Ihsan Dogramaci
Encyclopedia
Professor İhsan Doğramacı (April 3, 1915 – February 25, 2010) was a Turkish
paediatrician, entrepreneur
, philanthropist
, educationalist and college administrator of Iraqi Turkmen
descent born in Arbil
, Iraq
, then Ottoman Empire
.
Doğramacı was a pediatric physician and an international leader of development. He was the founder of Bilkent University
, a leading private university and Hacettepe University
, one of the best universities in Turkey which specializes in medical sciences in Ankara
, Turkey
, chairman of the UNICEF executive board, founding President of the Council of Higher Education of Turkey
(YÖK), executive director and president of International Pediatric Association (IPA), co-ratifier of WHO
's constitution, and he had been the first President and the Chairman of its Board of Trustees in WHO
(World Health Organization) since 1985.
He was offered national political leadership positions such as ministery of foreign affaris
and primiership
by Cemal Gürsel
and Süleyman Demirel
that he declined.
Doğramacı spoke Turkish
, English
, French
, German
, Arabic
and Persian
. He authored over 100 scientific articles, three books, six book chapters and served as the editor of four medical journals.
, London
and has been an Honorary Scientific Advisor to the International Centre for Childhood Studies in England since 1982.
Doğramacı was a member of the Board of Trustees of Heart International since 1981. He was the president of IPA/UNICEF/WHO
/FIGO
/UNFPA Task Force (1997–1998). He was a member of the Board (1970–1984) of International Children's Centre in Paris, and he had been a member of the Board of Regents of the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine since 2000.
Professor İhsan Doğramacı co-founded the Assembly of the Parliament of Cultures with Prince Hassan of Jordan and joined members from many nations in Ankara
in 2004. The purpose of the Foundation is to promote and strengthen international and intercultural understanding among different cultures in the world and to enhance dialogue between their thinkers and intellectuals by means of peaceful dialogue.
Constitution in New York
, July 1946 (he was the last living signatory). He was the Vice President in 1976 and a member of Executive Board between 1976 and 1982. He had been a member of many child health-related programmes and groups in WHO.
described him in his book: 'This is a likeable man, emphatic in manner, but gentle with it; sometimes intolerant of those who do not share his ideals. But he has not been spoiled by his achievements.'
(YÖK) from 1981 until 1992. He was the founding President of the Council of Higher Education of Turkey
(YÖK) from 1981 until 1992. He chaired the Board of Trustees in Middle East Technical University
in 1965 and held the rector position in Ankara University
in 1963 and several other universities in Turkey.
of pediatrics
in 1955. In the same year Prof. Doğramacı founded The Child Health Department affiliated with Ankara University Medical School
. In 1958 the Child Health Institute and Hospital started to serve the community as well as its researches and education. In 1961 School of Health Sciences was founded as the first instance of school healthcare science in Turkey. Subsequent to the establishment of some other departments such as dentistry, home economics the institute became another higher education center affiliated with Ankara University Medical School and thus in 1967 the Hacettepe University was founded officially. After the establishments of some other departments under Hacettepe University, a need for a larger educational building complex aroused. İhsan Doğramacı endowed a considerable amount to foundations named Hacettepe Education Foundation and Hacettepe Health Foundation. Thanks to these donations the new campus for Hacettepe University was built rapidly. Presently, Hacettepe University which is one of the best state universities in Turkey in medicine-related areas.
, campus university
. Afterwards in 1984 between Middle East Technical University
and Hacettepe University
campuses the first private university of Turkey, Bilkent University
was founded. Doğramacı founded some industrial companies such as Tepe construction to build educational buildings and to provide financial support for the university as well. All the companies incorporated under Bilkent Holding are now one of the major corporate group of Turkey. All companies were endowed to the Bilkent University. Doğramacı's all heirs relinquished their rights to the companies. By this act, he donated nearly his whole fortune to the university. Bilkent University is now one of the best universities nationwide and according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings
, Bilkent is the 112. best university worldwide.
Affiliated with Bilkent University, Doğramacı had some other educational projects. The first of his university level education centers of excellence (the opening of which had been his most recent project) was inaugurated in Erzurum
(Bilkent Erzurum Laboratory High School) in 2007 followed by three other centers in East and Southeast Turkey. Professor İhsan Doğramacı also provided charitable financial private scholarship support to university students in medical sciences and music for over 40 years.
The Turkish Foreign Policy Institute
of Bilkent University administers an award program of İhsan Doğramacı Prize of International Relations for Peace.
