Astronaut Prof. Dr. David C. Hilmers Meets with Students

Prof. Dr. David C. Hilmers, an astronaut and guest of the Faculty of Medicine Student Meeting Series, shared his experiences in the field of space medicine. Following the program, he also met with Rector Prof. Dr. Enes Eryarsoy and provided insights into his ongoing work.

As part of the student meeting series organized by the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. David C. Hilmers came together with students to discuss his career and experiences in space medicine. He offered valuable reflections on both his medical career and his journey as an astronaut.

Hilmers noted that he served as an astronaut on four Space Shuttle missions at NASA and continues his academic work as a Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. He also serves as Chief Medical Officer at the Hepatitis B Free organization.

During his talk, Hilmers outlined his professional journey beginning with his medical education, emphasizing that his career has been shaped by discipline, perseverance, and scientific curiosity. He highlighted the importance of gaining diverse experiences across different fields in the path toward becoming an astronaut.

Addressing the physiological challenges faced by the human body in space, Hilmers explained that microgravity has significant effects on the musculoskeletal and immune systems, making it an important area of research in medical science. He noted that these studies contribute not only to space missions but also to healthcare practices on Earth.

The event, also attended by Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özen, gave students the opportunity to ask questions directly about space medicine and the astronaut profession.

Following the program, Rector, Prof. Dr. Enes Eryarsoy met with Prof. Dr. David C. Hilmers to receive further information about his work.