Re-Establishing Scientific Bridges with Our Cultural Heartland: The Case of the Damascus School of Medicine

Background: This study examines in detail the Damascus School of Medicine (Şam Mekteb-i Tıbbiyesi), established by the Ottoman Empire during difficult times to provide modern medical education, with respect to its academic and administrative staff, curriculum, and the functioning of its educational programs from its establishment to its closure.The aim of the study is to elucidate the relationship between the medical schools that the Empire established in the capital and the Damascus School of Medicine. Materials and Methods:The primary sources for this study are archival documents that contain significant information on the establishment, operation, and closure of the Damascus School of Medicine, as well as the book "Şam Türk Tıbbiye Mektebi" (The Turkish School of Medicine in Damascus) by Ali Rıza Atasoy, who served as an administrator of the school for a period of time.These sources have been analyzed within the context of the research question.Results: The Damascus School of Medicine was structured as a direct extension of the schools in İstanbul.The curriculum was implemented identically, the language of instruction was Turkish, and diplomas were issued in İstanbul.The teaching and administrative staff were also drawn from the medical schools in İstanbul.This structure enabled the school to train qualified healthcare personnel within a short period.Conclusion: The Damascus School of Medicine stands as the most concrete provincial representation of centralized medical education in the Ottoman Empire.Its strong structural ties to İstanbul made it a significant conduit for modern medical education outside Anatolia.However, with the loss of Ottoman sovereignty over Syria, this institution was relegated to the background of historical memory.