Obituary notice: Professor Aysin Bakkaloglu (10th April 1943 – 18th July 2023)

Professor Aysin Bakkaloglu

(10^th April 1943 – 18^th July 2023)

We are sad to inform you that Professor Aysin Bakkaloglu passed away on July 18, 2023 in Ankara, Türkiye.

Aysin graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 1967 and completed her residency in pediatrics at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1971. She worked at University of Glasgow Pediatric Nephrology – Western Infirmary Transplantation Unit from 1975 to 1977. She then returned to Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Hacettepe University, Ankara where she established the first laboratory unit on complement system of the center, and worked until the end of her professional career.

Aysin was one of the pioneers in the field of pediatric nephrology and rheumatology in Türkiye. She dedicated her career to improving the status of children and adolescents with kidney diseases and rheumatological diseases. She was a cofounder of Turkish Society for Pediatric Nephrology (TSPN) and Turkish Society for Pediatric Rheumatology. She also served as President for TSPN (2003-2005).

As well as being a leading figure for national academic activities, she was the key person for multinational collaborations to improve understanding of kidney diseases and dissemination of knowledge in this field. Together with Professor Otto Mehls, Professor Aysin Bakkaloglu played an important role for cooperation of Turkish centers in ESCAPE Trial, which later assisted integration of many centers from Türkiye to ESCAPE Consortium.

Aysin also played an important role during the formation of Southeastern European Pediatric Nephrology Working Group (SEPNWG), and organized the 1^st SEPNWG Meeting (Istanbul, 14-15 June 2001). She was the Congress President of the outstanding 39^th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN) in Istanbul (10-13 September, 2005). Aysin served as a Council Member of ESPN (2003-2005); and was the Council Member of International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) between 2001-2007. 

Aysin always supported her young colleagues; more than ten of her students/fellows became leading pediatric nephrologists and rheumatologists in Türkiye. She worked a lot to establish Nephrogenetics Laboratory at Hacettepe University before her retirement. Aysin contributed to more than 300 significant publications as author or co-author in pediatric nephrology and rheumatology.

After retiring, surrounded by her loving family, grandson and granddaughters, she continued inspiring and mentoring us and her young colleagues. She has left an incredible legacy for all of us to learn from.

We are grateful to “Aysin Hoca” for her outstanding contribution to our society, and for unique and caring mentorship for our careers and lives. We will miss her enlightening wisdom and charming personality…

Rezan Topaloglu, Seza Ozen, Ali Duzova, Fatih Ozaltin, Yelda Bilginer, Bora Gulhan

Division of Pediatric Nephrology & Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University,

Ankara, Türkiye