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Three sisters from Uzbekistan, who have never been apart in 23 years, are completing their medical training together in Ankara after studying for five years in Bukhara.
Three 23-year-old triplet sisters from Uzbekistan are taking the final steps toward fulfilling their shared childhood dream of becoming doctors, having moved to Türkiye to complete their last year of medical training at Gulhane Training and Research Hospital in Ankara.
Sabina, Medine and Zarina Hamreyava spent the first five years of their medical education at the Ibn Sina Bukhara Faculty of Medicine, operated by Türkiye's University of Health Sciences (SBU) in Uzbekistan. They are now carrying out their final-year internships, which involve supervised clinical training in a hospital, before graduating as doctors at the end of June.
Although the sisters have remained inseparable throughout their lives, their hospital placements have introduced some independence into their daily routines. While two are working in pediatrics, the medical specialty focused on children's health, the third is completing her training in internal medicine.
SBU Rector Professor Kemalettin Aydin said the university established its medical faculty in Bukhara seven years ago as part of its commitment to the region where Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, the influential physician and philosopher, was born.
According to Aydin, the faculty provides medical education in Turkish, with students completing part of their training in Türkiye before graduating with diplomas issued by the Turkish Republic.
He explained that the triplets had arrived at Gulhane Training and Research Hospital to complete their final year of clinical training and were expected to return to their home country to provide medical services after graduation.
Aydin also said the university would continue to follow up on the sisters' professional development after they complete their studies.
For the Hamreyava sisters, pursuing medicine has meant continuing a lifelong journey together.
Sabina said becoming doctors had been their childhood dream, driven by their desire to help people, while Zarina described the close relationship that has carried them through their studies.
"We study together, receive our education together and prepare for exams in the evenings. We have supported each other for 23 years," Zarina said.
The sisters were born just minutes apart, although Zarina said being born three minutes earlier had never made her feel like the eldest.
Their shared routine continues in Ankara, where they stay in the same dormitory room, attend classes, study together and meet for meals. They also regularly exchange messages throughout the day, particularly when their hospital assignments keep them in different departments.
The sisters said their resemblance often surprises people at the hospital, with some even asking to take photographs with them.
Having studied medicine in Turkish, they have experienced no significant communication difficulties since arriving in Ankara two and a half months ago.
They also said they had grown fond of the city, their hospital training and Turkish food.
Despite their separate clinical responsibilities, the triplets continue to spend much of their day together, arriving at outpatient clinics in the morning, meeting for lunch, studying in the afternoon and returning to their dormitory together in the evening.
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