A Life Dedicated to Pharmacy Education and Science

Year 2023, Volume: 53 Issue: 3, 368 - 368, 28.12.2023

Nilgün Lütfiye Karalı

Abstract

Professor Aysel Gürsoy was born in Beşikdüzü, Trabzon, in 1940. She completed her primary and secondary education in Zonguldak, and graduated from the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul University in 1963. In the same year, she was appointed as an assistant to the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmacy in 1967, and became an Associate Professor in 1971 after passing the science and trial lecture exams. She was awarded the title of Professor with the joint degree numbered 20521, dated 29.5.1978. She conducted research and investigations at the School of Pharmacy, University of London, in 1967- 1968. She was assigned to teach Pharmaceutical Chemistry courses at Ege University School of Pharmacy for the 1971-1973 academic years, and at Istanbul Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences School of Pharmacy for the 1973-1974 academic year. She served as the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Istanbul University for three terms (1985-1994), Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry for one term (1998-2001), Member of the Senate of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Istanbul University for one term (1998-2000), and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Istanbul University for two terms (2000-2006). A highly respected mentor to many professors, Prof. Aysel Gürsoy made significant contributions to pharmacy education and science, particularly in pharmaceutical chemistry. Known for her unwavering commitment to fairness and objectivity, she excelled in her administrative roles, effectively resolving conflicts and building consensus through her strong leadership qualities. She showed great determination and effort in the relocation of our faculty, which was severely damaged as a result of the 1999 Marmara Earthquake Disaster, to the Faculty of Science under those difficult conditions and in the continuation of educational and training activities. Her efforts to repair the Faculty’s Historic Block A and the difficulties she experienced will always be remembered. Professor Gürsoy participated in numerous domestic and international congresses throughout her distinguished career. She is a prolific author with 72 original scientific publications, most of which are in prestigious SCI-indexed journals. Additionally, she co-authored three books with Professor Nedime Ergenç and Professor Öznur Ateş. She retired from Istanbul University, Faculty of Pharmacy in 2007. She was appointed as a founding faculty member to the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Istanbul Health and Technology University, Faculty of Pharmacy in 2020. These accomplishments as a valuable scientist, faculty member, and administrator are the consequence of Prof. Gürsoy’s relentless commitment to work, her dependability in human connections, and her reputation as a valued scientist. For her selfless contributions to pharmacy education and science, her efforts, the thousands of pupils she has nurtured, and the good actions she has done, our dear professor will be remembered with love, respect, and longing.

Keywords

Aysel Gürsoy, Pharmacy Education, Obituary