Thank You Dr. Kaymakçalan!
Ercument Kilic, President, ATAA - During ATAA's recent convention, I spoke of Sultan Yildirim Bayezit as the caregiver, and the merciful. Dr. Orhan Kaymakcalan is the modern day caregiver, and the merciful. That is how we, his friends, his city Chicago, and his Turkish-American community in America came to know him.

ATAA had the good fortune of having him as its leader, its president for two years. His warm style and down to earth attitude made all around him more at ease, more productive, and harder working. If ever, those around him fell short in anyway, there was again Dr. Kaymakcalan, he tidied up after others and made sure all was not just well but was excellent.

Dr. Kaymakcalan graduated from Hacettepe University Medical School in Ankara in 1972. After completing his surgical residency in Basic Science in Hacettepe Hospital in 1973 in just one year, he performed his surgical residency in Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center in Chicago between 1974 and 1978. He received his fellowship in Hand Surgery in University of Louisville, Kentucky in 1983. He now is the Chief of the Section of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center. He is a member of American and Chicago Society of Surgery of the Hand.

Dr. Kaymakcalan, and his wonderful wife Nezahat Kaymakcalan who have been a tireless worker and an angel of ATAA herself, have raised two great Turkish-American children. Both of Kaymakcalan's sweet children Sevil and Omer are very successful students, speak Turkish as natives, not to mention the fact that they accompany their parents to all Turkish events not only in this country, but also in Turkey and all other lands their parents visit.

Dr. Kaymakcalan sets an example to us all in more than one ways. Give to your causes unselfishly and generously. Be kind to your people. Return back to this land we call America as well. It is very frequently that he performs surgeries for free for the needy and the poor people of his community and he even travels abroad to do the same. Be respectful of your heritage. Never stop educating yourself. And the last but not the least, I will always remember Dr. Kaymakcalan for one special thing that he always does; he never concludes a speech without thanking his wife Nezahat for standing beside him.

And we will do the same Dr. Kaymakcalan. We will never conclude a speech without thanking the past presidents of ATAA, beginning with you the most recent. Thank you Dr. Kaymakcalan. Thank you Nezahat Kaymakcalan.