Page 76 - Treatment in Istanbul (Turkey)

Dr. Fikri Kutlay is a cardiac surgeon with more than 29 years of experience. He has performed thousands of successful heart surgeries. He is known for his leadership at leading medical centers in Turkey and Germany.

Dr. Kutlay graduated from Hacettepe University School of Medicine in 1990. He completed his specialization at Istanbul University Institute of Cardiology in 1997. He has led Cardiovascular Surgery Departments at several hospitals. He is respected for his clinical skills and innovative approach.

Dr. Bercem Aycicek is an Associate Professor with over 20 years of experience in endocrinology and metabolic diseases. She is known for her strong clinical skills in treating complex hormonal and metabolic conditions. Her areas of expertise include diabetes, thyroid diseases, obesity, and resistant hypertension.

Dr. Aycicek is one of the few endocrinologists in Turkey with a focus on gender-affirming hormone therapy for trans individuals. She provides evidence-based and sensitive care. She also has a special interest in women’s health, managing issues such as irregular periods, delayed puberty, and metabolic bone diseases.

She earned her Associate Professorship at Health Sciences University Derince. Dr. Aycicek has worked in both public and private healthcare settings, helping to improve access to care. She is an active member of the Turkish Endocrine and Metabolism Society and the European Society of Endocrinology.

Dr. Sertac Cicek is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon with over 40 years of medical experience. He has spent more than 30 years specializing in cardiac surgery, focusing on complex congenital and pediatric heart procedures. He trained at leading centers worldwide and completed fellowships at Texas Heart Institute, Mayo Clinic, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. This combination of fellowships is rare in the field.

Dr. Cicek is the Chief of Pediatric and Adult Cardiovascular Surgery at Liv Hospital Vadistanbul. He leads advanced surgical programs and performs specialized operations, including Ozaki aortic valve reconstructions, Ebstein anomaly repairs, and minimally invasive heart surgeries. He is also a pioneer in hybrid coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Dr. Cicek holds ECFMG certification and active medical licenses in Turkey, Minnesota, and West Virginia. He has received several awards, such as the GATA 100th Anniversary Scientific Achievement Award and a Presidential Citation from the Asian Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. He is a founding member of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery and has been listed in Who’s Who in Medicine & Healthcare for 20 years.

Medical Interests and Activities 

Hepatic Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension 

Hepatic Cancer 

Viral Hepatitides (Chronic Hepatitis B, C and Delta Infections) 

Alcoholic Chronic Liver Disease 

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 

Stomach and Duodenal Ulcer 

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (Ulcer and Varicose Vein Bleeding) 

Functional Digestive System Disorders (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Intestinal Obstruction and Diarrhea...) 

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease) 

Malabsorption Syndromes (Celiac Disease and Alike) 

Gastrointestinal Tract Malignancies

Education and Experience 

Liv Hospital, Ulus, Gastroenterohepatology Department (2013 ...) 

Associate Professor of Medicine, Obligatory Service at Gastroenterology, Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital (2010 - 2012) 

Subspecialty in Gastroenterohepatology, Department of Gastroenterohepatology, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University (2004 - 2010) 

Research Fellow, Physician, Department of Internal Diseases, 

İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University (1992 - 1998)

Memberships 

Turkish Association For The Study of The Liver 

Turkish Society of Gastroenterology 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Society 

Internal Diseases Specialty Association

Dr. Ali Solmaz graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Medicine in 2002. He completed his General Surgery residency in 2007. In 2017, he received his Associate Professorship Certificate in General Surgery. Dr. Solmaz specializes in bariatric and metabolic surgeries. His expertise includes gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, revisional obesity surgery, and diabetes surgery.

He is skilled in minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and hernia repairs. Dr. Solmaz treats a wide range of gastrointestinal, endocrine, and proctological conditions. He is known for his expertise, patient satisfaction, and dedication to surgical excellence.

