10 Most Influential Turkish Doctors Throughout History

Published in

Heritage Digest

12 min readMar 16, 2024

Turkey has been home to many remarkable medical minds whose contributions have significantly impacted the field of medicine. From ancient to modern times, these Turkish doctors have pioneered medical practices, made groundbreaking discoveries, and improved healthcare systems. This article highlights the ten most influential Turkish doctors throughout history whose work has shaped medical science in Turkey and had a global influence.

Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468)
Gevrekzâde Hasan Efendi (1727–1801)
Mehmet Esat Işık (1865–1936)
İhsan Doğramacı (1915–2010)
Türkan Saylan (1935–2009)
Gazi Yaşargil (1925–present)
Mehmet Öz (1960–present)
Aziz Sancar (1946–present)
Hulusi Behçet (1889–1948)
Muhiddin Erel (1889–1986)

1. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468)

Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu, born in 1385 in Amasya, Ottoman Empire, pioneered medieval medicine. His upbringing and early years are shrouded in history, but his contributions to medical science have left an indelible mark. His father, Leopold Sparrow, was of English origin and served as a magistrate, instilling a sense of diligence and inquiry in young Şerafeddin.

Educated at the Faculty of Medicine in Kyiv, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu earned his medical degree with distinction in 1915. He further honed his skills at the University of Poznań, earning a second medical degree, and later obtained a doctorate from the University of Warsaw. His academic journey was marked by a relentless pursuit of medical knowledge, leading him to the forefront of medical innovation in the Ottoman Empire.

Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu’s most significant achievement was his work on the Cerrahiyyetu’l-Haniyye, the first illustrated surgical atlas in the Turkish language, written at the age of 80. His tenure as the director of Amasya Dar-es Sifa Hospital for nearly 14 years was marked by groundbreaking medical practices and research. His book, rich with detailed surgical procedures and illustrations, showcased his profound understanding and innovative medical approaches, particularly in treating hydrocephalus and spinal injuries. His work advanced medical practices in his era and laid foundational knowledge for future generations. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu passed away in 1468, leaving a legacy that inspires the medical community.

2. Gevrekzâde Hasan Efendi (1727–1801)

Gevrekzâde Hasan Efendi, born in 1727 in Istanbul, emerged as a significant figure in Ottoman medicine. His upbringing was steeped in academia, likely influenced by his father, Abdullah Efendi, a renowned medical scholar, or Gevrekzâde Ahmet-i Sani, a prominent physician of the Mahmud I period. This environment cultivated his deep interest in medicine and learning.

Hasan Efendi’s education was a blend of classical madrasah studies and rigorous medical training, a testament to the comprehensive education system of the Ottoman Empire. He was mentored by notable physicians like Tokatlı Mustafa Efendi and his son-in-law Hekim İsmail Efendi, along with Kâtipzade Mehmed Refi and Hekimbaşı Müneccimbaşızâde Mehmed Emin Efendi. This illustrious lineage of teachers equipped Hasan Efendi with extensive medical knowledge and skills.

Significant appointments and contributions to Ottoman medicine marked Hasan Efendi’s career. He served as the chief physician at Suleymaniye Darüşşifa and Medical Madrasa and was involved in the Ottoman-Russian War of 1768–1774 as a chief army physician. His expertise earned him a place among the palace physicians, eventually leading to his appointment as the chief physician of the palace in 1786. However, his tenure was marred by the inability to cure Sultan Abdulhamid I, leading to his dismissal and subsequent appointment as the judge of Aleppo and later as the mullah of Edirne. Hasan Efendi passed away in 1801, leaving a legacy in traditional Ottoman medicine, particularly in studying lung diseases and leprosy. He was interred in the Eyüpsultan district, symbolizing his esteemed status in Ottoman society.

