Page 4 - Best Brain MRI doctors in Turkey: TOP 164 doctors

Prof. Dr. Salih Murat İmer is a neurosurgeon with over 30 years of experience. He founded and led the Neurosurgery Department at Okan University Hospital. He has written 68 scientific articles and contributed to 9 book chapters. Dr. İmer has also presented at 33 international congresses, showing his influence in neurosurgery worldwide.

Dr. İmer holds advanced certifications in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, Leksell Gamma Knife radiosurgery, and endoscopic spine surgery. He received specialized training in several European countries. He has worked with leading experts such as Prof. Matti Vapalahti and Prof. Juha Hernesniemi. Through these collaborations, he has helped improve neurosurgical practice and education around the world.

Assoc. Prof.  Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz graduated from Hacettepe University in 2000 as a Medical Doctor.  She completed her specialty training in the Department of Neurology at Ankara University in 2006.

She started her compulsory service in Mardin Nusaybin State Hospital in 2007.  Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz continued her duty in Gaziantep 27 December State Hospital in 2008.  She worked as a neurologist at Biophysis Nilüfer Medical Center and Ali Osman Sönmez Oncology Hospital in Bursa between 2010-2011, and at Istanbul Universal Aksaray Hospital between 2011-2012. From October 2012, she started to work as a Doctor Lecturer in Istanbul Medipol University Neurology Department.  Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz received the title of associate professor in 2021.  In 2015, she worked as an Honorary Observer in Parkinson's Disease and Deep Brain Stimulation (Neuromodulation) at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology in London.  She took part in many training programs on Deep Brain Stimulation (Neuromodulation) in Turkey and abroad between 2013-2022.

Regarding her speciality in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, she has 5 Tubitak projects, a 2-chapter book , 30 clinical researches and 80 reports presented in domestic and abroad. Assoc. Prof. Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, who is still working within the staff of Medipol University, managed the Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Unit of the Department of Neurology during her working time and plans Deep Brain Stimulation therapy applications with the neurosurgical team.

Since September 2018, she has been working as a coordinator for student education in the 5th semester of Neurology. As of December 2022, she has developed treatment plans for patients at Medipol University Istanbul Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center (PARMER) and provides the most appropriate personal medical follow-up and treatment support for each patient.

PUBLICATIONS

1-Yilmaz N, Yigit A, Akbostanci MC. Clozapine induced epilepsy. Revue Neurologique 2004, Nov;160/11:1093.

2-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Nursel Aydın. Sıcak Su Epilepsili Bir Olgu. Türkiye Klinikleri Nöroloji Dergisi 2004/Cilt2/Sayı 2.

3-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Nursel Aydın. Refleks Epilepsiler. Türkiye Klinikleri Nöroloji Dergisi 2004/Cilt2/Sayı 2.

4-Mine Hayriye Sorgun, Bilge Koçer, Funda Kaplan, Nesrin Yılmaz, Nezih Yücemen, Canan Yücesan. Multipl Sklerozda Kraniyal Nöropati. Turk Norol Derg 2011;17:137-142.

5-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Gökçen Duymaz, Mehmet Akif Yaşar. Parkinson Hastalığı Olan Bir Olguda Malign Sendrom. Turk Norol Derg 2012:18;123-125.

6-Yilmaz NH, Akbostanci MC, Oto A, Aykac O. Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in Ankara, Turkey: an analysis of diagnostic criteria and awareness. Acta Neurol Belg 2012 Oct 31. [Epub ahead of print].

7-Yılmaz NH, Bingol AP. Sensitivity and specificity of Ankara University Cerebral Dominance Inventory in comparison with the Wada test. Acta Neurol Belg 2013 Jun 6 [Epub ahead of print].

8-Sema Demirci, Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Efsun Şenocak, Fatih Han Bölükbaşı. Pons Kavernomu: Kranial Manyetik Rezonans Görüntüleme Bulguları. Turk Norol Derg 2012:19:72.

9-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Sinem Atik Güngör, Taflan Sahlepçi. Küçük hücreli akciğer kanseri tedavisinde cisplatin kullanımı sırasında gelişen akut iskemik inme: olgu sunumu. J Kartal TR. Baskıdaki Makaleler: KEAH-26937.

POSTERLER:

-Serebral venöz tromboz ve bruselloz Birlikteliği; Olgu Sunumu (42. Ulusal Nöroloji Kongresi-Antalya 2006)

-Waldenström makroglobulinemisine eşlik eden epileptik nöbetler ve nonkonvülsif status epileptikus (42. Ulusal Nöroloji Kongresi-Antalya 2006)

-Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome in Ankara, Turkey (16. Uluslararası Parkinson ve Hareket Bozuklukları Kongresi-Dublin 2012).