Areas of Interests

• Coronary angiography and stent procedures
• Chronic complete occluded coronary interventions
• Main coronary and bifurcation interventions
• Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
• Intra-coronary imaging and physiological examinations (OCT, FFR and RFR)
• Peripheral angiography and interventions
• Carotid angiography and stent procedures
• Atrial septal defect closure
• Percutaneous mitral valve repair (Mitra-Clip)
• Left atrial appendage closure
• Renal denervation

Education
 

• Kdz. Ereğli Anatolian High School (1993)
• I.Ü. Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, English Medicine Programme (1993-1999)
• University of London, St. Georges Hospital, Internal Medicine Rotation, England (1997)
• Florence Nightingale Hospital, Cardiology Department (1999-2004)
• Coronary Physiology and Clinical Use of FFR Course, France (2011)
• TAVI Training, Switzerland (2011)
• Bioabsorbable Vascular Scaffold Certification, France (2012)
   

Experience
 

• Liv Hospital Ulus (2013-)
• Istanbul Bilim University, Department of Cardiology (2008-2012)
• Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Cardiology, Ankara (2009-2010)
  Florence Nightingale Hospital, Department of Cardiology (1999-2012)

Areas of Interests

• Rhinoplasty
   
• Head and Neck Cancers (facial and scalp, tongue, lips, mouth, pharynx, larynx, neck lymph nodes, salivary glands and thyroid cancer surgeries)
   
• Childhood ENT diseases
   
• Sleep apnea and snoring surgery
   
• Surgeries for functional nasal obstructions (turbinates, nasal polyps, etc.)
   
• Surgical treatments of hearing loss
   
• Ear diseases

Education:
 

• Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine (English Department)
   
• Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (Capa) ENT Diseases
   
• Turkish Otorhinolaryngology Surgery Qualification Certificate
   
• University of Pittsburgh Department of ENT Diseases (UPMC) observer physician
   
• Italy Insubria University Department of ENT Diseases observer physician

Experience
 

• Liv Hospital Ulus
   
• Gaziosmanpasa Medical Park Hospital
   
• Bahcelievler Memorial Hospital
   
• Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital
   
• Umraniye Training and Research Hospital
   
• Ardahan State Hospital (compulsory service)

Areas of Interests

•  
• Rhinoplasty- Functional Rhinoplasty- Revision Rhinoplasty
• Face and Neck Aesthetic Surgery
• Nose and Sinus Diseases and Endoscopic Surgery Treatments
• Snoring and Sleep Apnea and Surgical Solutions
• Pediatric Ear Nose and Throat Diseases
• Non-Surgical Solutions in Facial Aesthetics (Filler - Botulinum Toxin)
• Allergic Rhinitis

Education:

• 1985 – 1989 : T.R. M.E.B. Ankara Mimar Kemal Primary School
• 1989 – 1990 : T.R. M.E.B. Bursa Ataturk Primary School
• 1990 – 1997 : T.R. M.E.B. Bursa Girls High School
• 1997 – 2003: Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine
• 2003 –2010: T.R. Ministry of Health Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital Ear Nose Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Clinic (Assistant Doctor)

Experience:

• 2010 - 2012: Kahramanmaraş State Hospital ENT Specialist
• 2012 - 2013: Istanbul Meditime Surgical Medical Center ENT Specialist
• 2013 - 2014: Istanbul Private Atlas Hospital ENT Specialist
• 2014 - 2015: Istanbul Üsküdar State Hospital ENT Specialist
• 2015 - 2021: Acıbadem Kadıköy Hospital ENT Specialist
• 2021- 2024: Private Practice ENT Specialist
• 2024 March - Present: Liv Hospital Ulus ENT Specialist

Areas of Interests

• Interventional neuroradiology: brain (intracranial) aneurysms, AVM, carotid stenosis, stroke, cerebrovascular stenosis, intracranial AVF, dural AVF's hemangioma, birthmark, spinal cord vascular diseases, etc.
• Diagnostic neuroradiology: Angiography, MRI, CT
• Diagnostic and interventional radiology

Education:

• Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine
• Institute of Neuroradiology, University of Zurich
• Beth Israel North Hospital Interventional Neuroradiology Clinic - Dr. Alejandro Berenstein, New York, NY, USA
   

Experience:

• Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
• Florence Nightingale Hospitals
• Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Department of Neuroradiology
• Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Department of Radiology

Membership

• Turkish Radiology Association
• Turkish Neuroradiology Society
• Turkish Society of Interventional Radiology
• European Society of Neuroradiology
• WFITN (World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology)

Dr. Gokhan Ertugrul is a medical researcher who specializes in kidney transplantation. He has co-authored studies on topics such as how graft body weight ratio affects creatinine levels after living donor kidney transplants. He also researches the clinical effects of the BK virus in kidney transplant patients. His work stresses the need for careful monitoring during high-dose immunosuppressive therapy.

Dr. Ertugrul’s research appears in respected journals, including the Archives of Organ Transplantation. He is dedicated to improving transplantation science and patient care.