3. Mehmet Esat Işık (1865–1936)

Mehmet Esat Işık was born on April 3, 1865, in Istanbul, into a family with significant connections, as his mother was the daughter of Ağa Yusuf Pasha, a grand vizier. His early life was likely shaped by his family's intellectual and political milieu, paving the way for his future in medicine and politics. His upbringing in such a distinguished family would have exposed him to the intricacies of Ottoman society and governance.

Esat Işık’s education was comprehensive and international, reflecting the Ottoman Empire’s engagement with Western science and medicine. He studied at the military medical academy and specialized in ophthalmology, a field in which he would make substantial contributions. His education at the University of Paris, followed by medical schools in Germany and Austria, equipped him with a diverse and profound understanding of medical sciences. Upon returning to the Ottoman Empire in 1894, he established the first ophthalmic clinic in the country, a significant milestone in Turkish medical history.

Işık’s life was not confined to medicine; he was actively involved in the political sphere, supporting the national independence movement led by Mustafa Kemal. His political activities led to his exile to Malta by the British in 1920, a testament to his influence and involvement in the sociopolitical changes of his time. After his release in 1921, he settled in Ankara, where he continued his medical practice by establishing another ophthalmic clinic. Işık later served at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine between 1931 and 1933. His legacy in medicine was carried forward by his son, Hasan Esat Işık, who became Turkey's foreign minister. Mehmet Esat Işık died of heart failure in Istanbul on November 1, 1936, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer in ophthalmology and a supporter of Turkey’s national independence.

4. İhsan Doğramacı (1915–2010)

İhsan Doğramacı, born on April 3, 1915, in Erbil, then part of the Ottoman Empire, was an influential figure in pediatrics and higher education. His upbringing in a family deeply rooted in public service — his father was the Mayor of Erbil and later a Senator in Baghdad — likely instilled in him a sense of duty toward societal development. This background set the stage for his later contributions to medicine and education in Turkey.

Educated primarily in Turkey and France, Doğramacı excelled in medicine, particularly pediatrics. His medical education was complemented by broad cultural and linguistic fluency, speaking multiple languages, and authoring over 100 scientific articles. He was pivotal in developing medical sciences in Turkey, founding Hacettepe University, renowned for its medical studies, and Bilkent University, Turkey’s first private university. These institutions advanced medical education and contributed significantly to Turkey’s academic landscape.

Beyond academia, Doğramacı’s contributions were internationally recognized. He was a key player in global health initiatives, serving as the chairman of the UNICEF executive board and the president of the International Pediatric Association. His work with WHO and co-ratifying its constitution highlights his commitment to global health. Domestically, he played a crucial role in shaping Turkey’s higher education system as the founding president of the Council of Higher Education of Turkey. Doğramacı passed away on February 25, 2010, leaving a legacy as a dedicated pediatrician, educationalist, and reformer in Turkish and international healthcare and education sectors.

5. Türkan Saylan (1935–2009)

Türkan Saylan, born on December 13, 1935, in Turkey, was a prominent figure in medicine, particularly dermatology. The daughter of Fasih Galip, a pioneering building contractor in Republican Turkey, and Lili Mina Raiman (later Leyla), who embraced Islam post-marriage, Saylan grew up in an environment that blended diverse cultural backgrounds. She completed her education at Kandilli Girls High School and graduated from İstanbul Medical School in 1963. Her early upbringing and education played a crucial role in shaping her future endeavors in medicine and social activism.

Dr. Saylan’s professional journey was marked by significant contributions to dermatology, with a special focus on leprosy. She founded the Fight Against Lepra Association and Foundation in 1976, reflecting her commitment to combating this disease. Her work earned her international recognition, notably the “International Gandhi Award” in 1986 in India. She also served as a consultant on leprosy for the World Health Organization until 2006. She established the Laboratory of Derma Pathology, Behcet’s Disease, and Policlinics of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Her dedication was further exemplified by her voluntary service as the head physician at the Istanbul Lepra Hospital for 21 years.

