The 9th Malatya-Giessen Transplantation Days Congress Was Held
- The 9th Malatya-Giessen Transplantation Days Congress Was Held
The 9th Malatya-Giessen Transplantation Days Congress, hosted by İnönü University and prepared in cooperation with Germany's Giessen University, was held at the Turgut Özal Congress and Culture Center. Health Minister Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu took part in the congress by teleconference.
Attending the congress, which addressed cross liver transplants, were Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ankara Frank Kammerer, İnönü University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kızılay, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Nusret Akpolat, Giessen University Vice President Prof. Dr. Martin Kramer, Turkish-German Health Foundation President Prof. Dr. Yaşar Bilgin, Faculty of Medicine Dean Ali Beytur, Liver Transplant Institute Director Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz, Turgut Özal Medical Center Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Adil Başkıran, Boston University faculty members Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Utku Ünver, Turkish Journalists Association President Vahap Munyar, Malatya Provincial Health Director Assist. Prof. Dr. Erhan Berk, Prof. Dr. Ali Canbay, a doctor at the Universitätsklinikum Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum clinic, Dr. Fatih Kacıroğlu, Head of the Tissue, Organ Transplant and Dialysis Services Department of the General Directorate of Health Services, academics, Turkish, German and Kyrgyz doctors, and recovered patients.
"We Are Among the World's Top Five Countries in Transplantation"
Health Minister Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, who took part in the opening by teleconference, said Türkiye is successful in organ transplantation and is among the few countries in the world in terms of healthcare infrastructure and manpower.
Saying that one of Türkiye's most advanced organ transplant institutes with the most outstanding features has been established in Malatya, Memişoğlu said: "On behalf of my country, I thank all my colleagues who make up one of the world's few centers, established with great devotion and effort. With 76 kidney, 52 liver, 15 heart and 2 lung transplant centers and an average of 5 thousand transplants a year, we are among the top five countries in the world with our ability in transplantation."
Stating that one of their biggest goals is to increase cadaveric transplantation from organ donation, Minister Memişoğlu said they would crown organ transplantation, one of the most important brand values of the health system, with cadaveric donation. Underlining that they attach great importance to society embracing cadaveric organ transplantation, Memişoğlu conveyed his thanks to all organ donors and their families who feel the empathy to save the lives of other people.
Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz, who began his speech by thanking the participants and everyone who contributed, talked about İnönü University's liver transplant adventure. Evaluating liver transplants over the years, Yılmaz drew attention to the fact that mostly one fifth of all liver transplants in Türkiye are performed in Malatya. Touching on the historical course of the Liver Transplant Institute, Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz described the point Türkiye has reached in liver transplantation. Continuing his speech, Yılmaz said: "İnönü University has a very modern campus. With Turgut Özal Medical Center, the Liver Transplant Institute, the Liver Transplant Hospital and the Oncology Hospital, it truly has extremely modern healthcare complexes."
Saying that there are various criteria that began with the Milan criteria and have been defined by more than fifty centers worldwide, Prof. Dr. Yılmaz referred to a study carried out at the Liver Transplant Institute. He stated that the Malatya criteria that emerged as a result of this study are a standard recognized worldwide today. Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz then said that Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez, an economics professor, came to them with a study, and described how cross liver transplants began.
Yılmaz said that, as a result of their successes in cross liver transplants, they now provide liver transplant training to many provinces of Türkiye and to more than thirty countries. Describing the Institute's achievements, Yılmaz said that on 2 July they performed a world-first seven-way cross transplant operation involving 14 people in total, 7 patients and 7 living liver donors (donors), all of whom are in good health. Saying that Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kızılay holds a special place because he has never withheld his support from the very beginning of the process, Yılmaz said that even when his term ends he will always remain in their hearts as the honorary rector of İnönü University. At the end of his speech, Yılmaz thanked those who supported the process, the Ministry of Health Organ Transplant Department and his colleagues.
Speaking after Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz, Turkish-German Foundation Founding President Prof. Dr. Yaşar Bilgin said that thanks to the cooperation that began 14 years ago, İnönü University has become a sister university of Giessen University. Stating that people need such pictures of friendship, Bilgin emphasized that this meeting would contribute to more scientific activities and stronger friendships.
Turkish Journalists Association President Vahap Munyar said in his speech: "I congratulate Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kızılay and Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz for understanding and successfully putting into practice the formulas of Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Utku Ünver. This is truly a tremendous success story. It makes it possible to save people's lives faster."
Speaking after Vahap Munyar, Giessen University Vice President Prof. Dr. Martin Kramer noted that exchange between Turkish and German universities, especially in medicine, is extremely important. Kramer said that İnönü University not only educates young people but also trains the researchers and scientists of the future. Stating that one of the most important tasks of universities is to shape the future, Kramer emphasized that he believes this work will enable different and important steps to be taken in the future.
Col. Frank Kammerer, Military Attaché of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, began his speech by thanking for the invitation and touched on the importance of health. Colonel Kammerer said that when people are healthy they cannot grasp the meaning of illness and chase careers, jobs and salaries, but when they fall ill they realize how valuable health is. Emphasizing that they understood how important health is during the earthquake, Kammerer said they were happy to have been able to support Türkiye.
"We Broke New Ground in the World in Cross Liver Transplantation"
Speaking after Col. Frank Kammerer, İnönü University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kızılay said that the congresses that have become a tradition between the two universities form not only a scientific discussion platform but also a platform where friendships are strengthened. Underlining that the theme of the congress is cross liver transplantation, Rector Kızılay said: "İnönü University Liver Transplant Institute and Turgut Özal Medical Center have broken new ground in the world in cross liver transplantation. Most recently, with the seven-way cross liver transplant, our team has once again been written into world transplant history in golden letters. I sincerely thank our esteemed scientists Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Utku Ünver, who prepared and supported the 'Banu Bedestenci Sönmez Cross Liver Transplant' program in cross liver transplantation."
Rector Kızılay said they have taken on a pioneering role worldwide not only in transplant operations but also with the education they provide, the research they conduct and their innovative work. Rector Kızılay continued his speech as follows:
"Liver transplantation started in our university hospital in 2002. In 2019 we showed the world that our center was ready for cross liver transplants by performing 5 simultaneous transplants. In the last two years, with 128 cross liver transplants, we have proven that we are the world's most important, number one transplant center. This success is the result of cooperation and exceptional effort. I thank very much our esteemed friend Vahap Munyar, witness to this process with his writings and visits, who has always supported us and with whom we first share important developments, for his support to liver transplantation and the cross liver transplant process."
At the end of his speech, Rector Kızılay conveyed his get-well wishes to Turkish-German Foundation Vice President Rafet Solak, who could not attend the congress because of illness.
Speaking last, CHP Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba stressed that Malatya is one of Türkiye's most beautiful cities with its natural beauty and cultural assets. Saying that Malatya has gained a new brand together with the Liver Transplant Institute, Ağbaba congratulated Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz and his team.
After the speeches, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Utku Ünver were awarded honorary doctorate titles of İnönü University by Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kızılay.
After the presentation of the certificates, Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Utku Ünver met with the patients who recovered through the seven-way cross liver transplant and a group photo was taken.
After the opening, the congress was held in 2 sessions in the afternoon with a total of six papers presented, with expert scientists from Germany and Türkiye taking part. After the presentations, questions and answers were discussed.
On the second day of the congress, the guests from Germany were taken on a trip to Sultansuyu Stud Farm, Arslantepe Mound and Mount Nemrut with the contribution of the Malatya Provincial Directorate of Tourism and Culture.