The Medical Faculty of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab and the Azariah Smith Hospital

Author: Ani Voskanyan, 13/10/25 (Last modified 13/10/25 ) - Translator: Simon Beugekian

The medical faculty of the Central Turkey College (C. T. College) of Ayntab began operating alongside the rest of the institution, and although it did not have a long life, it was still one of the best-known medical schools of the time. Many young men, from Ayntab and other provinces and districts of the Ottoman Empire, sought to matriculate at the college, specifically its medical faculty.

As noted by Krikor Baghdasarian, the founding of Central Turkey College in 1876 by the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions (shortened to ABCFM) in a place like Ayntab, with its large Armenian population, was partly motivated by political considerations. However, the institution instead greatly promoted the spread of Protestantism. Nevertheless, the college’s contribution to the improvement of educational standards in Ayntab is undeniable. Thanks to this institution, many young men reached enviable positions in society. The student body of the college consisted of young men from Ayntab and the rest of Cilicia, Aleppo, Yeghesia/Urfa, Dikranagerd/Diyarbakir, Sebastia/Sivas, and other areas. The faculty consisted mostly of Armenian lecturers, and 99% of the pupils were Armenian. [1]

Initially, medicine was taught as part of the regular college curriculum. As early as the 1840s, the Board sent doctors to the college, including ordained clergymen, such as Azariah Smith and Andrew Pratt. From the day they arrived in Ayntab, these doctors/missionaries began teaching their skills, using accepted western standards, to local youth who showed talent and promise. The most renowned medical expert among these missionary doctors was Henry West, who was active in Sebastia/Sivas in the 1870s. His best students became doctors who performed the most innovative medical procedures. One of these students was Karekin Syuni, who went on to earn a stellar reputation. The administration of the newly established Central Turkey College hoped that West would agree to become the head of medicine at its newly founded hospital and the director of its medical faculty. In September 1877, the president of the college, Tillman C. Trowbridge, traveled to Sebastia to offer the position to West, but unfortunately, upon arrival, he learned that West had passed away. So, to serve the first chief of medicine of the hospital, Trowbridge invited Henry L. Norris. He also invited Dr. Krikor Syuni to become a member of the faculty. The classes of the medical faculty were launched in November 1879. [2] Initially, the number of students was five, but within a short time, it rose to 18. [3]

The medical faculty was designed from the very beginning as an integral part of the college. For several consecutive years, this faculty provided formal education in general medicine and surgery. A total of 20 students graduated with M.D. degrees [4] (or 21, according to other sources [5]). However, due to numerous difficulties and high costs, the medical faculty of Central Turkey College was soon shuttered. The hospital continued to operate at the same site. [6]

After the resignations of Drs. Henry Norris and Krikor Syuni, in 1882, Dr. Fred Douglas Shepard and Dr. Harris Graham moved to the college (the latter would later gain great fame in Beirut). In the 1883-1884 academic year, the lecturers of the medical faculty included Dr. Fred Shapard; his wife, Fanny Andrews Shepard; Dr. Harris Graham; Asadour Aram Altounian; Hagop Nazarian; and others. [7] In the 1885-1886 academic year, Dr. Smpad Kaprielian joined the faculty as a teaching assistant. [8] In that same academic year, Elias Riggs taught Latin. [9]

The medical faculty of the college had a four-year program of studies, created after extensive discussions and correspondence with professors who taught at the best medical schools in the United States and England.

Year One

Human anatomy, histology of muscles, medical chemistry, and practical anatomy.

Year Two

Human anatomy (continued), physiology, histology of muscles, pharmacology, general epidemiology, and practical anatomy (continued).

Year Three

Medicines and their use, epidemiology, general surgery, pharmacological botany, urinalysis, and the examination of patients.