Doğramacı, with his wife, Ayser Doğramacı, endowed their family wealth to the support of educational and medical projects. In more recent times the Founder had turned his attention to the place of his birth, Erbil
. The vision of the Ihsan Dogramaci Erbil Foundation was to build a needed and unique school in a region that has had a troubled history. After the completion of construction, the first students of İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent Erbil College began classes in 2009.
Doğramacı was married to Ayser Süleyman
in 1942.
He had three children. His son, Professor Ali Doğramacı was the Rector of Bilkent University until 1 March 2010. Currently his son-in-law Prof. Dr. Abdullah Atalar
is the rector.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
paediatrician, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, educationalist and college administrator of Iraqi Turkmen
Iraqi Turkmen
The Iraqi Turkmen are an ethnic group who mainly reside in northern Iraq. Estimates of their numbers vary dramatically, in accordance with Iraq's assimilation policies no realistic and independent census results have been revealed regarding the Iraqi Turkmen population...
descent born in Arbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, then Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
Doğramacı was a pediatric physician and an international leader of development. He was the founder of Bilkent University
Bilkent University
İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, commonly referred to as Bilkent University or Bilkent, is the first private, nonprofit university in Turkey with the fundamental aim of creating a center of excellence in higher education and research...
, a leading private university and Hacettepe University
Hacettepe University
Hacettepe University is a major state university in Ankara, Turkey.The University has two main campuses. The first is located in the old town of Ankara and hosts the Medical Centre, and the second is the Beytepe Campus, which is 13 km from the city centre...
, one of the best universities in Turkey which specializes in medical sciences in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, chairman of the UNICEF executive board, founding President of the Council of Higher Education of Turkey
Council of Higher Education (Turkey)
The Council of Higher Education is responsible for the supervision of universities in Turkey, in a capacity defined by articles 130 and 131 of the 1982 constitution.- See also :* Turkish Academy of Sciences...
(YÖK), executive director and president of International Pediatric Association (IPA), co-ratifier of WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
's constitution, and he had been the first President and the Chairman of its Board of Trustees in WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
(World Health Organization) since 1985.
He was offered national political leadership positions such as ministery of foreign affaris
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a government ministry office of the Republic of Turkey, responsible for foreign affairs in Turkey. Professor Ahmet Davutoğlu is current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, appointed on May 1, 2009....
and primiership
Prime Minister of Turkey
The Prime Minister of the Turkey is the head of government in Turkish politics. The prime minister is the leader of a political coalition in the Turkish parliament and the leader of the cabinet....
by Cemal Gürsel
Cemal Gürsel
Cemal Gürsel , was a Turkish army officer, and the fourth President of Turkey.- Early life :He was born in the city of Erzurum to the Turkish parents as the son of an Ottoman Army officer, Abidin Bey, the grandson of Ibrahim and the great-grandson of Haci Ahmad...
and Süleyman Demirel
Süleyman Demirel
Sami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province...
that he declined.
Doğramacı spoke Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. He authored over 100 scientific articles, three books, six book chapters and served as the editor of four medical journals.
International organisations
He was the founder Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child HealthRoyal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in London is responsible for the training of postgraduate doctors in paediatrics and conducting the MRCPCH membership exams. They also conduct the Diploma in Child Health exam, which is taken by many doctors who plan a career in General Practice...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and has been an Honorary Scientific Advisor to the International Centre for Childhood Studies in England since 1982.
Doğramacı was a member of the Board of Trustees of Heart International since 1981. He was the president of IPA/UNICEF/WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
/FIGO
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, usually just FIGO as the acronym of its French name Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique, is a worldwide NGO organisation representing obstetricians and gynaecologists in over one hundred territories...
/UNFPA Task Force (1997–1998). He was a member of the Board (1970–1984) of International Children's Centre in Paris, and he had been a member of the Board of Regents of the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine since 2000.
Professor İhsan Doğramacı co-founded the Assembly of the Parliament of Cultures with Prince Hassan of Jordan and joined members from many nations in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
in 2004. The purpose of the Foundation is to promote and strengthen international and intercultural understanding among different cultures in the world and to enhance dialogue between their thinkers and intellectuals by means of peaceful dialogue.