-Konjenital Miyastenik Sendrom (29. Ulusal Nörofizyoloji EEG-EMG Kongresi- Antalya 2013).

-Beşinci haftada duyusal iletimleri normal olan bir enjeksiyon nöropatisi olgusu (29. Ulusal Nörofizyoloji EEG-EMG Kongresi- Antalya 2013).

-Olgu sunumu: Mononöritis mültipleks ve lepra (29. Ulusal Nörofizyoloji EEG-EMG Kongresi- Antalya 2013).

-İdyopatik Parkinson Hastalığı’nda hızlanmış unutma ve uyku kalitesi (10. Ulusal Parkinson ve Hareket Bozuklukları Kongresi-Antalya 2013).

-Hiperglisemiye bağlı hemikore ve bazal gangliyon hiperintensitesi: Olgu sunumu (10. Ulusal Parkinson ve Hareket Bozuklukları Kongresi-Antalya 2013).

She graduated from Ankara Başkent High School in 1992 and Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 1999. She completed her specialty training at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and became a psychiatry specialist in 2005.

She has received Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Group Supervision training; Level I and II Family Therapies Training; Cognitive Psychotherapy Training; Family and Relationship Therapies Training and has articles published in local and foreign journals. Her field of interest is family and relationship therapies.

Dr. Mehmet Osman Akcakaya is a neurosurgeon with 18 years of experience. He specializes in microneurosurgery and functional neurosurgery. He treats head trauma, brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal disorders. Dr. Akcakaya uses advanced surgical techniques for these complex conditions.

He has received several awards, including the Second Prize for 'Best Oral Presentation' at the Congress of the Nervous System Surgery Society. He completed a 4-year training program with the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS). He also holds the EANS board certificate (Part I). Dr. Akcakaya has completed fellowships in Israel and Germany.

He is a member of the Turkish Association of Neurosurgery and EANS. He has also served on scientific committees for international courses on endoscopic spine surgery.

Education: 

Degree                       Program                                             University                   Year

Bachelor                     Medical Sciences                               İstanbul University     1995

Master Degree           Medical Sciences                               İstanbul University     1997

Doctorate and expertise in medicine

Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology     İstanbul University     2004

Assistant professor     

İstanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology İstanbul Bilim University        2009

Associate professor

İstanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology İstanbul Bilim University        2011

Clinical Neurophysiology Subspecialty          

İstanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology İstanbul Bilim University        2011

PhD Thesis:

INVESTIGATION OF ANTI-GANGLIOSIDE AND ANTI-GLUTAMIC ACID DECARBOXYLASE ANTIBODIES IN JUDICIAL MYOCLONIC EPILEPSY AND INVESTIGATION OF SUBCLINIC ANTERIOR HORN INVOLVEMENT BY ESTIMATE MOTOR UNIT COUNT METHOD-2002

Experience

Research Assistant 

Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University        1998-2004

Specialist

Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital, Department of Neurology       2004-2009

Assistant Professor

Istanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology 2009-2011

Assoc. Prof.     

Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital Department of Neurology 

İstanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital 

Memberships to Scientific Organizations:

Turkish Medical Association

Turkish Neurology Association

Turkish Association for Combating Epilepsy

Turkish Clinical Neurophysiology EEG-EMG Association

Association of Child Neurology and Neuroimmunology

Awards:

Clinical Neurophysiology Congress (Antalya-2013): First prize for the poster paper titled "Continuous Video-EEG Monitoring Findings and Clinical, Laboratory and Imaging Characteristics of Patients Monitored in the Neurology Intensive Care Unit Due to Alertness Defect"

National Epilepsy Congress (Muğla-2012): "Does Semiology Tell Us the Origin of Seizures Consisting Mainly of Alteration of Consciousness?" Kenan Tükel publishing award for his publication

National Epilepsy Congress (Izmir- 2008): First prize in the field of epilepsy congress publications with the publication titled "Reduced axon number in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy demonstrated by motor unit number estimation analysis"

National Epilepsy Congress (Ankara- 2004): First prize in the field of epilepsy congress publication with the publication titled "No association of anti-gm1 and anti-gad antibodies with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy"

Turkish Clinical Neurophysiology EEG-EMG Association, 19th National Clinical Neurophysiology EEG-EMG Congress (Trabzon-2002): Congress publication award for the publication titled "Epileptic seizures in Behçet's disease".

Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council scientific publications incentive award-2002: (With the publication titled "Epileptic Seizures In Behçet's Disease")

Turkish Neurology Association, 38th National Neurology Congress - 2002: Second prize for the oral presentation titled "Investigation of subclinical anterior horn involvement in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy with the estimated motor unit number method".

Turkish Epilepsy Association and Sanofi Pharma Scientific Research Project Support Award - 2001: "Investigation of anti-ganglioside antibodies in juvenile myoclonic epilepsies" thesis project.

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

After he became a neurologist, he did 3,5 years of obligatory service for the gouvernment, first 1,5 years in military (Iskenderun Navy Hospital) and two more years in Diyarbakır Social Security Hospital. He returned to Istanbul University in 1989. He worked in the Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota U.S.A. during 1990 - 1991 on Demantia and Behavioural neurology subjects.

He became an Associate Professor in 1994 and continued working in Istanbul University until 1999. Between 1999 - 2002, he worked at the Kadir Has University and also Florence Nightingale Hospital.

He served in the Faculty executive committee of Kadir Has University during 1999 - 2000 and became a professor in 2000. Following that, worked in the Kozyatağı Hospital between 2004 - 2013.  

Since 2013 he has been working in Florence Nightingale Hospital.  

 SPECIALITIES

Demantia

Epilepsy

Headache

 WORK EXPERIENCE

Military service in Navy Hospital, 1985 - 1986

Obligatory state service in Diyarbakır S.S.K Hospital, 1986 - 1989

Kozyatağı Acıbadem Hospital 2004 - 2013

Dr. Mustafa Yavuz Samanci is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Medipol Acıbadem District Hospital in Istanbul. He has specialized training in stereotactic, functional, and pediatric neurosurgery. Dr. Samanci completed a clinical fellowship in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. He has also finished advanced programs in spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation. He received several TÜBİTAK postdoctoral research fellowships and the Prof. Dr. Hakan Caner Overseas Education Scholarship from the Turkish Neurosurgical Society.

Dr. Samanci is an active member of several national and international neurosurgical societies. These include the Turkish Neurosurgical Society, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, and the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. He has served on editorial boards and scientific committees. His work reflects significant contributions to academic neurosurgery and research.

Dr. Saban Sec is a medical oncologist with experience at leading hospitals, including Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital, and Bahçelievler Medikalpark Hospital. He currently represents specialist physicians in the Turkish Medical Oncology Association. He is also a member of the Istanbul Medical Chamber and the Turkish Medical Oncology Association.

Dr. Sec treats breast, lung, gastrointestinal, prostate, urogenital, head and neck cancers, as well as sarcomas and rare tumors. He has published many peer-reviewed articles on cancer prognosis, treatment outcomes, and survival rates. His research includes studies with large patient groups, such as 138 patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer. Dr. Sec focuses on prognostic factors and treatment responses in different cancers. He is dedicated to improving cancer care.

Education and Expertise

GATA Military Medical Faculty

GATA Haydarpaşa Training Hospital Neurosurgery Clinic (Specialization)

Beykent University Hospital and Health Institutions Management (Master's)

Experience

GATA Military Medical Faculty Trainee Doctor (6 months)

Samsun Sahara Medical School Comm. (3 months)

Naval Command War Squadron TCG Diligence Medical Officer (2 years)

Dz.K.K. Submarine Battery Factory Infirmary Doctor (3 months)

Naval Forces Command Infirmary Doctor (3 months)

GATA Haydarpaşa Training Hospital Chief Assistant (12 years)

Kasımpaşa Marine Hospital Neurosurgery Clinic Chief (5 years)

Bahçelievler Medical Park Hospital Neurosurgery Specialist (11 years)

Altınbaş University Faculty of Medicine Neurosurgery Lecturer. Member (4 years)

Altınbaş University Faculty of Medicine Head of Neurosurgery Department. (3 years)

Basic and Advanced Cardiac life support courses (BASIC)

Basic and Advanced Cardiac life support courses (ADVANCED)

GATA Military Medical Faculty. Microsurgery Training Course

Istanbul Vatan Hospital Hand surgery microsurgery course

Neuroanatomy course

Spine Surgery course

Professional Memberships

Turkish Neurosurgery Association

Spine Society of Europe

Turkish Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group

Specialist of regenerative medicine

Dr Önul is FROM THE BEST DOCTORS in the field of Endoscopic skull base surgery and pituitary surgery Brain tumor surgery (Neuro Oncological surgery)


