Page 25 - Treatment in Istanbul (Turkey)

Dr. Baris Demiriz is a general and bariatric surgeon in Turkey. He has 15 years of experience in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. He has published many articles in national and international journals.

Dr. Demiriz is a member of IFSO, the Turkish Obesity Surgery Association, and the National Society of Endoscopical Laparoscopic Surgery. He earned his medical degree from Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2001. He completed his general surgery training at Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in 2007.

Prof. Dr. Sezer Sağlam is a medical oncologist at Gayrettepe Florence Nightingale Hospital. He specializes in gastrointestinal and breast cancers. He has contributed to cancer care through research, especially with his study on the best timing for surgery after neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer. This work has influenced global treatment protocols.

Dr. Sağlam has led clinical trials in targeted therapies and precision medicine. His research on liver-transplanted patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was nominated for the 2024 International Best Researcher Award. He is a member of ASCO, ESMO, and ENET. Dr. Sağlam provides personalized and evidence-based oncology care.

Dr. Zulfikar Polat is a gastroenterology and internal medicine specialist. He trained at Ankara Gülhane Military Medical Academy, where he completed his specialty and became an Associate Professor. He is a Professor at İstanbul Aydın University. His postgraduate experience includes Ankara Gülhane Military Medical Academy and İstanbul Aydın University. He also worked at Anadolu Medical Center, affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine (USA).

Clinical focus includes gastroenterology, hepato-pancreatology, inflammatory intestinal diseases, and diagnostic and interventional endoscopic procedures. Professional memberships include the Turkish Gastroenterology Association (TGD), Turkish Endoscopy Society, TÜRK EUS, ESGE, EASL, and AASLD. He has 45 national and international publications.

Dr. Abdurrahman Efem is a physician trained at İnönü University Faculty of Medicine (2000–2008). He graduated with a score of 74/100. He also holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Haliç University (2015–2016).

His practice focuses on emergency and public health. He worked at Dabanoğlu Health Center in Diyarbakır (2008–2011). He then served at the Istanbul Provincial Ambulance Service (2011–2012). He worked at the İstinye State Hospital Emergency Clinic (2012–2014). He joined the Inspection Unit of the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate (2014–2015). He later worked at the Şişli Etfal EAH Emergency Clinic (2016–2017). Languages: Turkish (native), French, English.

Dr. Mehmet Doğu Canoğlu is a radiation oncologist. He graduated from Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at Kocaeli University from 2006 to 2012.

He completed his compulsory service at Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital. He then worked at Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital and at Medipol Mega University Hospital from 2015 to 2017. Since 2017, he has been a radiation oncologist at Anadolu Medical Center.

Dr. Ümit Aykan is an experienced eye specialist. He focuses on diagnosing and treating cataracts, glaucoma, and related eye conditions. He uses advanced methods, such as Multidiode laser therapy for glaucoma and multifocal lens implants for cataract surgery. These techniques help improve patient results and reduce risks.

Dr. Aykan has over 30 years of clinical experience. He is a professor and holds several accreditations, including Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO). He is an active member of top ophthalmology societies. He has also trained internationally, including at the Glaucoma Research and Education Group in San Francisco.

Dr. Nihal Işık is a neurologist at Anadolu Medical Center. She has worked there since December 2020. Her focus areas include multiple sclerosis, headaches, botulinum toxin therapy, neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy, and dementia. She completed her medical and neurology training at Hacettepe University.

She won third prize in the MS category at the 38th National Neurology Congress in 2002. She has supervised 23 theses. Her publications include 25 international and 36 national peer-reviewed articles. She has presented 48 international and 137 national conference papers. She has chaired 8 sessions and given 14 invited talks or panels. She is the author of “Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for MS.” She is a member of the Turkish Medical Association, the Turkish Neurological Society, and the MS Study Group. She has served as the ECTRIMS Turkey representative since 2012.

Dr. Nermina Alagic is an attending cardiologist at Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul, a Johns Hopkins Medicine affiliate. She graduated from Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa. She completed her cardiology residency at Istanbul Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital (2014–2018). She focuses on cardiac imaging. She has expertise in 2D/3D transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE). She advanced this training through research at the UAB Echo Lab (2015) and hands-on 2D/3D TEE work in the TEE Lab (2018–2019).