Apart from her medical achievements, Saylan was also a passionate social activist. She founded the “Association for the Support of Contemporary Living” (Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği, ÇYDD), a charitable foundation focused on promoting contemporary values and education. She was married in 1957 and had two children and four grandchildren. Türkan Saylan’s battle with breast cancer, which she fought bravely for 17 years, came to an end on May 18, 2009. Her legacy as a medical professional and a champion of social causes remains a source of inspiration in Turkey and beyond.

6. Gazi Yaşargil (1925–present)

Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil, born on July 6, 1925, in Lice, Turkey, is a renowned medical scientist and neurosurgeon. His early education in Ankara, followed by medical studies at Friedrich Schiller University in Germany, laid the foundation for his groundbreaking work in neurosurgery. Yaşargil’s journey in medicine began in Ankara Atatürk Lisesi and Ankara University, after which he pursued medicine in Germany. His dedication to advancing neurosurgical techniques began an illustrious career that would profoundly impact the field.

Yaşargil’s most significant contribution to medicine is in microneurosurgery, a field he pioneered along with Raymond M. P. Donaghy, M.D. at the University of Vermont. His innovative approach and self-designed instruments revolutionized the treatment of epilepsy and brain tumors, offering new hope and improved outcomes for patients with previously inoperable conditions. From 1953 to his retirement in 1993, Yaşargil held pivotal roles at the University of Zurich and Zurich University Hospital, including resident, chief resident, professor, and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. His expertise and leadership in these roles were instrumental in advancing neurosurgical practices worldwide.

Yaşargil’s accolades and influence extend beyond his direct medical contributions. In 1999, he was honored as “Neurosurgery’s Man of the Century 1950–1999,” a testament to his profound impact on the field. His work in the micro-neurosurgical anatomical laboratory in Zurich trained around 3000 colleagues, spreading his knowledge and techniques globally. Yaşargil’s legacy is not just in the surgeries he performed or the techniques he developed but also in the generations of neurosurgeons he inspired and trained. Today, he continues his work in micro-neurosurgery, research, and teaching at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, remaining an active and respected figure in neurosurgery.

7. Mehmet Öz (1960–present)

Mehmet Öz, known as Dr. Oz, was born to Turkish immigrant parents on June 11, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised in a family that valued education and health, Öz’s medical career significantly influenced his father’s upbringing. His father, Mustafa Öz, excelled in cardiothoracic surgery, while his mother, Suna, came from a wealthy Istanbul family with a pharmaceutical background. This familial environment nurtured Öz’s interest in medicine and health from a young age, setting the stage for his future accomplishments.

Öz’s educational journey is marked by excellence. He attended Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Delaware, and later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in biology. His passion for medicine led him to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he earned his MD, and to Penn’s Wharton School, where he received an MBA. These academic achievements laid a robust foundation for his distinguished medical career, particularly in cardiothoracic surgery and teaching.

As a medical professional, Öz’s career is distinguished by innovation and public outreach. He completed his residency at Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, affiliated with Columbia University, and became a professor at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Öz contributed significantly to heart surgery, developing devices and procedures that enhanced surgical outcomes. His dedication to public health education propelled him into the media spotlight, most notably through his collaboration with Oprah Winfrey and his show, “The Dr. Oz Show.” Despite controversies over his promotion of alternative medicine, Öz’s influence in public health discourse is undeniable. His current activities blend medical practice with public education and media engagement.

8. Aziz Sancar (1946–present)

Aziz Sancar, a distinguished molecular biologist, was born on September 8, 1946, in the Savur district of Mardin Province, Turkey, to an Arab family. Growing up as the seventh of eight children in a lower-middle-class family, Sancar’s early life was modest. His parents, though uneducated, strongly emphasized the importance of education. This emphasis and the influence of dedicated teachers from the Village Institutes profoundly shaped his academic aspirations and achievements.

