Türkiye
With over five decades of experience across public health, international relations, health tourism, and corporate social responsibility, I have consistently led impactful initiatives aimed at improving healthcare systems and promoting global partnerships. My career reflects a unique intersection of government service, NGO leadership, international diplomacy, and private sector strategy. I served as the Secretary General of the Health Foundation of Türkiye (2010–2016), where I led the Foundation's mission to promote public health, support health-related education, and develop collaborative projects in health tourism. I coordinated the creation and publication of the landmark report “Health Tourism in Türkiye and the World – 2010”, which became a reference point in the sector. This work strategically addressed the integration of medical, thermal, wellness, elderly, and disabled tourism within the healthcare ecosystem. Earlier, I played a key role as Vice President of the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association (2005–2015), advocating for sustainable business practices and CSR integration into Turkish institutions. I contributed to Türkiye’s alignment with the UN Global Compact, promoting global reporting standards and responsible corporate conduct. I was the Head of the Country Office of the WHO in Türkiye, following a 27-year tenure at the Ministry of Health, where I served as Head of External Relations. These positions allowed me to represent Türkiye in numerous WHO General Assemblies and Regional Committee Meetings, actively shaping health diplomacy and global policy. I also led major event coordination efforts, including serving as General Coordinator of the 12th World Congress on Public Health (Istanbul, 2009), which hosted over 3,600 professionals from 134 countries—elevating Türkiye’s visibility in the global public health arena. In the private sector, I held executive roles in a mining company, overseeing international trade, sustainability, occupational safety, and corporate reporting. Key Skills and Competencies: * Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership * Public Health Policy & Program Development * Health Tourism Strategy & Development * International Relations & Health Diplomacy * Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) * Project Coordination & Report Writing * Stakeholder Engagement (Government, NGOs, UN bodies) * Export Operations & International Trade * Occupational Health & Safety * Sustainable Development & Environmental Health * Editing & Publication Coordination * UN & WHO Partnership Development
The Turkish Health Foundation's goal is to contribute to the effective delivery of healthcare services by contributing to the scientific and social development of Turkish society in the field of health. It also aims to engage in educational activities in the field of health, particularly by emphasizing a healthy lifestyle to foster a healthy society. It also aims to collaborate with domestic and foreign organizations that will invest in healthcare (including health tourism) within the framework of our foundation charter. Primarily focused on health tourism and health education, the Foundation strives to create opportunities for collaboration between foreign investors and educational institutions and organizations that have or will continue to engage with our Foundation (e.g., establishing geriatric centers, social projects for refugees, field research, etc.). Furthermore, in line with these objectives, residents of our country: 1- United Nations Agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNHCR, IOM, ILO, FAO, WHO, World Bank, etc.) 2- Non-Governmental Organizations (Associations, Foundations, Professional Organizations, etc.) that have international activities and operate by obtaining resources from foreign organizations operating internationally 3- Development Agencies/Technical Cooperation Programs of Foreign Countries (JICA, GIZ, AFD, COST, DANIDA, SIDA, etc.) 4- Collaborates with Trade, Culture, Education, and Tourism Counselors and Attachés of Foreign Countries in Türkiye (USA, China, Russia, EU Countries, South Korea, Japan, etc.) on congresses, workshops, sending and bringing students to and from health-related training institutions and other events.
Health is a top priority in Türkiye and around the world. Health is a fundamental human right. The World Health Organization defines health as "not merely the absence of disease or infirmity but a state of complete physical, mental (spiritual), and social well-being." This website (www.healthworldnews.net) is conducting research aligning with this definition.
Managing and directing a company, solving problems and marketing goods nationally and internationally. Managing relationships with public institutions, universities, non-governmental organizations and professional organizations. Occupational health and safety, environmental health and social responsibility activities. Domestic and international sales and exports (opening letters of credit, FOB transactions, etc.). Preparing the company's 2011-2018 Annual Activity Reports. Managing the company's 2011-2018 website. Reviewing and evaluating the daily, weekly, monthly and annual reports of domestic and international organizations of which we are members. In conclusion, I have been responsible for all the necessary processes and procedures for a modern company, from the conceptual stage to the actual stage, from production and exports to the environment and occupational health and safety, from management to social responsibility, from public relations to external relations.
From the founding of the Turkish Health Foundation until 2016, I worked on a wide range of topics, including the establishment of a unit within the Ministry of Health dedicated to "Health Tourism," the World Health Organization's perspective on the subject and the perspectives of governmental and private sector organizations, civil society organizations and professional organizations in Türkiye. I also coordinated and edited all research and studies for the book "Health Tourism in the World and Turkey 2010 - Situation Analysis Report and Solution Proposals" which we prepared for the Turkish Health Foundation. It explored medical tourism, thermal tourism, spa-wellness (water-based health) and tourism for the elderly and those with disabilities, emphasizing the therapeutic and health-improving aspects of the relationship between health and tourism. This book aims to optimally align the principle of profitability which motivates the private sector in health tourism with the public's responsibility for social welfare.