The conference, held in the Faculty of Health Sciences' conference hall, was attended by OMU Vice Rector and Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, Samsun Provincial Health Directorate Organ and Tissue Transplantation Regional Coordinator Physician Dr. Mehmet Kazak, along with academicians and students.

Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, "We should control situations such as smoking, alcohol, and environmental factors and not damage our organs."

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi emphasized the importance of maintaining good health habits to protect our organs. "As a faculty of medicine academician, I am acutely aware of the significance of this issue. From birth, it is crucial to protect our health and avoid illnesses. This is especially important for mothers from the onset of pregnancy. While primary interventions are possible for some organs, it's vital to carefully safeguard organs like the kidneys, heart, and liver. We should control factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and environmental influences to prevent organ damage."

"Türkiye Has Made Rapid Progress in Organ Transplantation"

Speaking on the state of organ transplantation in Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Terzi noted, "Türkiye has experienced rapid advancements in organ transplantation. For instance, if a suitable organ in Diyarbakır is identified for a patient awaiting a liver transplant in Trabzon, it can be transported swiftly. Thanks to improvements in quality and accessibility, the number of organ transplant patients is on the rise. To further this progress, we place great importance on organ donation."

The conference concluded with a presentation by Dr. Mehmet Kazak, who also addressed questions from the students.