Dr. Pelin Kuzucu, who is 32 years old, received the Young Neurosurgeon Encouragement Award, given for the first time this year in the name of Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil, who is called the Neurosurgeon of the Century. Dr. Kuzucu, who received her award from Prof. Dr. Yaşargil, stated, “I am very proud and happy. My motivation increased with this award. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but thanks to this award, my speed increased 3 times.”

The award, which was given by Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery on the 6th of July, the birthday of Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil, in order to support and encourage studies in the field of 'Microneurosurgery and Microsurgery Anatomy', was presented in a special night hosted by Prof. Dr. Hatice Türe and Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe in honor of the new age of Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil.
The night was attended by İSTEK Foundation and Yeditepe University Founding Honorary President Bedrettin Dalan, Yeditepe University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Yusuf Akgün, Yeditepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Canan Aykut Bingöl and her husband, Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil and his wife, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe and his wife, Anesthesiology Reanimation Specialist Prof. Dr. Hatice Türe, Medical Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan, Medical Coordinator Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Keleştemur, Yeditepe University Kosuyolu Hospital Head Physician Prof. Dr. Faruk Yencilek, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Head Physician Prof. Dr. Aynur Eren Topkaya, Deputy Head Physicians and many distinguished guests.

A Special Stamp Was Issued In the Name of Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil On His Birthday 

The stamp, specially issued by PTT in the name of Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil, was presented to the guests at the event. Hoca's birthday cake was decorated with stamps issued in his name. In addition to Dr. Pelin Kuzucu, a graduate of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, who was deemed worthy of the encouragement award, Dr. Enes Gürses from Hacettepe University and Dr. Emrah Çeltikçi from Gazi University were deemed worthy of special awards. Presenting the award to young surgeons personally, Prof. Dr. Yaşargil advised them to work tirelessly.  

Prof. Dr. Yaşargil: “If You Are Determined and Honest, Opportunities Appear Everywhere”

Speaking at the award ceremony, Prof. Dr. Gazi Yaşargil said, “This invitation is a unique event for me. I am so happy. I have lived abroad for almost 70 years. If a person is determined, others will see him. People I did not know helped me everywhere. It is not easy in the beginning, but if you are determined, honest, and work continuously, doors will open for you everywhere. While I was working with longing for Turkey, I always thought of my country and my nation.” 

Bedrettin Dalan: “I have never seen such a humble scientist in my life as Gazi Hoca!”

Saying that two faculties touch people and these are Medicine and Law, Bedrettin Dalan continued his words as follows: “As a Foundation University, we established the first Faculties of Medicine and Law. Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe is my spiritual son. We wanted him to come to us from Samsun very much. He was a little hesitant at first, but I said I would do whatever he wanted. I kept my promise, I built an operating room with all kinds of possibilities. You can find the machine, but finding the right person is hard work. Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe, Head of our Department of Neurosurgery, is a credit to Gazi Hoca. This encouragement award was organized by Uğur Hoca. Gazi Hoca has contributed to many doctors. I have never seen such a humble scientist in my life as Gazi Yaşargil. As a Turk, I especially thank him for all the doctors he trained. I always say, 'A person dies when the last person who remembers him dies'. Here, Gazi Yaşargil will never die. The doctors trained by Yaşargil also train others.” 

Candidates Under 40 Who Have Made Scientific Publications in 2021 Applied

Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe, who gave information about the details of the competition, used the following statements: “Today is the birthday of Gazi Hoca. May Allah give him a long life and keep him safe. PTT issued a special commemorative stamp for Hoca. You will see it for the first time today. We will also present Gazi Yaşargil Young Neurosurgeon Encouragement Award for the first time. We thought that this award should be given to a neurosurgeon younger than 40 years old. We prepared this award for a Turkish doctor who made scientific publications in the field of Microneurosurgery last year. An independent jury evaluated applications. Here today we are hosting our winning friend. In addition, the articles of our friends who came in second got very close points to each other. We have two-second contestants. Our friends are here to meet Hoca and receive their awards. We will continue to give this award every year.”

Dr. Pelin Kuzucu: I am So Happy, and Still in Shock

Dr. Kuzucu stated, “I am enormously proud and happy. In this competition, which was organized in the name of Gazi Yaşargil Hoca, there is no way to describe receiving an award on Hoca's birthday and from his hand. I graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 2020. I will start working as a lecturer at Yıldırım Beyazıt University. I am happy to receive such an award as a woman on the way paved by Atatürk. With the award, my motivation increased, and my speed on the road I will cover increased 3 times. Hearing that I was going to receive an award, regardless of whether I knew them or not, everyone called and congratulated me. It is like a dream to receive an award from the hands of Gazi Yaşargil. My family is also incredibly happy and proud. I couldn't believe it when I first heard I won, I'm still in shock.”
Dr. Kuzucu also used the following statements about her work that enabled her to win the competition: “There is a center in the brain called the hypothalamus where vital functions are managed. In this center, we did anatomical dissection studies on nuclei and pathways coming here from the brain stem. According to the results of the study, we tried to show the excitability of nuclei with deep brain stimulation surgery. We aimed to help treat different ailments by using currently unused pathways and nuclei. Our study was published in the international journal named SCI Operative Neurosurgery in 2021.”

Who is Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil?

He was born in 1925 in Lice town of Diyarbakır, where his father was the district governor. Yaşargil, the founder of microneurosurgery, discovered new methods in the treatment of epilepsy and brain tumors. He served as the first physician, head physician, and later the head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Zurich Hospital. He was named the 'Neurosurgeon of the Century' at the Traditional Congress of Neurological Surgeons in 1999. Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yaşargil has been continuing his surgical studies, lectures, conferences, laboratory studies, and professional publications in the Yeditepe University Department of Neurosurgery since 2013.