Year Four

The practice of medicine, women’s health, obstetrics, eye and ear conditions, medical laws, principles of good health, and the examination of patients (continued). [10]

Azariah Smith was among the first American doctors/missionaries in the Ottoman Empire. He was not only one of the first preachers of Protestantism among the Armenians of Cilicia, [11] but also introduced the most modern medical practices to the region. Alongside his work as a doctor, Dr. Smith also began teaching medicine to local youth, then hired the most talented among his pupils as his assistants. [12] Years later, the American hospital that was founded in Ayntab was named after him. The construction of the hospital was financed by his family and his former classmates at Yale University. [13]

By October 1878, the land on which the hospital would be built had been purchased, a wall had been built around it, and the construction of the main building had begun. [14]

The hospital site was separate from the college, right outside the old city, on the Tepebashu peak of Hayig Hill. [15] The hospital was housed in a purpose-built, two-story limestone building, standing along the western border of the city. It had 32 beds for patients. The hospital compound also included the doctors’ residences. Once a week, free medical examinations were offered at the hospital. [16]

From the day of the opening of the hospital, engraved in large letters at its northern entrance, was the phrase “God cures all illnesses.”

Beginning in 1882, the chief of medicine of the hospital was the celebrated Dr. Fred Shepard, who served in this capacity until 1915 without interruptions, providing invaluable services to the people of Ayntab and the entire region. [17] Dr. Shepard was so dedicated to his work that he became known as “Shepard of Ayntab.” [18]

In 1884, the staff of the hospital included Miss Niel, a nurse, and the Scottish Miss Stewart Walker Arnott, a supervisor. After the latter’s untimely death, Miss Harriet Riddel, who had arrived in Ayntab in 1886, was appointed to the role of supervisor. In 1887, she married Asadour Aram Altounian, a graduate of the college and later a member of its staff, a celebrated doctor, and the founder of a hospital in Aleppo. [19] Dr. Shepard’s wife, Fanny Shepard, was also a qualified doctor. She specialized in women’s health [20] and supervised the women’s section of the hospital. Fanny Shepard, alongside obstetrician Miss Carline Frances Hamilton, provided invaluable services to the people of Ayntab. For many years, Mrs. Shepard’s name was also associated with art, the calling card of Ayntab, mostly thanks to her efforts to popularize and organize the art and practice of embroidery. [21]

The official catalogue of the college, published in 1901, provided a list of the hospital staff, including F. D. Shepard as chief of medicine, Jesse Krikor Marden as resident physician-in-charge, Movses Bezdjian as pharmacist, Elizabeth Merril Trowbridge and Harriet Ellen Wallis as nurses, and Sarkis Ghazarian as surgical dresser. The staff of the hospital also included Caroline F. Hamilton and Hovsep Bezdjian. [22]

According to the 1909 bulletin of Central Turkey College, the staff of the Azariah Smith Hospital included Fred Douglas Shepard as chief of medicine, Caroline F. Hamilton as director of the women’s section, Hovsep G. Bezdjian, B. H. Koundakdjian, C. H. Ghalfayan as assistant doctor, Movses A. Bezdjian as pharmacist, and Charlotte F. Grant and Alice Carolyn Bewer as certified nurses. [23] Alice Bewer married Dr. Garabed Daghlian in 1914.

Throughout the years, the staff of the hospital also included doctors Asadour Aram Altounian, Smpad Kaprielian, Myron Davis, Cyrus Stevens, Jesse Marden, Habib Nazarian, Hovsep Bezdjian, and others. Caroline F. Hamilton began working at the hospital in 1891. She was an obstetrician, and alongside her regular work, she also organized the training of obstetric nurses. A short time later, Elizabeth Trowbridge, the eldest daughter of the late founder of the college, joined the hospital staff. For many years, she supervised the internal affairs of the hospital, worked as a nurse, and contributed greatly to Dr. Hamilton’s efforts to train nurses. In 1898, Miss Wallace joined the hospital staff as a nurse. The administration of the Azariah Smith Hospital always greatly valued the efforts of its staff, including Sarkis the pharmacist. Moreover, Armenian graduates of the Medical University of Beirut (later the American University of Beirut) would spend the one or two years of their practicum at the American hospital of Ayntab, under the supervision of Dr. Shepard and his skilled colleagues. Among these were Avedis Djebedjian (from Ayntab) and Levon Melidonian (from Zeytun). Years later, Fred Shepard’s son, Larry Shepard, also joined the hospital staff. [24] After his father’s death in 1915, Larry Shepard managed the hospital until 1922. [25]

