Tevfik Sağlam

Tevfik Sağlam (born; Ali Tevfik Salim; 7 May 188211 July 1963) was a Turkish a military physician and professor, known for his contributions to medical education and health reforms during the early years of the Republic of Turkey. He served as the chief physician of the Health Division of the Selanik Redif Brigade during the Balkan Wars, the chief of health of the 2nd and 3rd Armies during World War I, and later chief of internal medicine at the Gülhane Military Medical Academy.

Known for his advocacy for health reforms such as establishment of health Institutions focused on tuberculosis and malaria,

Early life and education Sağlam was born on 27 May 1882, in Istanbul. He was the son of Mehmet Salim Bey, who served as the director of the Sadaret Cipher Office, and his mother was Nevber Hanım. Sağlam began his education at Sultanahmet Üçler School in 1888, followed by Soğukçeşme Military Rüştiye in 1891. He entered the Military Medical School in 1895 and graduated in 1903, receiving the rank of captain doctor.

Career Following his graduation, he interned at the Gülhane Military Medical Academy, where he worked in the Internal Medicine Clinic under the supervision of Dr. Süleyman Numan Pasha. He became an assistant professor of internal diseases at the Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Şahane in 1906. After the merger of military and civilian medical schools into the Faculty of Medicine in 1909, he was appointed as the laboratory chief, establishing the 3rd Internal Medicine Clinic.

During the Balkan Wars, Sağlam served as the chief physician of the Health Division of the Selanik Redif Brigade in Erzurum. In World War I, he was appointed chief of health of the 2nd Army and later the 3rd Army in Erzurum. He encountered numerous challenges related to the spread of typhus and other infectious diseases, which were rampant during this period. To combat these epidemics, he implemented various disinfection methods and developed vaccines that were utilized by both the Ottoman and German armies.

Later work After the conclusion of World War I and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Sağlam joined the healthcare initiatives under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He served as the head of the Health Department of the Ministry of National Defense but later resigned to focus on his work as a specialist in internal medicine at the Ankara Sarı Kışla Mevki Hospital in Ankara. After the conclusion of initiatives, he returned to Istanbul and took on various roles, including chief of Internal Medicine at İzmir Hospital and professor of Internal Medicine at Gülhane Military Medical Academy.

In 1926, he was appointed as a member of the Turkish Codex Commission and reestablished the health structure in the Republic of Turkey. He actively participated in several health initiatives, including the formation of the Istanbul Tuberculosis Combat Society and served as a member of the Turkish Medical Council.

Sağlam was also a writer and educator. He published numerous articles focused on infectious diseases, internal medicine, and public health. His wrote several books such as Usul-i Teşhis-i Seriri (1909), Koleranın Teşhis-i Bakteriyolojisi (1910), Ürobilinin Menşei Hakkında (1915), Emraz-ı Dâhiliye (1920), Gülhane (1920), Tifo Aşısı (1921), Malarya (1922), Sıtma Tedavisi (1923), Lekeli Tifo (1924), Dâhili Tıp Teneffüs Azası Hastalıkları (1926), Büyük Harpte Üçüncü Orduda Sıhhi Hizmet (1941), Hayatım (1947), and İç Hastalıkları Kliniğinde 50 Yıl (1952). The Modern Bir Verem Savaşı Kurmak Lazımdır (1955) is one of his prominent writings which became a critical reference in the field, contributing to the importance of integrating modern medical practices within the Turkish healthcare system.