Diyarbakır Atatürk School of Health was established under Dicle University by the Council of Ministers' decision published in the Official Gazette dated November 2, 1996, and numbered 22805. In accordance with the protocol signed between the Ministry of Health and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), it commenced its educational activities by admitting its first cohort of students to the Department of Nursing in 1997.
With the opening of the Health Officer Department in the 1999-2000 academic year, the school continued its operations under two separate departments: Nursing and Health Officer. However, following the closure of Health Officer departments nationwide due to the Nursing Law that came into effect in 2007, co-educational (mixed-gender) student admission was introduced starting from the 2007-2008 academic year. Our School carried out its educational activities in the building of the Faculty of Dentistry between 2001 and 2013. Subsequently, it relocated to the old Faculty of Letters building located behind the Faculty of Science, continuing its operations there alongside the Faculty of Pharmacy until January 30, 2023. After this date, it moved to the newly allocated old Faculty of Law building.
The Nursing Degree Completion (HELİTAM) distance education program was established under Law No. 6569 adopted on November 19, 2014, published in the Official Gazette dated November 26, 2014, and numbered 29187, and in accordance with the letter of the Presidency of the Higher Education Council dated August 21, 2015, and numbered 75850160-301.01.02/47918. Since 2018, this program has transitioned into formal (face-to-face) education. By the decision of the Council of Higher Education, Department of Education and Training, dated April 15, 2021, and numbered 27906, the Departments of Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation were established within our School in addition to the Department of Nursing.
By the Council of Higher Education decision dated April 20, 2021, and numbered 62646, Master’s Programs with Thesis in Medical Nursing and Women's Health and Diseases Nursing were launched within the Graduate School of Health Sciences under our School's Department of Nursing. In accordance with the letter of the Council of Higher Education, Department of Education and Training, dated January 9, 2022, and numbered E-75850160-101.02.01-472, and the annex of the Presidential Decree dated March 3, 2022, and numbered 5252, Dicle University Atatürk School of Health was closed and replaced by the Atatürk Faculty of Health Sciences, with all existing departments transferred to the faculty.
Our faculty classrooms are supported by computers, sound systems, smart boards, and projector systems. Furthermore, there is a professional skills and simulation laboratory equipped with up-to-date technological tools where our students can develop their professional competencies.
Throughout their education, and in line with their curricula, our students conduct practical applications and clinical studies under the supervision of faculty members during the semesters at Dicle University Hospitals (Dicle University Research Hospital, Oncology Hospital, Children's Hospital, Heart Hospital), Selahaddin Eyyübi State Hospital, Maternity and Children's Diseases Hospital, and Family Health Centers.
The educational program conducted at our faculty aims to ensure that students graduate as proactive nurses and dietitians who possess a holistic and humanistic philosophy, communicate effectively, adapt well to teamwork, remain open to continuous change, utilize new technologies to raise quality, and access new information. In addition to core health courses that provide the knowledge and skills to improve, protect, treat, and rehabilitate human and public health, this program also includes social sciences courses.