In the last years of the Ottoman Empire, among the most devastating effects of hunger and war, Safiye Ali managed to become the first female doctor in Turkey by not giving up for a day despite all sexist objections. has done studies. Who is Safiye Ali, let’s take a closer look at her life story.
In the last period of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled all over the world for hundreds of years, when it was struggling with wars and hunger, she set out with the goal of becoming a young woman doctor in Istanbul. Unfortunately, the obstacles to this woman named Safiye Ali were not only war and hunger. Later on Safiye Ali, who will be the first female doctor in Turkey, He also engaged in a relentless struggle with misogynistic bigots.
Even today, it is difficult to be a woman and a doctor in our country, and think about a hundred years ago. Safiye Ali was not even allowed to receive medical education in these lands. But she did not give up, she studied medicine in Germany and returned to her hometown as a physician, both as a doctor, she took care of patients, and also undersigned studies that have an impact on women’s and children’s health even today. Who is Safiye Ali, let’s take a closer look at her inspiring life story
Who is Safiye Ali? The youngest daughter of a well-known family:
Born on February 2, 1894 in Istanbul, Hatice Safiye’s father, Ali Kırat Pasha, who served as an aide to Sultan Abdulaziz and Abdulhamit II; His mother is Emine Hasene Hanım, the daughter of Şamlı Hacı Emin Pasha, who served as sheikh al-Islam for 17 years in Mecca. Safiye is the youngest of four sisters. her eldest sister is the great-grandmother of Bülent Ecevit, one of the important names in our political world.
Safiye started her education life in Beşiktaş Middle School and later moved to the American Girls’ College in 1912. He graduated from college in 1916 by taking high school and junior high school diplomas. Safiye, who also took lessons from names such as Tevfik Fikret, who made unique contributions to Turkish education life, could speak English, French, German, Russian and Italian at the age of 16.
Safiye Ali’s life changed with the Balkan Wars:
For a long time, the Ottoman Empire had already lost its former power. However, starting in 1912 With the Balkan Wars, the country fell into an endless struggle. In this process, as she saw the veterans returning from the wars and could not help them, young Safiye was heartbroken. The love of medicine, which had already fallen into his mind with the guidance of his college principal, Mary Milss Patrick, began to flare up.
The Ottoman Empire still had many successful educational institutions and they also provided medical education. well You might think that there was no obstacle for Safiye to get a medical education, but there were; bigotry. The thought of some perverts, who had taken our country captive for many years and even today, prevented Safiye at that time, women were forbidden to receive education in the medical school. But no Turkish woman would run away from the obstacles that came her way.
Safiye Ali goes to Germany for medical education:
Safiye was lucky, she had a family with well-known and powerful friends. Immediately, the Minister of Education of the time, Şükrü Bey, was contacted and with the scholarship he gave. Safiye went to Würzburg, Germany, to study medicine. He returned to Istanbul in 1921 as a physician. However, after 6 months, he had to go to Germany again to receive specialization training.
at the Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg He received specialization training on gynecological diseases for one year and pediatric diseases for two years. Safiye Ali, who suffered great misery for the sake of her ideals at that time, included the following words in her letter;
“The bread I take out of the trash and eat at night doesn’t hurt me at all. It hurts me more to be here when there is a medical school in my country. Whatever happens, I will return to my country as a doctor.”
While she was studying in Germany, Safiye Ali met and married Ferdinant Krekeler, an ophthalmologist who would later become a Muslim and change her name to Ferdi Ali. Safiye Ali, who completed her specialization training, He did as he was told and returned to his country as a doctor in 1923.
Safiye Ali, Turkey’s first female doctor, returns to her country:
Returning to Istanbul, Safiye Ali and her husband opened a practice on Nuruosmaniye Street in Cağaoğlu, Istanbul. who forced Safiye Ali to study medicine in Germany the dark mindset was still at work and he was prevented from even practicing medicine. He didn’t give up. He went door to door, found sick women and children, and treated them free of charge.
Meanwhile, he worked as a physician in the American and German embassies and graduated from She taught gynecology and obstetrics at the American College for Girls. Upon the proposal of Besim Ömer Pasha, she started to work as a pediatrician in the Women’s Center of the Red Crescent Society in 1923. Safiye Ali also worked in the Himaye-i Etfal Society Milk Drop Institution.
He carried out unique studies, participated in international medical congresses:
Safiye Ali, in addition to her duty as a physician, also worked in the Himaye-i Etfal Society, which we know today as the Child Protection Agency. He served first as a doctor and later as a manager at the Milk Drop Center. During Safiye Ali’s period, this structure gained a full corporate identity. and the foundations of his work even today were laid.
Safiye Ali, Turkey’s first female doctor at a time when women and children were accepted as second-class citizens. He did not only provide treatment services in his practice, He also touched on social issues. Women were informed about their own health and child health, patients were identified, financial situations were observed, and help was delivered to the doorstep of those in need.
A woman who was educated in Germany during the most terrible years of the war was met with surprise by the Europeans. After becoming a physician in the following years, Safiye Ali; in London, Vienna and Budapest She participated in International Women Doctors Congresses held in different years. Safiye Ali, who participated in the congress held for the first time in 1924, is also the first woman to represent Turkey in the international arena.
Safiye Ali died in 1952:
Safiye Ali was diagnosed with cancer in 1928. Nice endured this as well as difficulties and recovered as a result of the operation in Germany. He stayed here for a while and worked as a physician to the German civilian population during the Second World War. He returned to Istanbul after the war, but his illness recurred. Safiye Ali, who returned to Germany, did not respond to the treatment this time and He died on July 5, 1952 in Dortmunt. The greatest legacy he left us was this inspiring life story.
Acting as Turkey’s first female doctor and serving our country innumerable Who is Safiye Ali? We answered the question and talked about the details of his inspiring life story. You can share your thoughts about Safiye Ali in the comments.