The following thanksgiving speech given by Dr. Tayfun Aybek at the traditional inaugural lecture ceremony as an Associate Professor of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, has been translated into English from German.

At this ceremony held in the largest auditorium of the faculty, after a 45-minute lecture, the Dean of the Faculty presents the diploma and dons the academic gown to the Associate Professor. Then the Associate Professor delivers the traditional thanksgiving speech.

“I express my infinite gratitude to my dear parents who brought me into this world, shaping me from a vulnerable and dependent baby into a virtuous individual, sharing all my joys and pains, supporting me in every aspect I needed, instilling in me the virtues of responsibility, sacrifice, sensitivity, and the art of loving people, and paving all the paths for progress along my journey. The cherished personalities who bid me farewell as they sent me off to university with the advice, ‘Son, as you climb the ladder of your career, always strive to remain humble,’ will always have a special place above my head.

“I thank all my teachers who raised me from elementary school, for their patience and sacrifices, for planting the initial seeds of modern education and scientific thinking in me, for nurturing me socially to become tolerant, helpful, patriotic, and humanistic, and for enabling me to embark on life under the light of the logic they imparted.

“I am particularly grateful to my professors at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty for providing me with a high-quality higher education, for equipping me with medical knowledge and skills competitive even in advanced foreign countries, for facilitating and encouraging my international contacts to enhance my professional experience, and for teaching me scientific rigor and objectivity, enabling me to find the most rational answers even in the most controversial issues. The education I received through your guidance did not only pertain to medicine; your teachings were about life philosophy and perspectives. I am grateful for teaching me how to combat dogmas in every field and place.

“I extend my gratitude to all my teachers at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, especially to Prof. Dr. Anton Moritz, the Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, for providing me with excellent surgical training, for their invaluable knowledge imparted regardless of race, ideology, or origin. The individuals now imbued with your experiences will work tirelessly day and night to heal many patients, and they will pass on these experiences to future generations by adapting to the development of the era with scientific rigor. Rest assured that you are individuals who will be remembered and revered at every surgical step, every day.

“I thank my closest life companion, my right-hand man, Dr. Selami Doğan, not just as a mere colleague who supported me in all my scientific endeavors and projects, but as my dearest life friend. The studies we conducted together became articles in some of the world’s most prestigious journals, the projects we designed together yielded results, and they brought healing to our patients. We have utilized each other’s complementary elements very well, and we will continue on this path.

“To all my other assistant colleagues… (addresses each one by name)… and then to the surgical, intensive care, and ward nursing teams… for tirelessly treating and protecting my patients day and night… Having a successful and selfless nursing team integrated with surgery is what defines successful heart surgery. I commend you for your tireless perseverance… My heartfelt thanks to all of you…

“Distinguished guests, I would like to express my gratitude to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk! It was through him that I first understood how different science and logic were from clichéd truths and supposedly absolute dogmas, what realism truly meant. Despite the ‘uniformity’ around, I felt what it meant to generate ideas alone and present them to the masses, and even experienced what it meant to be alone in such situations. After the question ‘Why not?’ I felt his stubborn diligence, which made the impossible possible, with the signature he left in history. Thanks to him, as a Turkish citizen, I was quickly integrated, considering human values, both in Europe and America, and eventually earned respect everywhere. Thanks to him, I am proud to be Turkish, and today I can openly say it here with my head held high. Perhaps for many, he is ‘just’ a war hero and statesman, but I am among the descendants who understand him.

“My dear son, do not think that I have forgotten you amidst this heavy workload. I know that even at the age of three, you perceive everything happening around you. I know I have left you alone very often with the excuse ‘Dad is going to heal sick people,’ and I had to interrupt our games. I’m sorry… Thank you for allowing me to go every time, for running to me with your unchanged warmth even after long periods of not seeing each other, for giving me the experience of being a very kind father.

“Distinguished guests, why do I leave mentioning my spouse until the end of such a thanksgiving speech? Quite simple: because she might get emotional and may not be able to finish her words… The greatest support I have received in both my professional and personal life is your presence, my dear… I cannot enumerate the support you have shown me so far… You have taught me things that have not been written in any university’s books, I have learned to live together with you. Thank you for supporting me selflessly at every moment, for instilling self-criticism in me, for being proud of me, for restraining me when necessary, and for always being by my side.

“Your companionship in life is the greatest reward I can receive…

… I love you…

“I sincerely thank everyone who came here for me.

Best regards,“

Prof. Dr. Tayfun Aybek