Department of History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine is a multi-layered profession that encompasses not only a technical and scientific discipline aimed at animal health but also the historical, ethical, and cultural dimensions of human-animal-community relationships. Addressing this multifaceted structure at an academic level is made possible through the discipline of the History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine, which examines the historical development, professional values, and ethical responsibilities of veterinary medicine. In this context, the Department of History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine, located within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, operates as an important academic unit that strengthens the intellectual and ethical foundation of veterinary education.

Established in 2011 parallel to the founding process of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Department of History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine has been positioned as one of the fundamental scientific fields in line with the faculty's mission of education and research. The department was established with the aim of addressing the historical roots of the veterinary profession, the institutional transformation processes from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, and the historical and ethical approaches that played a role in shaping modern veterinary medicine within an academic framework.

Since its establishment, the department has developed in harmony with the tradition of veterinary history writing and veterinary ethics literature in Turkey; it has also included international literature and comparative history-ethical approaches alongside national academic accumulation in its program. In this respect, the unit has adopted an understanding that aims not only to convey the past but also to evaluate the contemporary issues of veterinary medicine from a historical and ethical perspective.

The primary function of the Department of History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine is to instill in veterinary medicine students the historical awareness of the profession, its ethical responsibilities, and its societal role. Through the courses conducted in this direction, it is aimed for students to understand veterinary medicine not only as a technical field of application but also as a scientific, cultural, and moral profession.

The courses offered within the department, such as History of Veterinary Medicine, Professional Ethics and Deontology, and Veterinary Legislation, cover topics such as the historical development of the profession, professional organization, legislation, professional ethics, animal welfare, ethics of animal experimentation, food ethics, and public health. These courses contribute to the development of ethical sensitivity in students' professional decision-making processes and help them evaluate dilemmas they may encounter in light of scientifically based ethical principles.

In terms of research activities, the department supports historical research such as archival studies related to the history of veterinary medicine, biography research, examination of professional organizations and institutional structures, as well as studies focusing on current issues such as animal welfare, ethical problems in veterinary medicine, bioethics, human-animal relationships, and the One Health approach. In this respect, the unit provides an academic environment open to interdisciplinary research.

Today, the Department of History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine continues its activities in line with the requirements of contemporary veterinary education. The department maintains its scientific production through academic publications, scientific meetings, and national-international collaborations, in addition to undergraduate education and training activities.

Especially in recent years, the diversification of ethical issues in veterinary medicine, the increasing societal sensitivities regarding animal welfare, and the emergence of new discussions in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, laboratory animals, and food safety have further increased the importance of the department. In this context, the unit is developing an academic perspective that not only discusses the current practices of veterinary medicine but also the ethical and societal responsibilities it will face in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Volkan Genç, who serves as the head of the Department of History and Deontology of Veterinary Medicine, plays an important academic role within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, focusing on the formation of professional identity, ethical awareness, historical continuity, and social responsibility. The department represents a holistic approach that seeks answers not only to the question of “how to do it” in veterinary education but also to the questions of “why” and “how to do it correctly.”