Her research covers photomedicine and cardiology. Her papers appear in Journal of Biomedical Optics, PNAS, Photochemistry and Photobiology, Echocardiography, Minerva Cardioangiologica, and Archives of Medical Science (2013–2020). She completed a clinical and interventional cardiology observership at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney (2019). She also worked at the Harvard Medical School Wellman Center for Photomedicine (2012–2013). She is a full member of the Turkish Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology, and an EACVI silver member. Award: ASP Fredrick Urbach Memorial Student Travel Award (2013).

Dr. Oktay Karadeniz, MD, is a radiologist. He graduated from Hacettepe University Medical School in 1992. He completed specialty training in Radiodiagnostics at Göztepe Training and Research Hospital in 1999. He worked at Memorial Hospital from 1999 to 2005. He has been a radiologist at Anadolu Medical Center since 2005.

Clinical focus: musculoskeletal imaging; cardiovascular imaging; oncologic imaging; neuroradiology. Professional memberships: Turkish Radiology Society; Turkish Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging; International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine; European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology; American College of Radiology; European Society of Radiology.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tayfun Caliskan is a specialist in chest diseases and interventional pulmonology. His focus areas include bronchoscopy, EBUS, and the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. He received his MD from GATA in 1999. He completed his Chest Diseases residency at GATA Haydarpaşa between 2002 and 2006. He served as a specialist and deputy chief at military hospitals. He was on the faculty at GATA and Sultan 2. Abdulhamit Han. He completed advanced training at The University of Chicago Medicine in 2015–2016. He became an Associate Professor in 2021. He has worked at Anadolu Medical Center since 2022.

He co-authored The Essential Intensivist Bronchoscopy. He is the Turkish translator of The Essential EBUS Bronchoscopy. He is a member of WABIP, EABIP, the European Respiratory Society, the Turkish Thorax Association, and the Lung Health and Intensive Care Association. He serves on the Executive Board of the Interventional Pulmonology Working Group of the Turkish Respiratory Research Association.

Dr. Baha Toygar is an experienced Eye Diseases Specialist with over 25 years in the field. He has performed more than 30,000 surgical procedures. His expertise includes LASEK, ReLEx SMILE, and Cataract Surgery with Multifocal Lens Implants.

Dr. Toygar is a certified international instructor for intra corneal rings and phakic IOLs. He has also served as a moderator at the ESCRS Satellite Symposium. He is a co-founder and General Secretary of the Black Sea Countries Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Toygar is a member of ESCRS, ASCRS, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Yavuz Kamil Bardak is an experienced ophthalmologist. He has performed over 35,000 surgeries. His main areas are cataract surgery with IOL replacement, glaucoma management, and retinal treatments. He is also skilled in general eye exams and advanced retinal procedures.

Dr. Bardak has published many research papers in national and international journals. He has received several awards, including the Troutman Award and best paper and poster recognitions. He completed his medical degree at Hacettepe University. He received further ophthalmology training at Ankara University and the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

General Information and Presentation

He completed his primary education at Şenlikköy Primary School and his secondary education at the Istek Foundation Florya Bilge Kagan High School. He graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2001. He completed his specialist education in Istanbul Medical Faculty Neurology Department in 2006. In 2006 he worked at the Neurology Clinic and the PharmaZentrum Research Center of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Basel, Switzerland. Between 2007 and 2011, Bakırköy Prof. Dr. He worked at Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital in the 3rd Neurology Clinic and in the Dementia and Movement Disorders policlinics. Since October 2011, he has been working at Istanbul University of Science, Faculty of Medicine, Neurology, USA.

Experience

İstanbul Bilim University Faculty of Medicine Neurology, 

Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital 

Kadıköy Florence Nightingale Hospital Neurology Clinics, 

Gayrettepe Metropolitan Florence Nightingale Hospital PET department.

Dr. Zehra Karaağaç is a specialist in oculoplastic surgery. She has experience in both surgical treatments and minimally invasive procedures, including botox injections. She earned her medical degree from Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine. She then completed her ophthalmology training at Prof. Dr. Reşat Belger Beyoğlu Eye Education and Research Hospital, where she also received advanced training.

Dr. Karaağaç is a member of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association (TOD). She is committed to high professional standards and ongoing learning. She is known for her strong success rate in oculoplastic procedures and her focus on patient safety and satisfaction.