[Stranger in Turkey]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Medical Education
• Sociology of Medicine

Context:

• A seven-year academic and cultural immersion in Turkey.
• Experience at Ege University, Izmir, a "western" Turkish city.
• Integration into Turkish society and exploration of its culture.

Purpose:

• To share observations on cultural integration and academic experiences in Turkey.
• To reflect on the challenges and rewards of working within a different educational system.
• To analyze the impact of fostering critical thinking and self-reliance in medical education.

Summary:

• The author, a nephrology professor, details his seven-year stay in Turkey, focusing on cultural integration and academic work at Ege University.
• He observed and worked to cultivate critical thinking and self-reliance among younger medical professionals, despite cultural differences in educational approaches.
• His experiences highlight the positive reception of foreign professionals in Turkey and reflections on the commercialization of medicine.

Impact:

• Demonstrates the value of cross-cultural exchange in academic and medical fields.
• Suggests that fostering critical thinking can be beneficial even in authority-based educational systems.
• Highlights the positive perception of foreign workers in Turkey compared to the Netherlands.