Behçet Uz
Ömer Behçet Uz was a Turkish physician, politician, former mayor of İzmir and government minister.Biography
He was born in Buldan ilçe of Denizli Province, Ottoman Empire in 1893. He studied in İzmir High School, which was later renamed to Atatürk High School, and in the School of Medicine of İstanbul University. After working in İstanbul, he moved to İzmir to practice pediatrics. In 1922, he founded Veremle Mücadele derneği
In 1931, he was elected as the Mayor of İzmir. In this post, he served for ten years. He was instrumental in establishing Kültürpark, erecting the Atatürk Monument, establishing playgrounds, market squares, constructing some streets. In 1941, he was elected as a Republican People's Party deputy from Denizli Province.
Between 9 July 1942 and 9 March 1943, he was the Minister of Commerce in the 13th government of Turkey. Between 7 August 1946 and 10 June 1948 in the 15th and the 16th government of Turkey, he was the Minister of Health and Social Security.
After the CHP lost the parliament majority in the 1950 general election, he joined the Democrat Party. Between 17 June 1954 and 9 December 1955 in the 21st government of Turkey, he was again the Minister of Health and Social Security.
He died in 1986 in İstanbul The Dr. Behçet Uz Çocuk Hospital, a children's hospital is named in his honor.
