MATERIAL and METHODS: Regulations, governmental decrees and directive of the Ministry of Health published in the TC Resmi Gazete (Turkish Republic Official Gazette) were inspected and records of the Ministry and the history of the hospitals were examined.

RESULTS: The establishment of the Turkish Republic resulted in many changes in the field of education. Many changes also occurred in the field of surgical sciences. Professor Mazhar Osman Uzman was the first to direct the establishment of Turkish neurosurgery. With Mazhar Osman's leadership, the first physician sent abroad to be trained in neurosurgery was Abdülkadir Cahit Tuner. Dr. Dilek was the first neurosurgeon assigned to establish the first training neurosurgery department under the regulations of the Ministry of Health in 1948. After the 50s and 60s, many neurosurgery clinics were founded in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Seven training programs were published during the last 63 years. According to the current regulatory program, neurosurgery training should cover 5 years, including 7 months of rotations. Currently, there are more than 90 centers for training of neurosurgery with more than 1300 neurosurgeons in Turkey.

CONCLUSION: The number of both training centers and neurosurgeons should be taken into consideration with respect to long term planning. Anahtar Kelimeler : Neurosurgery history, Neurosurgery specialization, Neurosurgery institutionalization