About TAMA Doctors
The Turkish American Medical Association (TAMA) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote and support the professional and personal development of Turkish American medical professionals.
Mission & Vision
The mission of the TAMA is to serve the Turkish American Society within the guidelines of the humanitarian practice of medicine. The objectives of the TAMA are:
1. To promote, increase and advance the health, welfare and well-being of Turkish Americans in the United States
2. To encourage interest, awareness and activism in local and national political arenas with reference to problems affecting Turkish Americans
3. To promote contact among members and foster the exchange of scientific information through meetings, discussions and forums. To contribute in the continuing education of its members and other medical professionals
4. To engage in concerted action with private governmental agencies, organizations and institutions as well as solicit, raise or otherwise collect money for the charitable and benevolent purposes of the organization
5. To provide public guidance and counseling to Turkish Americans in the form of
seminars, courses, social meetings, publications and individual interactions.
History
Turkish American Physician Association NY, Inc. (TAPA) was first established in 1968 by Turkish American medical doctors. After the addition of Turkish American dentists, Turkish American Physician Association was annexed to TAMA in 1992. Since its establishment, TAMA has been one of the most active groups within the Federation of the Turkish American Associations and cultivated the support within Turkish American
medical doctors and dentists and the Turkish American community.
Leadership
Board of Directors
S. Eralp Bellibas, MD, PhD, FAHA
President
Dr. S. Eralp Bellibaş is a distinguished physician scientist with a remarkable career spanning academia, research, and the pharmaceutical industry. He graduated from Ankara University School of Medicine, specialized in Pharmacology at Ege University, and completed Clinical Pharmacology post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
Board of Trustees
Semih Gungor
Board Member
Dr. Semih Gungor is a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist practicing at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Weill Medical School of Cornell University in New York City. Dr. Gungor is a graduate of Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey. He completed Anesthesiology and Critical Care residency at Istanbul University School of Medicine.
Nejat Kiyici
Board Member
Nejat was born in Istanbul in 1966. After graduating Istanbul medical school of Istanbul university in 1989, he came to New York to advance his career. He completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at New York Medical College affiliated Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx.
Murat Karatepe
Board Member
Dr. Murat Karatepe is an Invasive Cardiologist, and the founder of Ocean Cardiovascular Specialists in Toms River, NJ.
Dr. Karatepe started his medical journey at Istanbul University in 1983. After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine in 1989, he decided to pursue his education in The United States.
Olca Basturk
Board Member
Olca Basturk, MD, is a world-renowned pathologist in the field of pancreas and biliary tract pathology. She currently serves as an attending pathologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY as well as Chair of the Tissue Utilization Committee, David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research in New York, NY. Dr. Basturk earned her MD from the Ege University School of Medicine in Izmir, Turkey.
Ergun Senay
Board Member
Ergun Senay, D.D.S., is a general dentist and the founder of Midtown East Dental, NY.
Dr. Senay received his dental degree at Istanbul University, Faculty of Dentistry in 1982. After deciding to pursue additional education in the USA, he graduated from New York University, College of Dentistry in 1988 where he has also furthered his training by completing a two-year post-graduate program in Implant Surgery and Prosthetics.