Best pediatric neurosurgeons in Istanbul: TOP 17 doctors

Dr. Ozden Gul is a general surgeon trained at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital. She has decades of surgical experience and is fluent in English.

Her practice includes gastrointestinal surgery (gallbladder disease, hernias, appendicitis, GI disorders). She also treats endocrine conditions (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal) and breast disease, both benign and malignant. She manages emergency and trauma cases. She offers minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.

She has worked at Haydarpaşa Numune, Bakırköy, Taksim First Aid, Uzunköprü State, Keşan State, Beykoz Medical Center, and Medivia Hospital. She is known for meticulous technique and patient-centered care.

Assoc. Dr. Mustafa Kılıç graduated from Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine in 2007. He completed his Brain and Nerve Surgery specialization training in Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic in 2013.

He worked as a Specialist at Malatya State Hospital between 2013-2015 and as Assistant Professor at Harran University between 2015-2016. He received the title of Associate Professor in 2020 in Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Brain and Nerve Surgery Clinic, where he worked between 2016-2022.

Kılıç, who actively diagnoses, treats and performs operations on Brain Tumors, Spinal Cord Tumors, Deep Brain Stimulation, Sacral Nerve Stimulation, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis and Trigeminal Neuralgia. His articles and works have been published in many magazines and books.

Today, he continues his brain, nerve and spinal cord surgery procedures at NeuroSpine Clinic.

Kılıç, who was born in 1982, is married and has 3 children.

Assoc. Prof. Ozdogan, M.D., Ph.D., completed his education at Yeditepe University Health Sciences Institute in the Molecular Medicine Doctorate Program under Prof. Dr. Turgay İsbir, and he also studied at Saint Louis University in Arkansas, USA, with Prof. Dr. M. Gazi Yasargil. He pursued a Clinical Fellowship in Brain and Nerve Surgery at Yeditepe University Hospital, guided by Prof. Dr. Yasargil and Prof. Dr. Uğur Türe. Additionally, he underwent specialization training at Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Medicine at Gazi University, and completed his secondary education at İçel Anatolian High School.

Professionally, he has held various positions, including Faculty Member in the Department of Neurosurgery at Haliç University, and Associate Professor at Private Adatip Istanbul Hospital and Biruni University Hospital. He has also served as an Associate Professor at S.B.U. Kartal, Sancaktepe, and Istanbul Training and Research Hospitals, and worked as a Chief Assistant at S.B.U. Gaziosmanpaşa Taksim and Kartal Training and Research Hospitals. His earlier roles include Specialist Doctor at S.B.U. Baltalimanı Bone Diseases Hospital and Mus State Hospital, as well as Clinical Fellow at Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine Hospital.

Assoc. Prof. Özdoğan is a member of several professional associations, including the Turkish Neurosurgery Association, Turkish Spine Association, and the Turkish Neurosurgery Society’s Neuroanatomy, Neurovascular, and Neurooncology Groups. He is also affiliated with the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.

Op. Dr. Ertuğrul Pınar graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Medicine in 2012 and worked as a general practitioner in Çanakkale and Ağrı before completing his training in the Department of Neurosurgery at Marmara University. He was assigned as a specialist doctor to Şanlıurfa in 2019. In 2021, Dr. Ertuğrul Pınar transitioned to the private sector and is involved in adult and pediatric brain and spine diseases.

MEDICAL INTERESTS

• Brain Tumors
• Glial Tumors
• Meningiomas
• Brain Metastases
• Skull Base Tumors
• Posterior Fossa Tumors
• Intraventricular Masses
• Pituitary Adenoma
• Scalp and Bone Tumors
• Cerebral Edema
• Cerebral Hemorrhages
• Cerebral Vascular Aneurysms
• Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
• Cavernomas
• Head Injuries

Dr. Derya Zengin Metli is a physician specialized in physical therapy and rehabilitation. She graduated from Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine. Her practice includes physical therapy and physiotherapy services. She also consults in English.

Her clinical scope includes musculoskeletal rehabilitation for back, neck, and joint pain, and herniated discs. She provides neurological rehabilitation for stroke and multiple sclerosis. She also offers post-surgical rehabilitation after orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures, sports injury prevention and treatment, and chronic pain management for fibromyalgia and arthritis.

Dr. Halil Olgun Peker is a neurosurgeon with 19 years of experience. He specializes in scoliosis, spinal canal stenosis, neck hernia, neuro-oncology, and complex spine disorders. Dr. Peker has managed many difficult cases and has helped improve neurosurgical techniques and patient care.