International Pediatric Association (IPA)
He had been the Honorary President of International Pediatric Association (IPA) since 1992 and was the president of IPA between 1968 and 1977, and the Executive Director between 1977 and 1993.World Health Organisation (WHO)
He signed the WHOWho
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
Constitution in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, July 1946 (he was the last living signatory). He was the Vice President in 1976 and a member of Executive Board between 1976 and 1982. He had been a member of many child health-related programmes and groups in WHO.
UNICEF
He had been a member of the UNICEF Executive Board (1959–1985), and he was elected as Chairman of the Board for two terms. He had been the President of Turkish National Committee for UNICEF (1958–2003). He was a major financial charitable contributor to the Unicef co-sponsored Turkish educational community campaign "Let's Go to School, Girls".Turkey
İhsan Doğramacı matured in the secular Turkey of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This was a political environment which Doğramacı endeavored to help develop, with his focus being medicine and child health. He also saw higher education a parallel concern. He set out on the path to reform these fields, a path filled with obstacles of bureaucratic, legal and self-interested opposition by several circles. Sir Horace PhillipsHorace Phillips (diplomat)
Sir Horace Phillips, KCMG was a British diplomat.After seven years in the Army in the second World War, he served in a number of postings in East Africa, the Middle East, and Indonesia from 1947 though 1977, the year he retired...
described him in his book: 'This is a likeable man, emphatic in manner, but gentle with it; sometimes intolerant of those who do not share his ideals. But he has not been spoiled by his achievements.'
Administratorship
Doğramacı was the founding President of the Council of Higher Education of TurkeyCouncil of Higher Education (Turkey)
The Council of Higher Education is responsible for the supervision of universities in Turkey, in a capacity defined by articles 130 and 131 of the 1982 constitution.- See also :* Turkish Academy of Sciences...
(YÖK) from 1981 until 1992. He was the founding President of the Council of Higher Education of Turkey
Council of Higher Education (Turkey)
The Council of Higher Education is responsible for the supervision of universities in Turkey, in a capacity defined by articles 130 and 131 of the 1982 constitution.- See also :* Turkish Academy of Sciences...
(YÖK) from 1981 until 1992. He chaired the Board of Trustees in Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University is a public technical university located in Ankara, Turkey...
in 1965 and held the rector position in Ankara University
Ankara University
Ankara University is a public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in the Turkish Republic....
in 1963 and several other universities in Turkey.
Hacettepe University
After a rapid rise at academia, Doğramacı became a ProfessorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
in 1955. In the same year Prof. Doğramacı founded The Child Health Department affiliated with Ankara University Medical School
Ankara University Medical School
Ankara University Medical School is a medical school located in Sıhhiye district of Ankara, Turkey. It opened in 1945 as the second medical school in Turkey, when Istanbul Medical School could no longer keep up with the demand for trained doctors....
. In 1958 the Child Health Institute and Hospital started to serve the community as well as its researches and education. In 1961 School of Health Sciences was founded as the first instance of school healthcare science in Turkey. Subsequent to the establishment of some other departments such as dentistry, home economics the institute became another higher education center affiliated with Ankara University Medical School and thus in 1967 the Hacettepe University was founded officially. After the establishments of some other departments under Hacettepe University, a need for a larger educational building complex aroused. İhsan Doğramacı endowed a considerable amount to foundations named Hacettepe Education Foundation and Hacettepe Health Foundation. Thanks to these donations the new campus for Hacettepe University was built rapidly. Presently, Hacettepe University which is one of the best state universities in Turkey in medicine-related areas.
Bilkent University
After the legislation allowing establishment of private universities in Turkey upon Doğramacı's request and effort, he began his searches to found a privatePrivate university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
, campus university
Campus university
A campus university is a British term for a university situated on one site, with student accommodation, teaching and research facilities, and leisure activities all together...
. Afterwards in 1984 between Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University is a public technical university located in Ankara, Turkey...
and Hacettepe University
Hacettepe University
Hacettepe University is a major state university in Ankara, Turkey.The University has two main campuses. The first is located in the old town of Ankara and hosts the Medical Centre, and the second is the Beytepe Campus, which is 13 km from the city centre...
campuses the first private university of Turkey, Bilkent University
Bilkent University
İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, commonly referred to as Bilkent University or Bilkent, is the first private, nonprofit university in Turkey with the fundamental aim of creating a center of excellence in higher education and research...
was founded. Doğramacı founded some industrial companies such as Tepe construction to build educational buildings and to provide financial support for the university as well. All the companies incorporated under Bilkent Holding are now one of the major corporate group of Turkey. All companies were endowed to the Bilkent University. Doğramacı's all heirs relinquished their rights to the companies. By this act, he donated nearly his whole fortune to the university. Bilkent University is now one of the best universities nationwide and according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information...
