Turkish doctor named inspirational woman leader of year

By Ilhami Erkilic

ERZURUM, Turkey (AA) - Women in Turkey are more fortunate than many others living in different parts of the world, as they gained basic rights and liberties much earlier, said a Turkish doctor who was named inspirational woman leader of the year by an international congress on emergency medicine.

"In my country, as in practically every other society, women still have to work harder than men to succeed. This necessity often makes them stronger. This is also true in my case," said Dr. Zeynep Gokcan Cakir, who heads the Emergency Medicine Department at Ataturk University in the eastern province of Erzurum.

Cakir was chosen for the prestigious distinction at the World Academic Congress on Emergency Medicine on Sunday at its Women Leaders Symposium, which was virtually from India.

Also the vice president of the Emergency Medicine Physicians Association of Turkey and in charge of the emergency room at Ataturk University's hospital, Cakir explained being a female doctor in emergency had helped her.

"The fine line between life and death is the core challenge of emergency medicine, and I am happy to be a female leader fighting in this field," she said.

Cakir is one of 17 female academics from countries including the US, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Qatar who voiced their opinions at the symposium, along with women scientists from all around the world leading the emergency medical community and discussing the difficulties of emergency medicine and developments connected to COVID-19.

The Turkish doctor said she conveyed the perspectives and experiences of women leaders, and expressed her gratitude to Ataturk University Rector Omer Comakli for his support in emergency medical services, expressing her satisfaction at working at the well-established university.

* Writing by Merve Berker