The resident surgeon of the Azariah Smith Hospital, Habib Nazarian, was one of the first pupils enrolled at Central Turkey College, having graduated in 1881. For a short time, he worked as a teacher, and then was accepted into the medical faculty, from which he graduated in 1885. To specialize in surgery, he traveled to the United States and attended the medical school of Yale University for a year. Between 1889 and 1897, at the Azariah Smith Hospital, Nazarian was Dr. Shepard’s right-hand man and served as the hospital surgeon. In 1898, Dr. Nazarian founded his own clinic, and until 1915, selflessly served his community. [26] Another one of the hospital’s celebrated doctors, Hovsep Bezdjian, Prof. Alexan Bezdjian’s nephew, was also a graduate of the medical faculty of Central Turkey College. After graduating from the college, he studied in America for a year. Upon his return, he worked in Urfa for several years, then settled down in Ayntab. Dr. Bezdjian worked at the American hospital of Ayntab until the end of the First World War. As a doctor, by staying in Ayntab during the years of the Armenian Genocide, he was able to save countless Armenian families, both thanks to his medical skills and his financial resources and assistance. [27]

The hospital was closed for the three months of summer. During this time, Dr. Shepard and his Armenian colleagues would travel to various provinces and regions, especially Sebastia, Arapgir, and Malatia, and provide ambulatory services. They would diagnose and treat various illnesses and provide both medical and optometric services to the local population.

Over a period of 18 years (1882-1900), a total of 56,599 patients received free treatment at the hospital. Of these, 4,998 underwent major surgery. [28] In 1899-1900, the number of inpatients was 218, and the number of ambulatory patients was 3,907. The number of treatments administered by the hospital staff in that year was 43,331. [29]

Many people made financial contributions to support the hospital’s work and humanitarian mission. The churches of the Cilician union did not remain on the sidelines and actively participated in these fundraising efforts. Donations made by the Trowbridge Memorial Fund, which was created by the friends of the late first president of the college, Tillman C. Trowbridge, funded free beds at the hospital. [30]

The Azariah Smith Hospital, which was part of and founded alongside the Central Turkey College of Ayntab, had great historical significance and provided invaluable services to thousands of people, often at no cost. It served as a model and an inspiration for many other hospitals, including Dr. Haas’s American hospital in Adana, the German hospitals that were founded in Urfa and Marash in the 1900s, and the famous and celebrated hospital in Aleppo founded by chief of medicine Asadour Aram Altounian, whom we have already mentioned. [31]

1880 – Zenop A. Bezdjian (professor, Protestant bishop), Hovhannes Djemelian (merchant), Nazaret Kyurkdjian (doctor), Hanne Khrlopian (merchant), Krikor Boghosian (doctor), Sdepan Gyulyuzian (doctor), Gregory Paul (doctor), Theloghos Bezariadis or Azariah (doctor).

1881 – Baghdasar Barsoumian (pharmacist), Hagop C. Byulbyulian (clergyman), Movses Krikorian (merchant), Movses Levonian (doctor), Habib C. Nazarian (doctor), Asadour Aram Altounian (doctor), Isgender Ishkhanian (doctor), Smpad Kaprielian (doctor), Sdepan Gyulyuzian (doctor).

1882 – Hovsep C. Bezdjian (doctor), Krikor Choukourian (merchant), Penyamin Krikorian (architect), Nerses Levonian (preacher), Manoug Misirian (clergyman), Manase G. Papazian (clergyman), Sdepan Hovhannesian (clergyman), Kalousd Nadjarian (doctor), Hovhannes Bezdjian (doctor), Tovmas Daghlian (doctor), Hagop Sarkisian (doctor).

1883 – Soghomon Nigoghosian (dentist), Bedros Krikorian (director of the German orphanage), Hovhannes Hagop Manisadjian (professor at Anatolia College), Levon Marashlian (teacher), Manuel Sarkisian (doctor), Haygazoun G. Yakoubian (merchant).

