Page 2 - Treatment in Ankara (Turkey)

Dr. Hulda Rifat Ozakpinar is a specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. She graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1995. She completed her specialization in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery in 1998. Dr. Ozakpinar has held important positions at Ankara University and Showa University School of Medicine in Japan. She worked there as a Research Fellow and Microsurgery Lecturer. She also served as a Specialist Doctor and Associate Professor at the Ministry of Health, Republic of Türkiye.

Dr. Ozakpinar has led clinical research, especially on lower lip cancer reconstruction. She has received scholarships from the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) and TÜBİTAK. She currently works at Lokman Hekim Akay Hospital.

Dr. Rafet Ozay is an Associate Professor who specializes in neurovascular surgery. He focuses on both microsurgery and endovascular techniques. Dr. Ozay has broad experience in neurosurgery. He has worked at top medical centers, including Dışkapı Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences Gülhane Faculty of Medicine, and Etlik City Hospital.

Dr. Ozay is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgery Association. He is also proficient in English, as shown by his ÜDS Exam score of 70 in 2007. He has advanced from Chief Assistant to Associate Professor during his career. This reflects his skill and dedication to neurosurgery.

Associate Professor Dr. Yusuf AÇIKGÖZ
Specialization: Medical Oncology

Education:

• 2004-2011: İnönü University Faculty of Medicine
• 2011-2016: Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Internal Medicine
• 2017-2022: Health Sciences University, Medical Oncology

Professional Experience:

• 2016-2017: Bingöl City Hospital, Internal Medicine
• 2021-2022: Health Sciences University, Medical Oncology
• 2022-2023: Kastamonu Education and Research Hospital, Medical Oncology
• 2023-2024: Ohio State University, Medical Oncology
• 2024-Present: Lokman Hekim University, Medical Oncology, Ankara Hospital

Clinical Trials, Courses, Certifications:

Clinical Trials:

• 2017-2021: Phase III, CheckMate-649 Study (Assistant Investigator)
• 2022-Present: Phase III, Fortitude-101 Study (Assistant Investigator)

Courses:

• 2018: Medicres Basic and Advanced Biostatistics Training Program (ongoing), Istanbul-Vienna
• 2019: Immuno-Oncology Education Course, March 1-2, 2019, Vienna, Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG)
• 2018: Good Clinical Practice Certification, April 7-8, 2018, Ankara, Health Sciences University
• 2017: Basic Oncology Training Program, November 25-26, 2017, Adana, Clinical Oncology Society
• 2016: Basic Ultrasonography Course (10 hours theoretical + 10 hours practical), September 24-25, 2016, Ankara, Turkish Emergency Medicine Association

Certifications:

• Ongoing: ECFMG Certification
• 2024: CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (The Ohio State University)
• 2024: CITI IACUC-Laboratory Animal Research (The Ohio State University)
• 2024: CITI Human Subjects Protection (The Ohio State University)
• 2024: CITI Good Clinical Practice (The Ohio State University)
• 2023: Occupational English Test (OET)
• 2019: International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Total Score: 6.5, May 26, 2019, Ankara, British Council
• 2017: USMLE Step 2 CK Exam; Score: 244, February 7, 2017
• 2016: USMLE Step 1 Exam; Score: 215, August 25, 2016

Memberships:

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) - 2022
• Turkish Society of Medical Oncology - 2020

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özsoy, MD, is a general surgeon who specializes in hepatobiliary surgery and liver and kidney transplantation. He heads the Liver Transplantation Center at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University. He also leads the Kidney Transplantation Units at Kyrgyzstan Turkish Friendship Hospital and at Etlik City Hospital in Ankara.

He is board-certified in general surgery (2010). His credentials include Liver Donor and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery certification (Kent Hospital, 2010), a Liver Transplantation certificate (İnönü University Liver Transplant Institute, 2014–2015), an Experimental Microsurgery certificate (2013), and Endoscopy and ERCP certificates. He is a member of the Turkish Surgical Association, the Turkish Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Association, and the Turkish Society of Reconstructive and Microsurgery.

He has served as Professor of General Surgery at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University since 2021. His research focuses on kidney and liver ischemia–reperfusion injury and on seroma prevention. He has supervised a thesis on hepatoprotection.

Assoc. Prof. Utkan Boran is a general surgeon. He focuses on oncologic, metabolic, endocrine, and laparoscopic surgery, including laparoscopic hernia repair, anti‑reflux procedures, surgery for morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes, and sleeve gastrectomy.

