Department of Chest Diseases

The Diyarbakır Faculty of Medicine was opened in the 1966-67 academic year as affiliated with Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. The Diyarbakır Faculty of Medicine moved to Diyarbakır in 1969. In 1970, 5 residents were admitted to the Chest Diseases department and specialty training began to be provided. The specialty training began to be provided by Prof. Dr. Selahattin YAZICIOĞLU—who at the same time served as the chief physician of the hospital—and by Senior Colonel Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemal BALCI, retired from GATA (Gülhane Military Medical Academy). Until 1981, specialty training was conducted at the Diyarbakır Chest Diseases Hospital. When the new training and research hospital became operational in 1981, the Chest Diseases Department of Dicle University Faculty of Medicine (DÜTF) moved to the campus. Prof. Dr. Selahattin YAZICIOĞLU retired in 1982. Between 1988 and 1992, the headship of the Division of Chest Diseases was held by Prof. Dr. Recep IŞIK. In 1992, the Chest Diseases Department separated from Internal Medicine and was transformed into a Department headship. Between 1992 and 2004 the department headship was held by Prof. Dr. Mehmet COŞKUNSEL. Since 2004 the position of Head of the Department was held by Prof. Dr. Füsun TOPÇU; the position of Head of the Department is held by Prof. Dr. Gökhan KIRBAŞ. As of 2010, the education and training activities in the Department of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis are provided by 10 faculty members. Our department has a total bed capacity of 55, comprising 8 specific tuberculosis, 4 sleep disorder, 9 intensive care and 34 other beds. Within our Department, there are;

• 1- Video fiberoptic bronchoscopy unit
• 2- Pulmonary function laboratory
• 3- Thoracic ultrasound and pleural procedures room
• 4- Respiratory intensive care unit (established in 2006 and serving with 9 intensive care beds)
• 5- Sleep disorders center (established in 2004 with 4 beds and currently 2 beds are actively serving)
• 6- Chest diseases and TB outpatient clinic
• 7- Smoking cessation outpatient clinic.

An average of 50 patients are provided with outpatient services daily.