History of the Department of Pediatrics
The Chair of Pediatrics, which first began operations in 1979, continued its activities as the Department of Pediatrics under the Division of Internal Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, following the decision of the Council of Higher Education dated January 15, 1983. Our unit, which initially started its operations in a single corridor at the Chest Diseases Hospital in Samsun City Center, later provided services on various floors of the Adult Hospital after relocating to the Kurupelit Campus. Due to increasing demand, our Department moved to the Children's Hospital in 2006 and currently provides services through its various units, including Neonatal Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, General Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), and Pediatric Emergency.
Pediatrics residency training commenced in 1980, and to date, 292 Pediatrics Specialists have been trained. A total of 18 subspecialty units (16 active) have been established under our Department, and 66 subspecialty residents have completed their training in these units to date.
Current Academic Staff
Our Department has 23 faculty members: 14 Professors, 4 Associate Professors, and 5 Assistant Professors. Educational activities, research, and patient care services are carried out by a total of 59 academic staff members, including 15 subspecialty residents and 21 main specialty residents across various subspecialties.
Heads of the Department
Faculty Members who have served as Head of the Department to date:
- Prof. Dr. Kamil TANYER (1979-1980)
- Prof. Dr. Sabri ACAR (1981-1984)
- Prof. Dr. Yaşar ANLAR (1984-1985)
- Prof. Dr. Arman BİLGİÇ (1985-1988)
- Prof. Dr. Nuran GÜRSES (1988-1997)
- Prof. Dr. Şükrü KÜÇÜKÖDÜK (1997-2003)
- Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kemal BAYSAL (2003-2012)
- Prof. Dr. Ayhan DAĞDEMİR (2012 – 2024)
- Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ali AKIN (2024 – Currently serving)
Department Goals
As the Department of Pediatrics, our goal is to train physicians and specialist physicians who possess high levels of knowledge, skills, and communication ability, can make accurate and prompt decisions, constantly update themselves, are aware of national and international health problems, and have acquired the skills to produce solutions for them. Furthermore, we aim to contribute to national and international literature through research activities and to provide healthcare services in our country at the highest scientific level and international quality.
Outpatient Clinics
Pediatric Emergency, General Pediatrics, Social Pediatrics, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Genetics, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric Immunology-Allergy, Pediatric Nephrology, Neonatology, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
Clinical Services
Our patients are served in the following areas: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, General Pediatric Ward, Pediatric Emergency Service, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Ward, Pediatric BMT Unit, Video EEG Monitoring, and Day Clinic/Service.
Our hospital has a Pediatric Genetics Laboratory, Pediatric Endoscopy Laboratory, and an Allergy Laboratory. In the Allergy laboratory, sweat tests, skin prick tests, and pulmonary function tests are conducted. Furthermore, our hospital has a 24-hour video EEG monitoring unit, and Sleep-Wake EEG recording unit. The Saadettin-Vasfi Baysal Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Center, established within the Children's Hospital, has been operational since February 2009.
In the Pediatric Cardiology department, procedures such as PDA closure, ASD closure, valvuloplasty, stenting, atrial septostomy, and all hemodynamic and angiocardiographic interventions can be performed. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases can be established through fetal echocardiography. Clinical genetic practices are performed in the Pediatric Genetics department, and clinical diagnosis is supported by detailed laboratory tests. Prenatal diagnosis is established by examining cordocentesis and amniocentesis materials, and genetic counseling services are provided to families. Cytogenetic analyses are frequently used in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of cancer patients. To support children's education, learning, and social skills, there is 1 hospital school and 2 play and activity rooms.