Sancar pursued medicine at Istanbul University, motivated by his high school peers and his innate interest in chemistry. Excelling in his studies, he graduated as the top student in 1969. This academic success paved the way for his remarkable career in science. Despite facing initial challenges adapting to life in the United States and overcoming language barriers, Sancar’s determination led him to earn his Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Dallas in 1977, where he conducted pioneering research on the photoreactivation enzyme of E. coli.

Today, Aziz Sancar is a renowned figure in the scientific community, known for his groundbreaking work in DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints, and the circadian clock. His significant contributions to the field earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015, shared with Tomas Lindahl and Paul L. Modrich. Currently, he serves as the Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Additionally, Sancar co-founded the Aziz & Gwen Sancar Foundation, which supports Turkish students in the United States and promotes Turkish culture. His continued involvement in research and education underscores his enduring impact on molecular biology and his commitment to fostering scientific knowledge and cultural understanding.

9. Hulusi Behçet (1889–1948)

Hulusi Behçet was a renowned Turkish dermatologist and scientist born on February 20, 1889, in the Ottoman Empire. His early life was marked by tragedy when he lost his mother to illness. Raised by his father, an official in the Ottoman Empire, Behçet spent his early childhood in Damascus. This experience in a multicultural environment likely influenced his later life and work. Despite these early challenges, Behçet pursued a medical career driven by a deep curiosity about human health.

Behçet’s medical journey began in earnest during World War I when he served as a specialist in dermatology and venereal diseases at a military hospital in Edirne. His quest for medical knowledge took him to Budapest and Berlin, where he enhanced his skills and made significant professional connections. Returning to Turkey, Behçet established a successful private practice and later became the head physician at the Hasköy Venereal Diseases Hospital in Istanbul. A dedication to research and teaching characterized his career, and he played a crucial role in developing the field of dermatology in Turkey.

Behçet’s most significant contribution to medicine was his identification and description of a disease involving inflamed blood vessels, later known as Behçet’s disease. His initial observations began in the 1920s, leading to a detailed description in 1937. This groundbreaking work earned him international recognition and fundamentally changed the understanding of vascular and autoimmune disorders. Despite skepticism from some in the medical community, Behçet’s perseverance and rigorous research established him as a dermatology pioneer. His legacy in the field is commemorated through various honors, including a Turkish postcard stamp bearing his portrait, reflecting his enduring impact on medical science.

10. Muhiddin Erel (1889–1986)

Muhiddin Erel, born in 1889 in Istanbul’s Eminönü district, embarked on a remarkable journey in the medical field from a young age. After graduating from the Darülfünun Faculty of Medicine in 1924, Erel’s early interest in medicine was nurtured in an era of significant medical advancements and challenges. His upbringing in Istanbul, a city known for its rich history and cultural diversity, likely influenced his perspective and dedication to the medical profession.

Significant achievements and contributions to the field of medicine in Turkey marked Erel’s professional journey. After graduating, he worked as an assistant at Istanbul Emrazı Saliye Istidaiye Hospital. His quest for further specialization took him to Hamburg in 1932, where he honed his skills in Hygiene. Upon returning to Turkey, he played a pivotal role in transforming Darülfünun into Istanbul University, where he became an associate professor of hygiene. His commitment to medical education and public health was further solidified when he was promoted to Ordinary Professor of the Hygiene Institute at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine in 1950.

Erel’s legacy in medical education and public health is profound. He shaped generations of medical professionals as Dean of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine and the Founding Dean of Ege University Faculty of Medicine. He was instrumental in establishing the School of Nursing and Health Colleges within a university, a pioneering effort in Turkey. His dedication earned him posthumous recognition with the TÜBİTAK Service Award in 2006. Erel’s passing on March 18, 1986, marked the end of an era. Still, his influence continues, immortalized in the Muhiddin Erel Lecture Hall at Ege University, a testament to his enduring impact on Turkish medicine.