Zaruhi Kavalcıyan

Zaruhi Kavaljian (Zaruhi Kavalcian, , 1877 – June 10, 1969), first female physician of Armenian descent in Turkey.

Life and education Zaruhi Kavaljian was born in the city of Adapazar, Turkey, in the family of doctor Serob Kavaljian, who had graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine. He had worked as a doctor in Adapazar and Izmit.

During World War I Kavaljian worked in the institutions providing assistance to the wounded. In 1921 Zaruhi, together with American College of Girls of Adapazar, moved to Üsküdar district of Istanbul.

Alongside medicine, Zaruhi taught at the American Girls’ College of Üsküdar where she was known as Dector Kaval.

Death Zaruhi died on June 10, 1969. She is buried in the Armenian Protestant Cemetery of Ferriccio.