Assistant Prof. Dr. Sahin awarded as the best young neurosurgeon of the year

At the 1st Yaşargil Microneurosurgery Congress held in Istanbul, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakan Şahin, a faculty member of the Department of Brain and Neurosurgery at Atatürk University, was awarded the Best Young Brain Surgeon of the Year Award for his study on Microsurgical and fiber tract anatomy of the interthalamic adhesion.

The first congress of the Yaşargil Microneurosurgery Academy, established in the name of the renowned Brain Surgeon Prof. Dr. Gazi Yaşargil and chaired by Prof. Dr. Ossama Al-Mefty from Harvard University, was held in Istanbul on June 4-7, 2024. The congress, which brought together the world’s leading brain surgeons, discussed the latest developments in the field of brain surgery, while also highlighting the lasting impact of Prof. Dr. Yaşargil on the medical world in terms of contributing to the training of hundreds of scientists. The scientific committee of the organization, chaired by Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe, included 12 experts from different countries around the world.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahin Received His Award from Prof. Dr. Ossama Al-Mefty

Approximately 500 brain surgeons from 40 countries gathered in Istanbul for the meeting titled ‘1st Congress of Yaşargil Microneurosurgery Academy,’ organized in honor of Prof. Dr. Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil, one of the greatest scientists produced by our country and selected as the brain surgeon of the century by Brain and Neurosurgeons in the United States. Simultaneously, in 3 halls over 4 days, about 300 scientific presentations were made at the meeting where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakan Şahin from Atatürk University Department of Brain and Neurosurgery was awarded the ‘Prof. Dr. Gazi Yaşargil Young Neurosurgeon Award.’

The Yaşargil Award was presented to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakan Şahin for his scientific study titled ‘Microsurgical and fiber tract anatomy of the interthalamic adhesion,’ published in the November 2023 issue of the prestigious brain surgery journal ‘Journal of Neurosurgery,’ under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe at Yeditepe University Neuroanatomy laboratory.

The award was presented to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakan Şahin by Prof. Dr. Ossama Al-Mefty, one of the most important brain surgeons in the United States and a colleague of Prof. Dr. Gazi Yaşargil.

Rector Çomaklı: ‘We are Proud of Our Pioneering Academic Staff’

Highlighting that this prestigious award is an important recognition in the medical community that appreciates the achievements of young talents and encourages them, Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, the Rector of Atatürk University, expressed his satisfaction with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahin’s great success, stating: ‘Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakan Şahin being awarded the Best Young Brain Surgeon of the Year is a source of great pride for our university and medical faculty. I believe he truly deserves this award with his determination, hard work, and scientific contributions. This success is also an indicator of the quality of education and research at our university. I sincerely congratulate Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahin and wish him continued success.’

Prof. Dr. Çomaklı expressed his belief that Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahin’s work would inspire other young academicians, emphasizing their university’s commitment to scientific research and innovative work. Saying ‘We are proud of our pioneering academic staff who are at the forefront of developments based on science and technology,’ Çomaklı stated that Atatürk University would further enhance its reputation with such achievements.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakan Şahin, honored to receive this award, thanked the university administration and colleagues for their support. Şahin stated that this award is a source of motivation for him and that he will continue to work towards achieving greater success in the field of brain surgery.