Dr. Ulku Ulgur

Ulku Ulgur is a distinguished psychiatrist, clinician, and mental health leader with more than five decades of service in the United States. Born and educated in Türkiye, he completed his medical degree at the Istanbul University School of Medicine in 1959. He went on to pursue medical training in the U.S., completing his internship at Riverside Hospital in Virginia, followed by a Psychiatry Residency at Harrisburg and Delaware State Hospitals (1960–1963). He later completed a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (1963–1965). Dr. Ülgür served on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine for nearly 40 years, beginning in 1965. During this time, he held key leadership roles including Director of Children’s Residential Services and Director of Child Psychiatry Clinical Services, while teaching as Assistant Professor and later Clinical Assistant Professor until 2012. In 1984, Dr. Ülgür founded the Maryland Centers for Psychiatry, where he continues to provide clinical leadership and comprehensive mental health services. His centers offer multidisciplinary care for children, adolescents, and adults, emphasizing individualized, family-centered treatment approaches. Respected for his lifelong dedication to improving behavioral health outcomes, Dr. Ülgür has contributed significantly to the development of child and adolescent psychiatric services in Maryland and remains a guiding figure in the field. Dr. Ülgür is also recognized as the first President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) — establishing the foundation for nationwide organization and representation of Turkish Americans. His dedication has significantly strengthened community engagement, cultural identity, and advocacy across the diaspora. He remains a respected figure in both psychiatry and Turkish-American civic life.