History of the Department

Our Department was established in 1969 as the "Chair of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine". After Prof. Dr. Özdemir Gülesen joined the chair in 1970, it took the name "Department of Public Health" in 1972. Eighteen public health specialists working in various institutions in our country received their specialty training from our Department. In addition, 6 people have completed a doctorate in public health and 8 people their master's degree. Prof. Dr. Ersen İLÇİN, who became Head of the Department in 1979, retired in 2007. In 2007 the headship of the department was held by Prof. Dr. Perran TOKSÖZ; it is currently held by Prof. Dr. Günay SAKA.

Department's Purpose of Activity

The purpose of our Department's activity is: to graduate from Dicle University Faculty of Medicine general practitioners equipped with knowledge and skills in the philosophy and practices of public health; to train, in public health and its subspecialties, specialists (medical specialty, MSc, PhD) who know the community and the region, are aware of health problems and can produce solution proposals; to take part in efforts aimed at improving the health level and quality of life of the community; and to contribute to the development of the science of public health in Türkiye.

Fields of Work and Scientific Activities

The faculty members of the Department of Public Health serve in the academic and administrative units of Dicle University. Public Health courses are given at the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Health, the Institute of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Dentistry.

Research and Development

In our department, graduation theses and research are conducted during Medical Specialty Training and Master's and Doctoral education. The results of this research are presented as papers at national and international scientific meetings and published as articles in scientific journals. Consultancy is provided for thesis studies and research conducted within the University at the planning, implementation and analysis stages.

Practice and Service

The department's faculty members actively participate in the technical and educational work of the provincial organizations of ministries such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Tourism; they provide technical consultancy on subjects within their field and prepare reports. The department's faculty members and staff take part directly in regional and national disaster and epidemic response teams. The department's staff are regarded in Diyarbakır as the first point of reference for many public institutions, professional organizations and NGOs on public health issues, and the expertise of our department's faculty members is consulted through the Rectorate of our University.

Department Mission

To graduate from Dicle University Faculty of Medicine general practitioners equipped with knowledge and skills in the philosophy and practices of public health; to train, in public health and its subspecialties, specialists (medical specialty, MSc, PhD) who know the community and the region, are aware of health problems and can produce solution proposals; to take part in efforts aimed at improving the health level and quality of life of the community; and to contribute to the development of the science of public health in Türkiye.

Department Vision

To be an effective institution at the regional, national and international level in public health education and field studies.