The “International Congress on Holistic Health Approaches” organized by our Faculty was held online on May 24-25.

The “International Congress on Holistic Health Approaches” organized by our university’s Faculty of Health Sciences was held online on May 24-25.

The first day of the congress began with opening remarks. Congress Chair and faculty member of the Department of Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Yurdanur Dikmen, stated, “For many years, the concepts of health and illness were perceived as ‘physical discomfort’ or ‘well-being.’ However, the World Health Organization defines health not merely as the absence of disease or infirmity, but as a state of complete physical, social, and spiritual well-being.” She stated that the congress will be a significant source of motivation for aspiring scientists in various disciplines who contribute to healthcare services.

Congress President and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Rabia Terzi, then stated, “When we look at modern medicine and traditional theories of disease, we see that the human being is not considered as a whole, focusing solely on the diseased organ and its illness. However, we see that the human being is not a biomedical being composed solely of tissues and organs, but a biopsychosocial being.” She explained that a holistic health approach emphasizes the need to consider the individual as a whole—physical, mental, spiritual, social, and moral—in conjunction with their environment. She explained that holistic health approaches offer a broad perspective that, in addition to the treatment methods offered by modern medicine, also includes elements such as traditional and complementary medical practices, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and lifestyle changes.

Kocaeli Health and Technology University Rector Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Elmas emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to healthcare and how technological advancements, along with artificial intelligence applications, will further individualize healthcare services. He stated that everyone will eventually be able to have a personal healthcare assistant, and that a holistic approach will become even easier with AI applications. He thanked everyone involved, especially the organizing committee and guest speakers, and wished the congress a successful event.

The first day of the congress featured presentations by experts working on national and international platforms in the fields of medicine, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, nursing, nutrition, and pharmacy. The second day featured presentations by researchers working in these fields.