Türkan Saylan
A pioneering dermatologist who dedicated her life to eradicating leprosy in Turkey and empowering generations of young women through education.
1935–2009 (age 74)·Turkish medical doctor·Birthday: December 13·The Silent Generation
Biography
Türkan Saylan was a force of intellect and compassion who fought battles on two fronts: against a dreaded disease and for the soul of a modern Turkey. As a leading dermatologist, she spearheaded Turkey's national fight against leprosy, transforming its treatment and public perception through relentless campaigning and clinical work. Her second, parallel mission was as a fierce advocate for secular education and women's rights. She co-founded the Association for the Support of Contemporary Living (ÇYDD), an organization that has provided scholarships to tens of thousands of girls, insisting that an educated female populace was essential for a progressive society. Her activism, particularly her defense of secular principles, made her a controversial figure to some, but to many Turks she was a symbol of unwavering principle and hope. Saylan worked tirelessly until her death, leaving a legacy measured in healthier lives and expanded horizons.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Türkan was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Türkan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Türkan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2009Died at 74
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Led Turkey's national leprosy control program, dramatically reducing the disease's prevalence and stigma.
- Co-founded the Association for the Support of Contemporary Living (ÇYDD), providing educational scholarships primarily for young women.
- Served as a professor and head of the Department of Dermatology at Istanbul University's medical faculty.
Did You Know?
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her forties and continued her medical and activist work throughout her treatment.
She received the International Gandhi Award for her work combating leprosy in 1986.
Her life and work were the subject of a popular Turkish television series, 'The Rose of Istanbul.'
“Leprosy is a medical condition, not a divine punishment; we must treat it with science and dignity.”
