On February 6th, 2025, we lost our esteemed Prof. Daver Yeker, MD an Honorary Member of Turkish Association of Pediatric Surgeons.
In addition to his many merits, Prof. Yeker served as a Board Member of the Turkish Association of Pediatric Surgeons from 1986 to 1990 and as the president from 1992 to 1998, making significant contributions to the development and recognition of our profession and association.
A relatively lesser-known fact about his professional history is that he was the first pediatric surgeon to work in Istanbul. In 1973, when he completed his training in pediatric surgery, he was assigned to SSK Göztepe Hospital, which was opened in 1972, and worked in this institution until 1977. In other words, Istanbul learned who a pediatric surgeon was thanks to him.
During his time working at SSK Göztepe Hospital, the construction of a second building in the same premises and the use of it as a Children’s Hospital came to the agenda. With the support of the professor working in the institution as a young and hardworking consultant, one floor of this new building was structured as a Pediatric Surgery ward and a 4-room pediatric operating theater was added to the project. He was closely involved in every stage of the construction project, which was frequently mentioned by the operating nurses who worked at the institution during those years and with whom I later worked. The building was opened in 1977 and the established Pediatric Surgery Ward provided uninterrupted service until 2020, when the hospital was renovated. The Aesculap® ; brand surgical instruments purchased by his demand were used in the operating theaters for many years, and some of them are still used today.
Behind his remarkable scientific and professional contributions to the pediatric surgical community stand thousands of children whose lives he helped save, dozens of pediatric surgeons he mentored with dedication, and countless beautiful memories he left behind. His passion for healing, his commitment to advancing medical knowledge, and his unwavering support for his students and colleagues continue to inspire generations.
We remember him with love, gratitude, and deep respect, honoring his legacy in every life he touched.
Prof. Çiğdem Ulukaya Durakbaşa, MD
President
Turkish Association of Pediatric Surgeons