I was born in Artvin in 1977. He became a doctor from KTU Faculty of Medicine in 2001, and Bakırköy Prof. Dr. I became a Neurosurgery Specialist by getting the title of specialist from Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital. Again, in the same hospital, I was entitled to the title of associate professor in 2016. I continue to work at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, where I voluntarily joined with the task of establishing the Neurosurgery Clinic with my teammates. I am married and have 2 children. I love painting. I am very interested in children's literature. I have 10 printed children's tales

Dr. Inci Emekli is a neurologist at PARMER, Istanbul Medipol University (2025–). She specializes in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. She completed her neurology residency at Istanbul University (2015–2020). She then completed a neurology fellowship at Karabuk University (2020–2023) and movement disorders training at Michigan State University (2023–2024).

Her publications include an accepted article in Movement Disorders on the Head Snap Sign, a 2024 World Neurosurgery article on gender inequality in leadership, and a 2021 Parkinsonism & Related Disorders paper on hereditary Parkinson’s in Turkey. She delivered an oral presentation in 2022 on COVID‑19’s impact on carpal tunnel surgery. She also co‑authored a neurology chapter on hyperlipidemia in 2021.

Accreditation: Fellow of the Turkish Board of Neurology (2019–). Memberships: Turkish Society of Neurology (2016–) and European Academy of Neurology (2019–).

Dr. Buse Cagla Ari, MD, is an Associate Professor of Neurology. She specializes in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, headache disorders, sleep disorders, and dementia. She works at Istanbul Medipol University and the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center (PARMER). She previously served as an Assistant Professor at Bahcesehir University.

Her research focuses on Parkinson’s disease biomarkers, cognition, uric acid and cholesterol associations, restless legs syndrome, and complex headaches. This includes a 13-patient case series. She has published 15 international and 4 Turkish papers and 5 book chapters. Her work has 147 citations on Google Scholar (h-index 5) and 91 citations on Web of Science (h-index 5).

She is a member of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society, the International Headache Society, and the Turkish Parkinson’s Disease Society. She serves as a peer reviewer for SAGE Open Medical Case Reports, BMC Neurology, and Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.

Brain and Nerve Surgery

Prof. Dr. Yasef began his medical education at Istanbul University in 1973 and graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1979. He started his specialization in neurology at the same university in 1980 and became a neurologist in 1985. During his specialty training, he spent 6 months at Hacettepe University in the Neurology Department in Ankara.

After becoming a neurologist, he completed 3.5 years of obligatory government service, spending the first 1.5 years at the Iskenderun Navy Hospital and the next 2 years at Diyarbakır Social Security Hospital. He returned to Istanbul University in 1989.

Prof. Dr. Yasef worked abroad in the United States from 1990 - 1991, focusing on dementia and behavioral neurology.

In 1994, he became an Associate Professor and continued working at Istanbul University until 1999. Between 1999 - 2002, he worked at Florence Nightingale Hospital, and then at Kozyatağı Acıbadem Hospital from 2004 to 2013.

Since 2013, he has been a valuable part of the team at Florence Nightingale Hospital.

Specialties

• Dementia
• Epilepsy
• Headaches

Work Experience

• Military Service at Iskenderun Navy Hospital, 1985 - 1986
• State Service at Diyarbakır S.S.K. Hospital, 1986 - 1989
• Florence Nightingale Hospital, 1999 - 2002
• Kozyatağı Acıbadem Hospital, 2004 - 2013
• Florence Nightingale Hospital (Since 2013)

Professor Erol Akgül is an Interventional Neuroradiologist and a member of the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe, European Association of Radiology, Turkish Society of Radiology, Turkish Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Turkish Society of Neuroradiology, and Turkish Medical Association.

She was born in Istanbul in 1986. He graduated from Üsküdar American High School in 2004. In 2010, she graduated from Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine and received the title of doctor of medicine. In 2011, he started his specialty training at Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Mental Health and Diseases and became a psychiatry specialist in 2016. He fulfilled his state service obligation at Diyarbakır Bismil State Hospital. In 2020, he started his doctoral studies on the epidemiology of psychosis at Maastricht University School of Mental Health and Neuroscience in the Netherlands and is still continuing. In 2021, she started working as a psychiatry specialist at NPISTANBUL AMATEM department. In 2023, she was awarded the title of associate professor in psychiatry. Dr. Ceylan Ergül continues to work as an associate professor at Üsküdar University Department of Mental Health and Diseases and continues her research in the fields of addiction and psychosis.