Between 9–13 May, the scope of the awareness activities organized by the Gaziosmanpaşa University Palliative Care Center was expanded to include community-based events. The program included an Opening Ceremony, Musical Performance, Palliative Care Workshop, Palliative Care Conference, Introduction to Palliative Care Course II, Charity Bazaar, Closing Ceremony, and Social Program.
Patients, patients' relatives, staff of our Palliative Care Center, and employees of our hospital participated in these activities.
2017 SECOND PALLIATIVE CARE AWARENESS WEEK ACTIVITIES
During the Second Palliative Care Awareness Week, held on 8–9 May and organized by the Gaziosmanpaşa University Palliative Care Center, a variety of activities were conducted, including promotional events, the Traditional Palliative Care Families Gathering, an art exhibition, and a tree-planting ceremony.
During the Fourth Palliative Care Awareness Week, held on 7–10 May and organized by the Gaziosmanpaşa University Palliative Care Center, a wide range of educational, cultural, and therapeutic activities was carried out. These included Art as Therapy – Tokat Woodblock Printing Workshop, a Charity Bazaar and Exhibition, the Opening Ceremony and Panel Discussion, a Palliative Care Course for Nurses and Physicians, the Regional Palliative Care Centers Meeting (with representatives from Amasya, Çorum, Yozgat, Sivas, Ordu, Samsun, and Tokat), a Palliative Care Cultural Tour (including visits to the historic Darüşşifas and the Yağıbasan Madrasah), a Student Workshop on Young Adults and Palliative Care, the Presentation of the Workshop Report entitled Cancer and Palliative Care Awareness Training for School Counselors, Agriculture as Therapy – Planting Medicinal and Aromatic Herbs, Spirituality as Therapy, and, finally, a Recognition and Appreciation Meeting.
2025 FIFTH PALLIATIVE CARE AWARENESS WEEK ACTIVITIES
The Fifth Traditional Palliative Care Awareness Week was held on 28–30 May with the aim of highlighting the importance of palliative care services and increasing public awareness in this field.
The program commenced on 28 May with an opening ceremony attended by Prof. Dr. Raşit KILIÇ, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, palliative care volunteers, palliative care patients and their families, and members of the hospital staff. This was followed by a two-day charity bazaar held on 29–30 May 2025.
The charity bazaar featured food and beverage stalls as well as informational materials designed to raise awareness of palliative care. The event encouraged the participation of both hospital staff and visitors, with the objective of promoting greater understanding and awareness of palliative care services.
Garden Therapy is a therapeutic approach that aims to enhance individuals' psychological, social, and physical well-being through activities such as plant cultivation, gardening, and spending time in nature. At our center, these activities are conducted both in the hobby room and in the garden located in front of the center building. Participants include patients, their family members, staff of our center, and hospital personnel.
Objectives
Garden Therapy Activities
Pattern Coloring Activities are organized to promote patients' psychological well-being while providing a relaxing and creative environment.
Objectives of the Activity
An activity involving natural root dyeing, which poses no threat to the environment or human health, was organized to provide both emotional support and opportunities to enhance patients' motor skills. The activity was conducted by Prof. Dr. Adem ÖNAL, Director of the Natural Dyes Application and Research Center, with the participation of patients, their family members, and staff of our center.
An art exhibition featuring paintings created by students of the Tokat Municipality Behzat Hanımeli Culture and Arts Center Painting Course was inaugurated at the Gaziosmanpaşa University Palliative Care Research and Application Center. The opening ceremony was attended by Abdullah Gürbüz, President of the Tokat City Council; Ahmet Turan Erdoğan, Director of the Tokat Municipality Department of Culture and Social Affairs; Arzu Arslan, Director of the Behzat Hanımeli Culture and Arts Center; Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmail Okan, Director of the Palliative Care Research and Application Center; members of the Palliative Care Working Group; students; and course participants.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmail Okan emphasized that palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families by preventing and alleviating physical, psychological, social, and spiritual problems. He stated that every effort made to support patients and their loved ones during the course of their illness and to help them, even temporarily, forget their hardships is of great value and contributes significantly to improving their quality of life. He further stressed the importance of supporting artistic activities in palliative care and, whenever possible, encouraging patients and their families to participate in such activities according to their interests and preferences.