He is a member of the Turkish Medical Association and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The Ministry of Health in Sirnak awarded him a Certificate of Achievement for his service. Dr. Peker often presents his work at international conferences, showing his dedication to neurosurgery.

Prof. Erkan Kaptanoğlu, M.D. was born in Balikesir, Turkey in 1966. After completing his primary school, secondary school and high school education in Balikesir, he graduated from Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine in 1990. He completed his internship at Peterborough District Hospital and Lincoln County Hospital in the United Kingdom. After a year of compulsory medical service, he completed his residency, which he had started in 1992, at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital in 1997 and became a Neurosurgery Specialist. After being assigned at the same hospital as Chief Resident in the same year, he studied “spinal cord injury and spinal cord regeneration” as a “research fellow” alongside Prof. Charles Tator, M.D., at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1998-1999. After returning from Canada in 1999, he was tasked by the Ministry of Health to establish a Field Hospital and to work in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent Society at Hakkari, Şemdinli for two months. Following this assignment, he volunteered to work for the 1999 Marmara Earthquake relief effort.

He became an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery in 2004. He earned the title Doctor of Science (Ph.D.) by completing a doctorate program on Advanced Neuroscience between 2000-2005, at Hacettepe University Institute of Medical Sciences. He joined the project for autologous stem cell therapy in human spinal cord injuries with the Departments of Neurosurgery and Hematology at the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. In 2009, he was appointed as Deputy Chief to the 1st Neurosurgery Clinic at the Ankara Numune Hospital, where he had been working.

At this hospital, in which he worked until 2010, he supervised and attended complex cranial, pediatric, spinal, trauma and vascular neurosurgery operations. He continued his academic research at Ankara University, Department of Anatomy and research laboratories of Ankara University and Hacettepe University for the purpose of developing strategies for complex spinal surgery operations.

With his research on spinal cord injuries and spinal anatomy, he won many awards such as the Acibadem Hospital Medical Research Award, 1st Place in 2000, Turkish Neurosurgical Society Dr. Mahir Tevruz Scientific Research Award, Tübitak and Brain Research Society Wheyt Award in 2001, Turkish Neurosurgical Society Hamit Ziya Gokalp Young Neurosurgeons Research Award, 2nd Place in 2002, Turkish Neurosurgical Society Yildiz Yalcinlar Scientific Research Award in 2004.

In 2010, he went to Cyprus to found the Near East University Faculty of Medicine Hospital with the guidance of Hacettepe University, and was appointed as full Professor. Between 2010-2015, he served as the Founder and Head of Department at the Near East University and Founder and Deputy Chief Physician at the University Training and Research Hospital in TRNC.

In 2000-2001, he served as a member of the editorial board for Türk Nöroşirurji Dergisi and Turkish Neurosurgery journal. Between the years 2001-2006, he served as an assistant editor for Türk Nöroşirurji Dergisi and Turkish Neurosurgery journals. In 2002-2003, he served as the Chairman of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee under the Turkish Neurosurgical Society. He was elected to the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group Board of Directors to serve between 2003-2009. In 2013, he was again elected as a member to the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group Board of Directors. In 2015, he became the Chairman of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group Board of Directors. In 2018, he was elected as a member to the Board of Turkish Neurosurgery Academy.

In 2015, he was appointed to the Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery and was elected as the Head of Department. During the same period, he also served as the Director of the Institute of Neuroscience. In 2018, he completed his tenure as the Head of Department. Reaching the end of this tenure in 2019, he retired from his duties as the Director of the Institute of Neuroscience and as a Member of the Faculty of Medicine. During his tenure at Marmara University, he supervised and accompanied surgical operations for complex cases from cranial patients to brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas and hypophysis adenomas in particular), cerebral hemorrhages, Parkinson’s disease, trauma and vascular neurosurgery. He performed complex spinal surgery operations such as surgeries for spinal deformities (e.g. scoliosis and kyphosis), thoracoscopic spinal surgeries and sacral tumor surgeries. He conducted research and experimental studies on stem cell therapy and regeneration in spinal cord injuries. Between 2019-2020, currently He continues his clinical practice and surgeries along with his local and international academic studies, from his private clinic and Istanbul Brain and Spine Center.

He has attended numerous national and international courses and meetings as an instructor and speaker, was a guest speaker in over 100 events and conferences. He has published 65 international, 35 national scientific articles, edited 7 books, written 52 book chapters. He has served in the organizational committee 5 times in international meetings and 22 times in national meetings.