1884 – Michel Antaki (teacher at Central Turkey College, merchant), Vahan Kyurkdjian (teacher, lawyer), Kevork Khrlopian (pharmacist), Nigoghos Kuludjian (doctor), Roupen Hekimian (doctor), Hampartsoum Ashdjian (clergyman), Sarkis Hagopian (doctor), Elisha Roupian (teacher at Marash Academy).

1885 – Hovhannes G. Papazian (student of theology, teacher), Nshan Bakhchedjikian (teacher, translator), Aram Marashlian (photographer), Apraham C. Seklemian (real estate agent), Stefan Prince (clergyman), Gregory Paul (doctor), Habib G. Nazarian (doctor), Krikor Boghosian (doctor).

1886 – Kevork Levonian (merchant), Hagop Asadourian (lawyer), Apraham Attarian (assistant at the German Hospital), Bedros Bayramian (doctor), Stefan Sambourne (doctor), Samuel Gendigian (teacher), Mgrdich Gnachian (clergyman), Vartan Poladian (doctor), Aharon A. Shiradjian (clergyman), Bedros A. Topalian (clergyman), Sdepan P. Hagopian (clergyman), Karekin Yesayan (teacher), Apraham G. Yusuf (doctor), Hagop Asadourian (doctor), Hovsep G. Bezdjian (doctor), Haroutyun A. Minasian (doctor).

1887 – Movses Bezdjian (pharmacist at the Azairah Smith Hospital), Armenag Markarian (doctor), Yakoub Matosian (doctor), Avedis Nakkashian (doctor, writer), Dikran Sahagian (merchant), Armenag Arakelian (electrician, inventor), Movses Ashdjian (business agent), Markareos Dakesian (lawyer), Mihran Selian (merchant), Arshag Yakoubian (teacher), Dyuros Bayramian (doctor), Nshan Bayundurian (doctor), Movses Levonian (doctor), Vartan Poladian (doctor), Mihran Seraydarian (doctor), Boghos Tahmisdjian (doctor).

1888 – Nazaret Kharadjdjian (dentist), Levon Seyranian (electrician), Ghazar Diradourian (teacher at Central Turkey College), Nigoghos S. Ignayan (doctor), Avedis Selian (business agent), Krikori Shiradjian (clergyman), Hrant N. Tabibian (jeweler), Kalousd Nadjarian (doctor).

1889 – Melkon Tashdjian (Melkon H. Tash; doctor), Hayg Asadourian (clergyman), Sarkis A. Apraham (clergyman), Levon Ashdjian (teacher; killed during the 1895 Hamidian massacres), Zatour Paharian (clergyman), Manoug Pelian (clergyman), Yenovk Y. Zakourian (clergyman), Armenag H. Haygazian (director of an Apostolic institute), Krikor Kourkyasharian (Krkyasharian; preacher at a Protestant church), Levon Soghovmeyan (teacher; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres).

1890 – Haroutyun Hagop (doctor), Armenag Torosian-Topdjian (doctor), Dikran Calson (doctor), Garabed Haroutyunian (clergyman), Nazaret Heghinian (clergyman; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres), Samuel Heghinian (clergyman), Garabed Ketendjian (clergyman), Nshan G. Mankourian (weaver), Oksen Ourfalian (doctor’s assistant), Roupen Ourfalian (eye specialist), Sarkis Samuelian (teacher; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres).

1891 – Garabed Babayan (architect), Nerses Baghdoyan (teacher), Yaghoub Dasho (merchant), Nazaret Haroutyunian-Halladjian (artistic painter), Hagop Shnorhokian (clergyman, or according to other sources, merchant), Nshan Amiralian (doctor), Armenag Der Avedisian, Garabed Papoyan, Mardiros Diradourian (merchant), Sahag Djeredjian (teacher), Garabed Koundakdjian (merchant), Kevork Krikorian (employee of the Ash & Son Company, manufacturers of dentistry instruments).