, Bilkent is the 112. best university worldwide.
Affiliated with Bilkent University, Doğramacı had some other educational projects. The first of his university level education centers of excellence (the opening of which had been his most recent project) was inaugurated in Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
(Bilkent Erzurum Laboratory High School) in 2007 followed by three other centers in East and Southeast Turkey. Professor İhsan Doğramacı also provided charitable financial private scholarship support to university students in medical sciences and music for over 40 years.
The Turkish Foreign Policy Institute
Foreign Policy Institute
Turkish Foreign Policy Institute is a Turkish think tank on foreign policy and international relations...
of Bilkent University administers an award program of İhsan Doğramacı Prize of International Relations for Peace.
Doğramacı, with his wife, Ayser Doğramacı, endowed their family wealth to the support of educational and medical projects. In more recent times the Founder had turned his attention to the place of his birth, Erbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
. The vision of the Ihsan Dogramaci Erbil Foundation was to build a needed and unique school in a region that has had a troubled history. After the completion of construction, the first students of İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent Erbil College began classes in 2009.
Personal life
His father Doğramacızade Ali Pasha was the Mayor of Erbil and later a Senator in Baghdad; his grandfather Mehmet Ali Kirdar was a Member of the Ottoman Parliament for Kirkuk.Doğramacı was married to Ayser Süleyman
in 1942.
He had three children. His son, Professor Ali Doğramacı was the Rector of Bilkent University until 1 March 2010. Currently his son-in-law Prof. Dr. Abdullah Atalar
Abdullah Atalar
Abdullah Atalar is a Turkish scientist and academic. Atalar is the Rector of Bilkent University, and a professor at Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering...
is the rector.
Death
İhsan Dogramaci died at Hacettepe University Hospital on February 25, 2010 from multiple organ failure. He had been a patient in the intensive care unit there since November 2009.Awards, Prizes, and Decorations
He was the recipient of the Turkish State Medal for Outstanding Merit as well as the 2007 Honor Award of the Turkish Parliament, The Grand National Assembly of Turkey.- Heydar Aliyev OrderHeydar Aliyev OrderHeydar Aliyev Order , is an Azerbaijani award presented by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan....
(Azerbaijan) - First Rank Order of Independence (Azerbaijan).
- Order of Homayoun First Class (Iran)
- Gran Cruz Placa de Plata de la Orden Heráldica de Cristóbal Colón (Dominican Republic).
- Gran Official, Orden del Mérito de Duarte, Sánchez y Mella (Dominican Republic).
- First Rank Commander of the Order of the Lion of FinlandOrder of the Lion of FinlandThere are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
(Finland). - First Rank Commander of the Order of Merit of PolandOrder of Merit of PolandThe Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland is a Polish order awarded to those who have rendered great service to the Polish nation. It is granted to foreigners or Poles resident abroad and as such is a traditional 'diplomatic order'...
. - Order of the Cross of St. Mary’s Land (Estonia)
- Officier de la Légion d'Honneur (France).
- National Award for Distinguished Service (Scientific and Technical Research), Turkey, 1978.
- Léon Bernard Foundation Prize (WHO), 1981.
- Christopherson Award (American Academy of PediatricsAmerican Academy of PediatricsThe American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...
), 1986. - Maurice Pate Award (UNICEF), 1995
- State Medal of Merit (Romania), 1997
- Health-For-All Gold Medal (WHO), 1997
- 1999 Health and Education Award for Merit (Turkey)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey), Distinguished Service Award, 2000
- Council of EuropeCouncil of EuropeThe Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
“ Peace, Justice and Tolerance” Prize, 1998 (The other two laureates were Franz KönigFranz KönigFranz König was an Austrian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Vienna from 1956 to 1985, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1958...
and Simon WiesenthalSimon WiesenthalSimon Wiesenthal KBE was an Austrian Holocaust survivor who became famous after World War II for his work as a Nazi hunter....
.)
External links
- Prof.Dr.İhsan Dogramacı
- His photograph and CV
- A review of governing higher education in Turkey and the World
- An outline of his educational and charitable international activities (in Turkish)
- Some of his Addresses
- Assembly of the Parliament of Cultures
- Some of his photographs and detailed biography in Turkish
- Weddings: Grandson Ihsan Dogramaci to Sam Marchiano