He is a member of the Turkish Medical Association, Turkish Cypriot Medical Association, Turkish Neurosurgical Society, Turkish Spine Society, EUROSPINE, AO Spine, Turkish Neurosurgery Academy.

Dr Nimet Ozcan is a dermatologist with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine in 2008. She completed her dermatology specialization at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital in 2014. She provides care in both medical and cosmetic dermatology.

Clinical focus: acne, eczema, psoriasis, and fungal and bacterial infections. Dermato-oncology with early detection and surgical excision of suspicious lesions. Dermal fillers, chemical peels, and mesotherapy. Laser treatment for vascular lesions, pigmentation disorders, and hair removal. Pediatric dermatology. Languages: English.

Dermatologist Dr. Osman Serdar Akkaya graduated from Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine in 1981. He completed his dermatology specialization there in 1985. He has more than 35 years of experience and is among the most senior dermatologists in the region.

His practice includes general dermatology, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, vitiligo, and urticaria. He focuses on dermato-oncology and performs surgery for benign and malignant skin tumors. He also offers cosmetic dermatology, including fillers, mesotherapy, and chemical peels. He provides laser and light-based treatments for vascular lesions, pigment disorders, scars, and hair removal. He treats geriatric skin conditions and chronic skin diseases.

Dr. Murat Erol is a general dentist with over 20 years of clinical experience. He graduated from Ege University Faculty of Dentistry in 2002. He provides care in English.

He offers preventive care and restorative treatments, including aesthetic fillings, crowns, and bridges. He also performs root canal therapy. His aesthetic services include whitening, composite bonding, and smile design. He provides fixed and removable prosthetics. His plans focus on oral function and natural aesthetics. Each treatment is tailored to the patient.

Dyt. Yaren Nur Güngör is a dietitian. She graduated from the Faculty of Nutrition and Dietetics. She provides evidence-based, personalized nutrition counseling in English. She designs tailored programs for health promotion, disease management, and weight control.

Her clinical focus includes diet plans for diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disorders, and other metabolic issues. She also guides weight loss and gain and improves body composition. She offers sports nutrition and nutrition care for children and teens. She provides preventive nutrition with lifestyle counseling. Her approach is patient-centered and motivating.

Dr. Ozlem Yogurtcu is a general surgeon with extensive experience. She graduated from Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at Haseki Training and Research Hospital, 1st Surgical Clinic. She is fluent in English.

Her practice includes gastrointestinal surgery (gallbladder disease, hernias, appendicitis, other gastrointestinal conditions). It also includes endocrine surgery (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal) and breast surgery (benign and malignant conditions). She treats emergency and trauma cases. She performs minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.

She is known for precise surgery and a patient-centered approach.

Dr Erdem Gelegen is an ophthalmologist with over 20 years of experience in cataract, refractive, retinal, glaucoma, and corneal/anterior segment care. He performs phacoemulsification with premium intraocular lenses. He provides laser vision correction for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. He treats diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, keratoconus, and anterior segment disorders, including corneal transplants.

He graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1999. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital in 2004. He is known for precise microsurgery and the use of advanced ophthalmic technologies.

Dr. Cevat Azeroglu is a radiologist. He graduated from the Tabriz University Faculty of Medicine in 1987. He completed his radiology specialization at Ondokuz Mayıs University in 2011. Born in 1959, he provides advanced imaging to support accurate, timely decisions for many specialties.

His expertise includes conventional radiology with X-rays for musculoskeletal and chest disease. He performs ultrasound of the abdomen, thyroid, vessels, and soft tissues. He interprets CT and MRI for neurological, cardiovascular, and oncologic conditions. He practices interventional radiology with image-guided, minimally invasive procedures. He also focuses on oncologic imaging for staging and follow-up. He is known for diagnostic precision, use of modern imaging tools, and strong teamwork.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saydam Mehmet is a general surgeon at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital (2025–present). His work covers oncologic, endocrine, and metabolic surgery. He performs laparoscopic surgery, including hernia repair and anti-reflux procedures. He also treats morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. Sleeve gastrectomy is among his key procedures.

Education: He graduated from the Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine (1995–2001). He completed his general surgery residency there (2004–2009). He was a research fellow at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Ryder Trauma Center (2015–2016).

Experience: He worked as a general surgery specialist at GATA Haydarpaşa, Girne Military, and Mevki Military. He later served as Associate Professor of General Surgery at Dışkapı, Sancaktepe, and Medical Park Gebze. Earlier, he practiced as a general practitioner in military medical services.