1892 – Hovsep-Yusuf Baliozian (merchant), Setrag G. Yeghiayan (doctor), Hagop F. Mouradian (photographer), Arshag Atamian (merchant), Karnig Avakian, Nshan S. Baliozian (professor at Central Turkey College), Garabed Heghinian, Haygazoun Isgiyan (merchant), Sbiriton Marashlian (merchant, rug merchant), Mipar Mouncherian (Protestant clergyman), Dikran Redjebian (clergyman at the first Protestant church).

1893 – Haroutyun V. Levonian (dentist), Yesayi Poladian (doctor), Haroutyun V. Mouradian (teacher), Mihran Nanedjian (scribe), Nshan Pashayan (doctor), Krikor Tashdjian (merchant of oriental rugs).

1894 – Nazaret Kechedjian (doctor), Sarkis Tyurabian (teacher at Apostolic schools in Ayntab), Zachariah Bedrosian (clergyman at a Protestant church; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres), Manoug Polsetzian (merchant; killed during the 1895 Hamidian massacres), Minas Sarkis Gregory (chief of medicine at Bellevue Hospital, psychologist), Hovhannes Djordjorian (doctor).

1895 – Yeghia S. Behesnilian-Kasouni (teacher, clergyman), Nshan Der Bedrosian (teacher, clergyman), Khacher Elmasian (craftsman), Setrag Va[r]jabedian (restorer of oriental rugs), Soghomon Vosgerichian (teacher at an Apostolic school), Krikor Yenikomshian (killed during the 1895 Hamidian massacres).

1896 – Hovhannes Moushegh Hadidian (doctor), Nazaret Ipekian (doctor), Avedis Djebedjian (doctor), Hmaiyag Lousararian (doctor), Yesayi Misirian (merchant), Hagop Avak-Panosian (architect), Dikran Poladian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Khoren C. Saghurian (merchant), Eli Varjabedian (merchant), Yeghia Aroyan (doctor), Hagop Kalemdjian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Hovhannes Libson (employee of a pharmaceutical company), Vahan Markarian (pharmacist), H. G. Saghurian (merchant), Aram Torosian (teacher at Protestant schools), Samuel Jamgochian (doctor, teacher at an Apostolic school).

1897 – Parnag Atamian (doctor), Haroutyun Babigian (doctor), Hagopdjan G. Barsoumian (doctor), Yakoub Bezdjian (doctor), Yakoub Der Krikorian (teacher), Jesse Matosian (professor), Hovhannes Shil-Hagopian (teacher), Mardiros H. Ananigian (assistant librarian at the Hartford Theological Seminary), Apraham Berberian (teacher at the school of Marash), Luther Chorbadjian (architect), Yervant Shishmanian (doctor), Sdepan Tovmasian (clergyman at a Protestant church).

1898 – Garabed Babigian (doctor), Avedis Kazandjian (merchant), Mourad Andonian, Armenag Aroyan, Haygazoun Gandemorian (teacher at a Protestant school), Apkar Der Markarian (doctor), Margos Parounagian (clergyman), Sinan Rafayelian (doctor), Vosgan Topalian (doctor), Vartan Yeranian (preacher at a Protestant church).

1899 – Baruyr Andonian (teacher, commercial agent), Hovsep Basmadjian (merchant), Hagop Ghazarian (merchant), Ardashes Gyuldalian (Father Vahan; priest), Lutfi Levonian (professor), Mihran Nazaretian (merchant), Senekerim Niziblian (doctor), Yusuf Niziblian (teacher), Apraham Seraydarian (teacher), Serovpe Chyuryukian (doctor), Apraham Haroutyunian (clergyman at a Protestant church), Georgis Shemmas (clergyman; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres), Toros Varbedian.

1900 – Manase Andonian (teacher), Kevork Arslanian (doctor), Haroutyun Beredjiklian (merchant), Yeghia Demirdjian (teacher), Hagop Haygazian (sock maker), Garabed Misirian (doctor), Garabed Moughamian (teacher, or merchant, according to other sources), Samuel Giragosian (restorer of oriental rugs), Asadour Djinishian (teacher), Hovhannes Der Nahabedian (doctor), Haroutyun Zernigian (merchant).

