Besim Ömer Akalın (1 July 1862, in Istanbul – 19 March 1940 in Ankara, Turkey), was a Turkish social democratic politician and physician who established modern obstetrics and gynaecology in Turkey and was the director of the Turkish Red Crescent society. He first emphasized in Turkey the fact that nursing was a separate discipline and should be taught in a specialized program. Between 1935 and 1940, he served as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. His image was depicted on a former Turkish postcard stamp.