Professor İhsan Doğramacı (3 April 1915 – 25 February 2010) was a

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

paediatrician, entrepreneur,

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

, educationalist and college administrator of Iraqi Turkmen descent born in today's

Erbil Erbil, also called Hawler (, ar, أربيل, Arbīl; syr, ܐܲܪܒܹܝܠ, Arbel), is the capital and most populated city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It lies in the Erbil Governorate. It has an estimated population of around 1,600,000. Hu ...

, 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 overall highly ranked 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 A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

in WHO (World Health Organization) since 1985. He was offered national political leadership positions such as

ministry of foreign affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

and premiership by

Cemal Gürsel Cemal Gürsel (; 13 October 1895 – 14 September 1966) was a Turkish army general who became the List of Presidents of Turkey, fourth President of Turkey after a coup. Early life He was born in the city of Erzurum as the son of an Ottoman A ...

and

Süleyman Demirel Süleyman Sami Demirel (; 1 November 1924 – 17 June 2015) was a Turkish people, Turkish politician, engineer, and statesman who served as the List of Presidents of Turkey, 9th President of Turkey from 1993 to 2000. He previously served as the ...

, both of which he declined. Doğramacı spoke

, 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.

International organisations

He was a Fellow of the

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, often referred to as the RCPCH, is the professional body for paediatricians (doctors specialising in child health) in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the postgraduate training of paed ...

, 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 in 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 the 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 Prince Hassan bin Talal ( ar, الحسن بن طلال, born 20 March 1947) is a member of the Jordanian royal family who was previously Crown Prince from 1965 to 1999, being removed just three weeks before King Hussein's death. Family Prince Ha ...

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.

International Pediatric Association (IPA)

He had been the Honorary President of the 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 Organization (WHO)

He signed the WHO Constitution in New York City, July 1946 (he was the last living signatory). He was the Vice President in 1976 and a member of the Executive Board between 1976 and 1982. He had been a member of many child health-related programs 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 the Turkish National Committee for UNICEF (1958–2003). He was a major financial charitable contributor to the UNICEF co-sponsored Turkish educational community campaig
"Let's Go to School, Girls"

Turkey

İhsan Doğramacı matured in the secular Turkey of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This was a political environment that Doğramacı endeavored to help develop, with his focus being medicine and child health. He also saw higher education as 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 Phillips described him in his book: 'This is a likable 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 Turkey (YÖK) from 1981 until 1992. He chaired the Board of Trustees in

Middle East Technical University Middle East Technical University (commonly referred to as METU; in Turkish language, Turkish, ''Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi'', ODTÜ) is a public university, public Institute of technology, technical university located in Ankara, Turkey. The ...

in 1965 and held the rector position in

Ankara University Ankara University ( tr, Ankara Üniversitesi) is a public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in Turkey after the formation of the republic in 1923. The university has 40 vocat ...

in 1963 and several other universities in Turkey.

Hacettepe University

After a rapid rise in academia, Doğramacı became a Professor of

pediatrics Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until th ...

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 establishment 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 is one of the best state universities in Turkey in medicine-related areas.

Bilkent University

After the legislation allowing the establishment of private universities in Turkey upon Doğramacı's request and effort, he began his searches to found a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

, campus university. Afterward, in 1984 between

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 groups 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. the 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, Ayer 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,

. 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 2010.

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 Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of Bilkent University until 1 March 2010. Currently his grandson-in-law Prof. Dr. Abdullah Atalar is the rector.

Death

İhsan Dogramaci died at Hacettepe University Hospital on 25 February 2010 from multiple organ failure. He had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit there since November 2009.

Awards, Prizes, and Decorations

Orders and Decorations

* ''1976'' – : Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella * ''1977'' – : National Order of the Legion of Honour * ''1979'' – : Order of the Lion of Finland * ''1989'' – : Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland * ''1989'' – : Médaille de la Ville de Paris * ''1990'' – : Grand Cross Order of Christopher Columbus * ''1995'' – :

State Medal of Distinguished Service State Medal of Distinguished Service ( tr, Devlet Üstün Hizmet Madalyası) is one of the three civil state decorations of Turkey. The medal was established on October 24, 1983 with the Law on Medals and Orders, Act No. 2933. It is rewarded to Tur ...

* ''1997'' – : Medal for Merit * ''1997'' – : Golden Medal Health For All * ''2000'' – : Firs Class of Istiglal Order * ''2000'' – : Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana * ''2005'' – : Heydar Aliyev Order * ''2005'' – : Golden Medal of Sevda-Cenap Music Foundation Honor Award * ''2009'' – : Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Commendation Medal * ''2009'' – : Medal of Egyptian People's Assembly

Awards

* ''1978'' – :

TÜBİTAK The Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkey ( tr, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK) is a national agency of Turkey whose stated goal is to develop "science, technology and innovation" (STI) policies ...

Service Award * ''1981'' – :

Léon Bernard Foundation Prize World Health Organization Prizes and Awards are given to recognise major achievements in public health. The candidates are nominated and recommended by each prize and award selection panel. The WHO Executive Board selects the winners, which are pre ...

* ''1986'' – : Christopherson Award (

American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an American professional association of pediatricians, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. It maintains its Department of Federal Affairs office in Washington, D.C. Background The Academy was founded ...

) * ''1995'' – : Maurice Pate Award * ''1995'' – : Soranus of Science and Friendship Award * ''1998'' – : “ Peace, Justice and Tolerance” Prize * ''1999'' – : Health and Education Award * ''2000'' – : Distinguished Service Award ( Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey) * ''2004'' – : Dr. Ju Shichiro Naito International Child Health Award * ''2007'' – : Honor Award of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey * ''2009'' – : Award of Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences

References

External links

Prof.Dr.İhsan Dogramacı

His photograph and CV

* ttp://www.milliyet.com.tr/2007/04/03/yazar/akyol.html An outline of his educational and charitable international activities(in Turkish)
Some of his Addresses

Assembly of the Parliament of Cultures

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dogramaci, Ihsan 1915 births 2010 deaths Deaths from multiple organ failure People from Erbil Turkish people of Iraqi Turkmen descent Hacettepe University faculty Turkish medical researchers Turkish non-fiction writers Chairmen and Presidents of UNICEF Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class Rectors of universities and colleges in Turkey Recipients of the Heydar Aliyev Order Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Recipients of the Istiglal Order Recipients of TÜBİTAK Service Award Rectors of Ankara University Bilkent University people Turkish officials of the United Nations Iraqi Turkmen people Léon Bernard Foundation Prize laureates