Educator Training and Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center Awareness Program Conducted with BAU Faculty of Medicine Students

             On 15–16 November 2025, a comprehensive training program titled “Educator Training for Medical Students and Awareness on Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (VCTC)” was conducted with the participation of selected volunteer students from Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Medicine.

            The program was designed to support medical students in taking a more active role in community health initiatives and projects, and to enhance their competencies in areas such as counseling, communication, fundamental public health approaches, and the operational structure of testing centers.

During the training, our students attended both theoretical and practical sessions covering:

• Introduction to the goals, working principles, and societal importance of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers,

• Effective communication, counseling processes, and appropriate referral methods,

• Public health perspectives, infectious disease awareness, and the role of preventive health services,

• Case-based practical evaluations reflecting real scenarios encountered in the field,

• Presentation techniques, knowledge transfer skills, and group management within the scope of educator training.

        At the end of the program, students were provided with a structured framework that will enable them to actively contribute to future awareness initiatives, field activities, and educational chains.