1901 – Nazaret Barsoumian (rug merchant), Yesayi Halladjian (doctor), Garabed Hagop Khalfeyan (doctor), Yakoub Mouradian (assistant pharmacist), Haroutyun Kaprielian (doctor), Dadjad Dakesian (merchant), Haroutyun Der Boghosian (doctor), Hovhannes Keshishian (preacher at a Protestant church), Georgi Poladian, Levon S. Sivaslian (in 1909, was a student at Yale University).

1902 – Garabed C. Daghlian (professor), Nazaret Fusdukdjian (legal scholar, teacher), Nerses Bchakdjian-Gyuzelimian (pharmacist, doctor), Lutfi Haleblian (doctor), Movses Kazandjian (dentist), Samuel Krikorian (assistant pharmacist), Levon K. Levonian (university student), Yakoub Misirian (teacher at a Protestant school), Hampartsoum Berberian (teacher at an Apostolic school), Gonsdantin Gonsdantian (oriental rugs), Samuel Ingilizian (a student in 1909), Garabed H. Keshishian (lecturer at Central Turkey College), Boghos Goulaghdjian (merchant), Dikran H. Koundakdjian (clergyman at a Protestant church), Nerses Kouyoumdjian (clergyman at a Protestant church; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres), Samuel Krikorian (assistant pharmacist), Levon G. Levonian (in 1909, was a student at Columbia University), Hovsep Melikian (teacher at the German school), Diran Piranian (merchant), Hovhannes Seksenian (merchant).

1903 – Yakoub-Joseph Barsoumian (merchant, clergyman), Yenovk Hadidian (clergyman), Hovhannes Hasurdjian (college teacher), Nerses Ishkhanian (pharmacist), Nedjib Djebedjian (architect), Ardashes Ayvazian (in 1909, was a medical student at the Syrian Protestant College), Misak Ayoudjian (preacher at a Protestant church), Hagop Beshilian (doctor), Haroutyun Tekirdjian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Dzeron Hekimian (doctor), Garabed Krasharian (teacher at the school of Hadjin), Roupen Rasoubian (teacher at the normal school of Sebastia), Gonsdantin Siyahian (preacher at a Protestant school; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres), Vahram Tahmisdjian (teacher at a Protestant school, preacher), Vartan Topalian (doctor), Hagop Toudjarian (teacher at Apostolic schools).

1904 – Roupen Beredjiklian (insurance agent), Mihran Bezdjian (teacher, director of an office, and athletic director at Central Turkey College), Kevork Demirdjian (pharmacist), Khacher Gyuzelimian (merchant), Levon T. Levonian (merchant, educator), Hovsep Mahdesian (doctor), Movses Terzian (teacher), Yakoub Touzdjian (teacher, doctor), Robert Arakelian (scribe), Hagop Payountourian (teacher), Hovagim Bakkalian (director of household industries in Ayntab), Krikor Der Boghosian (in 1909, was a student at the Theological Seminary of Marash), Arshag Chorbadjian (merchant?), Yervant Elmadjian (teacher at the school of Marash), Aparaham Nadjarian (teacher), Hagop Nadjarian (preacher at a Protestant church, teacher), Arshag Romian (teacher at the German school), Habib Tedjirian (in 1909, was a medical student at the Syrian Protestant College, which, in 1920, became the American University of Beirut).

1905 – Lutfi H. Babigian (professor), Dikran Ilvanian (photographer), Hmaiyag Kharadjdjian (teacher), Levon A. Suvakdjian-Svadjian (architect), Garabed Stambolian (clergyman and preacher at a Protestant church), Hovhannes Eskidjian (preacher at a Protestant church), Levon Kouloukian, Hagop Djessourian (in 1909, was a medical student at the Syrian Protestant College), Apraham Kasardjian (preacher at a Protestant church), Samuel Mgrdichian (merchant).