Education: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine (1995–2001). General surgery training (2004–2009). Research Fellow at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Ryder Trauma Center (2015–2016). Roles: General Surgery Specialist at GATA Haydarpaşa, Kyrenia, and Mevki Military Hospitals (2004–2016). Associate Professor of General Surgery at Dışkapı (2016–2022), Sancaktepe (2022–2024), and Medical Park Gebze (2024–2025). Currently at Lokman Hekim | Istanbul Hospital (2025–).

Dr. Bahri Gok is a urologist at LHÜ Ankara Hospital (2024–). He earned his MD from Selçuk University (2001–2007). He completed his urology residency at Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital (2008–2013). He served in the Department of Urology at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University as Assistant Professor (2017–2020) and Associate Professor (2020–2023). He was the Urology Training Supervisor at Ankara City Hospital (2019–2023).

Accreditations and training include da Vinci Console Surgeon training at IRCAD (05.11.2019). He attended the EAU Robotic Urology Section meeting (2018) and the National Endourology Congresses (2013, 2015, 2019). He completed a biostatistics course (2018) and holds a Laboratory Animal Use certificate (2012). Memberships: SIU; Turkish Urology Association; Society of Urological Surgery; Eurasian Uro-oncology Association.

Achievements include serving as an investigator in a 2024 international Phase 2 trial of adjuvant V940 (mRNA‑4157) plus pembrolizumab for high‑risk muscle‑invasive urothelial carcinoma. He supervised a 2020 doctoral thesis on robot‑assisted radical prostatectomy. He received Best Poster awards at EAU (Latvia, 2015) and at the Eurasian Uro‑oncology and SIU meetings (2019).

Dr. Yunus Nazli is an Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery. He graduated from Trakya University Faculty of Medicine (1994–2000). He trained in Cardiovascular Surgery at Celal Bayar University (2001–2006).

He worked as a Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist at Diyarbakır State Hospital (2006–2008). He then served at Van Military Hospital and Van Medical Park Hospital (2008–2009). From 2009 to 2016, he worked at Turgut Özal University. In 2016, he became an Associate Professor at Private Yüzüncüyıl Hospital. He served as an Associate Professor at Etimed Hospital (2016–2018). He has been an Associate Professor at Lokman Hekim Ankara Hospital since 2018.

Focus: coronary bypass (on- and off-pump), valve repair and replacement, aortic surgery, endovascular aortic procedures (EVAR, TEVAR via the groin), carotid surgery, peripheral bypasses (aortofemoral, femoropopliteal), venous treatments (surgery, laser, sclerotherapy), and AV fistulas for hemodialysis.

Dr. Atilla Ozenoglu is a thoracic surgery specialist. He completed medical school at Karadeniz University (1984–1990). He finished his thoracic surgery residency at Pamukkale University (2003–2009). He worked as a general practitioner from 1990 to 2003. He then served at Adıyaman State Hospital (2009–2014) and Gaziantep Medical Park (2014–2017). In 2017, he worked at Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital. He now works at Rize Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital. He serves as a thoracic surgery specialist and deputy chief physician.

Clinical expertise: lung resections (segmentectomy, lobectomy, pneumonectomy); VATS sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis; mediastinoscopy; VATS under local anesthesia; chest wall reconstruction with clip-plate implants; minimally invasive pectus surgery (Nuss, Abramson); diaphragmatic repair; diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy.

Academic work: thesis “Cardiac arrhythmias after thoracotomy” (2008). Articles on non-traumatic chylothorax (2005) and primary lung liposarcoma (2009). Posters and case reports on hydatidosis serology (2012), costal osteochondroma resection (2014), and a Foley catheter imaging method in empyema necessitatis (2007).

Prof. Dr. Vakkas Korkmaz is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Professor, Lokman Hekim University Ankara Hospital (2025–present). Professor, Ankara Etlik City Hospital (2024–2025). Associate Professor, Ankara Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital (2020–2022). Specialist, University of Health Sciences (2014–2019). Education: MD, Akdeniz University (2002–2009). Medical specialty (2009–2014) and subspecialty (2016–2019), University of Health Sciences.

Research mentorship: Five completed theses (2016–2024) on endometrial cancer, cervical elastography, leiomyoma–fQRS, and iodine deficiency–postmenopausal osteoporosis. Memberships: European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (2017). Turkish Gynecologic Oncology Society (2020). Turkish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2015–2017). Awards: Turkish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2015). Perinatal Medicine Foundation (2015).