HISTORY

Turkish Respiratory Society (TRS), the first national, occupational and scientific non-profit specialty association of Chest Diseases Specialists was founded in June, 22nd 1970 by nine academician founder members. (Society registration number 34-08/084 İstanbul). First president of Turkish Respiratory Society was Prof. Dr. Meliha Terzioğlu (deceased) from İstanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Physiology Department and served as president for 24 years.

Prof. Rauf Saygın, MD (Deceased)
Prof. Cem'i Demiroğlu, MD (Deceased)
Prof. Fahir Melek Göksel, MD (Deceased)
Prof. Sadi Sun, MD (Deceased)
Prof. Necati Akgün, MD
Prof. Meliha Terzioğlu, MD (Deceased)
Prof. Naci Bor, MD
Prof. Faruk Yener, MD
Fela Ersek, MD (Deceased)

Decision of Council of Ministers in relation to cooperation of Turkish Respiratory Society with European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology (SEPCR) was issued in Official Gazette on July, 12th 1971. With a head office in İstanbul, our association was appointed as one of the associations which work for public benefit by Council of Ministers with decision dated February, 28th 1978 and with the number of 7/15094 and approved by President of the Turkish Republic.

TRS organized two international symposiums in cooperation with European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology (SEPCR) with participation of many international scientists; including “Chemical regulation of ventilation and related clinical problems” in 1972 and "Hyperoxia and O2 toxicity" in 1978. Presentations from two meetings were published in “Bulletin Europĕen de Pysiopathologie Respiratoire”. President of TRS, Prof. Dr. Meliha Terzioğlu served as a member of Enforcement Committee in European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology (SEPCR) between 1973 and 1977 and served as the vice president between 1977 and 1981. These duties contributed to strengthen scientific relationships with European Society of Pneumology (SEP).

IV. National Congress of TRS organized in 1975 at Magosa was the first Turkish Scientific Meeting performed in Turkish Federative State of Cyprus.

Society organized a Maturation Course in November 1975 for the first time besides organizing congresses. These courses were referred as İstanbul Courses and many colleagues from various areas of medicine, especially Chest Diseases participated in those courses. These courses were organized repeatedly in the following years.
TRS organized a meeting in İstanbul, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty in May, 22nd 1981 for the memory of 100th anniversary of the birth of Ataturk. Also, at the same year National Congress of TRS (26-28 October 1981) was organized in Diyarbakır.

An award to "Support Young Researchers” was given for the first time according to the rules of a Commission determined by Executive Board meeting of 3-7 October 1983 Marmaris Congress. Number of members was 161 in 1980 and in 1983 it was over 240.

Prof. Dr. Krause was awarded an Honorary Membership on September, 17th 1984 with the decision of TRS Executive Board.

First Respiratory  Journal consisted of presentations of 1976 Manavgat Congress. Starting with this, Respiratory  journals have been printed in Nazım Terzioğlu Mathematics Research Institute Printing House.
In May of 1976, Maturation Institute organized a successful fashion show for the benefit of TRS.

After 24 years (1970-1994) of successful presidency of Prof. Meliha Terzioğlu, MD, Prof Müzeyyen Erk, MD (IU. Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Chest Diseases Department) was the president between 1994-2000 and Prof. Mustafa Yaman, MD (IU. Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Chest Diseases Department) served as the president between 2000 and 2006. Prof. Can Öztürk, MD (Gazi University Medical Faculty, Chest Diseases Department) has been the president since 2006.

He initiated the executive board to become more open to change and novelty by making constitutional and administrative changes and also to give more importance to “Public Health" which is specified in target description of Turkish Respiratory Society between 2004 and 2006.

Therefore, Lung Cancer, Asthma&Allergy, Physiology, Interventional Pulmonology, Infection, COPD, Tuberculosis, Intensive Care work groups were determined in executive board meeting dated November, 12th 2006 of Turkish Respiratory Society. At the meeting dated December, 23rd 2006, temporary executive boards, president, vice president, secretary and accountants of work groups were chosen.

In 2005, opening branches in Turkey in compliance to section 14 of foundation legislation of Turkish Respiratory Society was accepted. Middle Anotolia branch continues to work actively. Also, Aegean, Blacksea and Eastern Anotolia Branches started to operate.