1906 – Misak Babigian (doctor), Luther Chamichian (doctor), Kevork Kouyoumdjian, Mihran K. Levonian (doctor), Armenag Maksoudian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Bedros Abelian (in 1909, was a student at the normal school of the state of Iowa), Diradour Dikidjian (in 1909, was a student at the Hartford Theological Seminary), Mardiros Toumanian (merchant; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres), Giragos Hagopian (teacher at Protestant schools), Sdepan Keshishian (in 1909, was a medical student at the Syrian Protestant College), Nshan Naregian (teacher at Protestant schools), Vartan Piranian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Nshan Saatdjian (merchant), Movses Torian (teacher at the Marash Academy).

1907 – Movses Babigian (doctor), Sarkis Balabanian (teacher), Kevork Bostanian (doctor), Yusuf Daiyan (pharmacist, or teacher at Protestant schools, according to other sources), Haroutyun Takhtadjian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Yusuf Vartanian (doctor), Yakoub Vasoyan (teacher, architect, chemist), Nshan Bakkalian (assistant doctor at the American hospital), Samuel Boulghourdjian (in 1909, was a student at the Syrian Protestant College), Kevork Cholakian (merchant), Stepan Chorbadjian (in 1909, was a student at the Syrian Protestant College, studying pharmacy), Arshag Hayrenian (in 1909, was a student of the medical faculty of the University of Geneva), Avedis Indjedjikian (teacher at Protestant schools, and later a doctor), Arsen Koulaksouzian (teacher at the Avedisian Apostolic School in Gesaria), Boghos S. Terzian (in 1909, was a student at the Syrian Protestant College, studying pharmacy), Mardiros Terzian (teacher at the Marash Academy), Hovhannes Torian (teacher at Apostolic schools).

1908 – Soghomon Akkelian (clergyman), Nedjib Babigian (doctor), Yakoub Demirdjian (rug merchant, Barsumian & Co., oriental rugs), Garabed S. Ghazarian (teacher), Samuel Hovhannisian-Halladjian (clergyman, teacher at Protestant schools), Nouri Ishkhanian (doctor), Luther Mardirosian (scribe), Hovsep Misirian (teacher), Nevdon Haroutyunian (teacher at Central Turkey College), Dikran Kesabian (teacher at Protestant schools), Haroutyun Keshishian (teacher?), Sarkis Keshishian (teacher?), Krikor Mahseredjian (in 1909, was a student at the Theological Seminary of Marash), Haroutyun Nalbandian (teacher at Apostolic schools), Levon Roupian (teacher at Central Turkey College), Tovmas Sarkisian (teacher at Protestant schools; killed during the 1909 Adana massacres).

1909 – Setrag Aladjadjian-Matosian, Kofin Arslanian, Kevork Ekmekdjian, Smpad Djemilian, Mihran T. Levonian, Vahram Leylekian (engineer, and later the first Armenian member of the Lebanese Parliament), Garabed Misirian (clergyman), Yakoub Nazarian, Krikor Sarafian, Mihran Kasardjian, Hamid Keshishian, Hagop Kouyoumdjian, Misak Krikorian, Mardiros Der Mgrdichian.

1910 – Dikran Lousararian, Haroutyun Daghlian, Krikor Daghlian, Pyuzant Levonian (clergyman), and Yeghia Bakamdjian.

1911 – Mihran Balikian (teacher at Aleppo College), Alexan Bezdjian (doctor), Mihran Ishkhanian (dentist), Sarkis Karamanougian.

1912 – Armenag Arslanian, Kevork Dayan, Djemil Haleblian (pharmacist), Movses Tanielian (rug merchant).

1913 – Djemil A. Babigian, Souren Djemilian, Dikran Khrlopian (clergyman), Sarkis Laleyan, Yervant C. Nazarian.

1914 – Haroutyun Moumdjian, Aram Vartanian, Levon Merdjenian.

1915 – Adour Levonian (merchant), Albert Bezdjian (photographer), Manuel Dishoyan-Kasouni (teacher), Ardashes Yegavian, Haroutyun Gnkababian, Nazaret Tyutyundjian.

The former “Azaria Smith” hospital continues its activities to this day. Over the years, the hospital has undergone numerous changes, with medical staff and doctors succeeding one another. Yet amid the passage of time, one figure stands out—he directed the hospital from 1996 to 2001. That doctor also came from the Shepard family: he is Barclay M. Shepard.

