The first modern birthing clinic in Turkey was established in 1892 by Besim Ömer Akalın, operating initially in secret to circumvent the objections of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. This intervention served as the foundation for his lifelong effort to formalize medical education and clinical standards for obstetrics, gynaecology, and nursing throughout the Ottoman Empire and the later Republic of Turkey.
Medical Education and Training
Born in 1862, Akalın attended the Kuleli Military High School before graduating from the Imperial Medicine College in 1885. Following an early assignment as a military physician, he traveled to Paris to serve at the Hôpital de la Charité, completing his specialization in 1891. Upon returning to Istanbul, he became an assistant lecturer and began writing foundational medical texts, including Doğum Tarihi, which is recognized as the first modern treatise on birth in Turkey.
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Akalın pioneered the formal instruction of midwifery, authoring essential manuals such as Ebelik and Ebe Hanımlara Öğütlerim. He effectively challenged local social barriers that restricted the medical participation of Muslim women. By implementing nursing programs modeled on Japanese techniques, he trained hundreds of volunteers. His efforts culminated in the integration of trained nurses into medical care during the Gallipoli campaign and the broader conflicts of World War I, while he simultaneously served as director general of the Turkish Red Crescent.
Institutional Leadership
As rector of Darülfünun, the predecessor to Istanbul University, Akalın facilitated the entry of women into the medical profession. In 1922, he enabled the first group of female students to enroll at the Imperial Medical College, a program that saw six women graduate by 1928. Throughout his career, he helped establish several public health organizations, including the Association of Fight against Tuberculosis in 1918 and the Association of Child Welfare in 1921, ultimately producing over forty professional medical publications.
Political Career and Later Life
Following the enactment of the Surname Law in 1934, he adopted the name Akalın. He transitioned into national politics as a member of the Grand National Assembly, serving as a deputy for Bilecik Province for the Republican People's Party after his election in 1935 and again in 1939. He remained active in public service until his death in Ankara on 19 March 1940.
Fast facts
- Born: 1862, Arta
- Died: 1940, Ankara
- Education: Kuleli Military High School, Imperial Medicine College
- Primary medical focus: Obstetrics, gynaecology, nursing
- Military rank held: General (later demoted to Colonel)
- Political service: Member of the Grand National Assembly (1935, 1939)
- Professional organizations: Turkish Red Crescent, Association of Fight against Tuberculosis
- Author of over 40 professional works
Questions readers ask
What specific contribution did Akalın make to nursing?
He established that nursing was a distinct professional discipline and developed specialized training programs, including volunteer courses for women that provided essential support during World War I.
How did he support the professional advancement of women in medicine?
He authored guides for midwives and, as rector of Darülfünun, enabled the first women to enroll in and graduate from the Imperial Medical College.
Achievements
- Held posts at Istanbul University
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