In her speech, Arzu Arslan, Director of the Behzat Hanımeli Culture and Arts Center, introduced the activities of the Hanımeli Association and expressed the association's commitment to supporting palliative care initiatives. She stated that she was delighted to hold the exhibition at the Palliative Care Center and emphasized the positive impact such activities can have on patients.
Abdullah Gürbüz, President of the Tokat City Council, expressed his gratitude to the administrators of Gaziosmanpaşa University, the philanthropist Mazhar Oruç, and everyone who contributed to establishing the Palliative Care Center in Tokat. He noted that initiatives of this kind are of great importance for the community, emphasizing that anyone may one day have a family member in need of palliative care. He concluded by highlighting the importance of raising public awareness and commending the Palliative Care Center for taking a leading role in this effort.
A Wood Burning Art Exhibition was held at our center by Günay YILMAZ ERDOĞAN, a family member of one of our patients. The exhibition showcased handcrafted wood-burning artworks and contributed to creating a warm, supportive, and aesthetically enriching environment for patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.
An exhibition of traditional Turkish illumination (tezhip) was held at our center, featuring artworks created by participants of the Tokat Karşıyaka Hanımeli Culture and Arts Center Tezhip Course. The exhibition showcased the rich heritage of traditional Turkish decorative arts while providing patients, their families, and visitors with an inspiring and culturally enriching experience.
Duran DİRİCAN Solo Exhibition
As part of the Art in Palliative Care program, a solo exhibition by Duran DİRİCAN was organized through the collaboration of the Gaziosmanpaşa University Palliative Care Research and Application Center and the Tokat Nursing Home Directorate in observance of 18–24 March, Elderly Week. The exhibition was held at our center to celebrate artistic expression while promoting the well-being, dignity, and social inclusion of older adults.
Ayşe ERTEKİN Solo Exhibition
As part of the Art in Palliative Care program organized by our center, a solo exhibition of traditional Turkish marbling (Ebru) art by Ayşe ERTEKİN was held. The exhibition highlighted the beauty of this traditional art form while contributing to a calming, culturally enriching, and supportive environment for patients, their families, and visitors.
Murat YAĞMUR Solo Exhibition
As part of the Art in Palliative Care program organized by our center, Murat YAĞMUR, who was receiving treatment in our unit, held a solo Wood Burning Art Exhibition. The exhibition showcased his handcrafted wood-burning artworks and demonstrated the therapeutic value of artistic expression in supporting emotional well-being, creativity, and quality of life during the palliative care process.
Burcu ÖZSOY Solo Exhibition
As part of the Art in Palliative Care program organized by our center, a solo exhibition entitled Rengârenk (A Kaleidoscope of Colors) by Burcu ÖZSOY was held. The exhibition featured vibrant artworks that contributed to a welcoming, uplifting, and aesthetically enriching environment for patients, their families, visitors, and healthcare professionals.
Murat YAĞMUR Second Solo Exhibition
As part of the Art in Palliative Care program organized by our center, Murat YAĞMUR, who was receiving treatment in our unit, held his second solo exhibition, entitled Historic Landmarks Reflected on Wood. The exhibition featured wood-burning artworks depicting historical landmarks and highlighted the therapeutic role of artistic expression in promoting creativity, emotional well-being, and quality of life throughout the palliative care process.
Emine KIYAK Solo Exhibition
As part of the Art in Palliative Care program organized by our center, an exhibition entitled Traditional Turhal Cloth Weaving was held, featuring handcrafted woven textiles created by Emine KIYAK and her students. The exhibition celebrated the region's traditional weaving heritage while providing patients, their families, and visitors with a culturally enriching and inspiring artistic experience.
****ILLUMINATION (TEZHIP) ACTIVITIES****
****TOKAT HAND BLOCK PRINTING ACTIVITIES****