• [1] Badmoutyun Ayntabi H. H. Tashnagtsoutyan 1898-1922 [History of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Ayntab, 1898-1922], edited by Kevork H. Barsoumian, Aleppo, Dikris Press, 1957, pp. 148-149.
• [2] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab (Including the History of the Medical Faculty and the Azariah Smith Hospital),” Badmoutyun Ayntabi Hayots [History of the Armenians of Ayntab], volume 1, edited and compiled by Kevork A. Sarafian, Los Angeles, 1953 (hereafter BAH 1), pp. 815-816.
• [3] Alice Shepard Riggs, Shepard of Aintab, New York, Interchurch Press, 1920, p. 36.
• [4] Catalogue of Central Turkey College at Aintab. Vilayet of Aleppo, Turkey in Asia, H. Matteosian Press, Bible House, Constantinople, 1901, p. 5.
• [5] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, p. 818.
• [6] Catalogue of Central Turkey College at Aintab. Vilayet of Aleppo, Turkey in Asia, p. 5.
• [7] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, pp. 818-819.
• [8] Ibid., p. 817.
• [9] Ibid., p. 820.
• [10] Ibid., pp. 839-840.
• [11] K[rikor] Bogharian, “Doctor Sherpard,” Hay Ayntab [Armenian Ayntab], n. 1 (21), Beirut, 1966, p. 23.
• [12] Alexan Zenop Bezdjian, “Medicine in Ayntab,” Badmoutyun Ayntabi Hayots [History of the Armenians of Ayntab], volume 2, edited and complied by Kevork A. Sarafian, Los Angeles, 1953 (hereafter BAH 2), pp. 663.
• [13] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, p. 813; Dr. Azniv Israelian, “Memories and Notes from the Educational-Medical Life of Ayntab,” BAH 2, p. 471.
• [14] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, p. 819.
• [15] Ibid., p. 815.
• [16] Catalogue of Central Turkey College at Aintab. Vilayet of Aleppo, Turkey in Asia, p. 30.
• [17] G[arabed] Moughamian, “Doctor Shepard,” BAH 2, p. 666.
• [18] Dr. Azniv Israelian, “Memories and Notes from the Educational-Medical Life of Ayntab,” BAH 2, p. 472.
• [19] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, p. 820.
• [20] Hraztan Tokmadjian, Ayntabi Aseghnakordzoutyun [Embroidery of Ayntab], volume 1, Aleppo/Yerevan, p. 96.
• [21] K[rikor] Bogharian, “Doctor Shepard,” Hay Ayntab, number 1 (21), Beirut, 1966, p. 24.
• [22] Catalogue of Central Turkey College at Aintab. Vilayet of Aleppo, Turkey in Asia, p. 4.
• [23] Bulletin of Central Turkey College, Aintab, Turkey in Asia, Levonian Memorial and Alumni Issue, published by Central Turkey College, September 1909, p. 37. 
• [24] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, pp. 832-833.
• [25] K[rikor] Bogharian, “Doctor Shepard,” Hay Ayntab, number 1 (21), Beirut, 1966, p. 24.
• [26] K. B. (Krikor Bogharian), “Doctor Habib Nazarian (1860-1915),” Hay Ayntab, number 2 (22), Beirut, 1966, pp. 26-27.
• [27] “Doctor Hovsep Bezdjian,” BAH 2, p. 677.
• [28] G[arabed] Moughamian, “Doctor Shepard,” BAH 2, p. 667.
• [29] Catalogue of Central Turkey College at Aintab. Vilayet of Aleppo, Turkey in Asia, p. 30.
• [30] Ibid., p. 30.
• [31] Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, pp. 833-835.
• [32] Compiled from the lists in Yeghia Kasouni’s article in History of the Armenians of Ayntab, as well as the lists published in the 1909 official bulletin of Central Turkey College (see Yeghia S. Kasouni, “History of the Central Turkey College of Ayntab,” BAH 1, pp. 840-841, 846-851; Bulletin of Central Turkey College, Aintab, Turkey in Asia, Levonian Memorial and Alumni Issue, p. 17-34).