[The portrait of an elite, during the transformation from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic (1861-1940)].

Abstract

Having spent the first half of his lifetime during declining years of the Ottoman Empire and the other half, at the first reformative, energetic decades of the Turkish Republic, Besim Omer Akalin, M.D. exemplifies very well of a new urban elite at the turn of the 20th century, regarding his education, formation, professional and administrative roles in the society He is known of his remarkable contributions in obstetrics, in pediatrics; and also of his fundamental works for the education of midwifery and nursing in Turkey. He carried out several duties at the same time, such as professor at the Istanbul medical School (Mekteb-i Tibbiye-i Sahane - Darülfünun Tip Fakültesi), head of the first Obstetrical clinic (Viladethane) in Turkey, leader of several associations such as the Red Crescent Society (Hilal-i Ahmer Cemiyeti), the Society for the Protection of Children (Himaye-i Etfal Cemiyeti), Anti-Tuberculosis Society (Verem Savaş Derneği), member of several commissions concerning the public sanitation and health affairs, rector of the Istanbul University, Turkish delegate of the international medical congresses and associations, member of Parliament. Among all those responsibilities, the accomplished to write numerous books, yearbooks and articles on the above mentioned topics. He was also famous for his initiative supporting women to educate at the university and also to come up at the public and socialarena. This study deals with his activities and works on the basis of his biography studied on archival and bibliographical sources. The list of his complete works is annexed to the text.