Paediatric Check-Up Doctors Abroad — Page 6

Dr. Baris Nuhoglu is a urologist at Biruni University Hospital in Istanbul. He specializes in robotic da Vinci prostatectomy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Dr. Nuhoglu performs complex procedures for prostate cancer, urolithiasis, and urethral strictures. He treats adult and pediatric patients at a TEMOS-accredited university facility.

• Member of the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology.
• Performs high intensity focused ultrasound ablation (HIFU) for prostate conditions.
• Expert in reconstructive urology including urethroplasty and uretheroplasty.
• Treats male infertility conditions such as varicocele and azoospermia.

Dr. Meryem Keceli Basaran is an Associate Professor and pediatric gastroenterologist at Biruni University Hospital. She specializes in digestion, hepatology, and nutrition for children. Dr. Basaran is a member of ESPGHAN, the European authority on pediatric gastroenterology. She manages gastrointestinal food allergies and inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease. She works at a TEMOS-accredited university hospital in Istanbul.

• Specializes in care before and after liver transplantation.
• Treats irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis.
• Expert in managing chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, and faecal incontinence.
• Performs specialized diagnostic colonoscopies and gastroscopies with biopsy.

Dr. Cengiz Koksal is a cardiovascular surgeon at Medipol Acibadem District Hospital in Istanbul. He is the only physician in Turkey authorized to train others in off-pump mitral valve repair. Dr. Koksal specializes in minimally invasive heart surgery and beating-heart techniques. He has performed over 2,000 open-heart and vascular procedures.

• Winner of the Physician of the Year award at the Ibn Sina Medical Awards.
• Former President of the National Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Association.
• Provides expert treatment for complex mitral valve repair and carotid artery surgery.
• Authored over 150 scientific publications and edited a major vascular surgery textbook.

Dr. Ilker Tolga Özgen is a professor of pediatric endocrinology at Biruni University Hospital in Istanbul. He won multiple first prizes for research on Turner syndrome and precocious puberty. Dr. Özgen treats growth retardation, diabetes, and thyroid disorders. He serves patients at a TEMOS-accredited university hospital in a modern campus.

• Specializes in puberty problems and menstrual irregularities in adolescent girls.
• Treats metabolic issues including obesity and adrenal gland disorders.
• Clinical focus includes pituitary disorders and genital abnormalities in boys.
• Member of the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Association.

Dr. Didem Melis Oztas is a cardiovascular surgeon at Biruni University Hospital in Istanbul. She specializes in pediatric cardiac surgery and congenital heart defects. Dr. Oztas won a national award for her research on cardiovascular stem cells.

• Performs specialized surgeries for Tetralogy of Fallot and Atrial Septal Defects.
• Treats complex pediatric heart conditions including ventricular septal defects.
• Expert in pediatric valve replacements and plastic surgery for cardiac valves.
• Works at a TEMOS-accredited university hospital with 15 operating rooms.

Dr. Sotirios Papathanasiou, MD, PhD, is an interventional cardiologist and arrhythmologist with over 20 years of experience. He is certified in interventional cardiology by EAPCI and the ESC. His expertise includes coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation), heart failure, valvular disease, and congenital heart disease. He performs coronary angiography, angioplasty, and pacemaker implantation.

Education: Medical degree from the University of Ioannina School of Medicine. PhD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1999–2005). Postgraduate degree in interventional cardiology from the University of Athens. Training: Hippokrateion Hospital (University Cardiology Department), Alexandra Hospital, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, and Attikon Hospital. Affiliations: European Society of Cardiology (ESC), EAPCI, Hellenic Cardiological Society, and Hellenic Society of Lipidology and Atherosclerosis.

Languages: Greek and English.

Dr. Artur A. Antoniewicz, MD, PhD, is a urologist with more than 20 years of experience. He has led the Urology Department at Międzyleski Specialist Hospital in Warsaw for 7 years. He has been affiliated with the hospital for over 20 years. Since 2018, he has performed robot-assisted procedures at the Prostate Cancer Treatment Center.

He graduated from the First Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw. He is a specialist in urology and in general surgery (1992). He has worked at State Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Warsaw, the Department of Urology at the Medical University of Warsaw, and the Railway Hospital in Warsaw. He completed fellowships and training in Germany, France, Slovenia, and Italy.

He earned FEBU certification in 1999. He has served on the Scientific Committee of the Polish Urological Association since 2000. He is an active member of the Polish Urological Association, the European Board of Urology, the European Association of Urology, and the Société Internationale d’Urologie.

Assoc. Prof. Orhan Ünal Zorba, MD, is a urologist focused on andrology and endourology. He has about 25 years of experience. He currently sees patients at Private TUSA Hospital. He started there on 8 June 2026.

His academic work includes 29 international and 13 national publications and 7 book chapters. He has given at least 9 presentations at international congresses. His studies have been presented at EAU, ESSM, ICS, and EULIS meetings. He served as Assistant and Associate Professor of Urology from 2009 to 2016. He is a member of the Istanbul Medical Chamber, the Turkish Association of Urology, the Turkish Society of Andrology, and the Eastern Black Sea Association of Urologists.

Key areas include male infertility (micro‑TESE; outcomes in 191 patients with non‑obstructive azoospermia), microsurgical varicocele repair, prostate surgery (HoLEP, TURP), endoscopic stone surgery (URS, PCNL), and uro‑oncology. He speaks English.

Dr. Deniz Suha Kucukaksu is a cardiovascular surgeon at Başkent University Istanbul Hospital. He pioneered mechanical circulatory support and artificial heart programs in Turkey. Dr. Kucukaksu specializes in adult and pediatric heart transplantation. He completed fellowships at institutions in the US, Germany, and France.

• Director of the Heart Transplantation and Artificial Heart Center.
• Performs off-pump coronary bypass, valve replacements, and complex aortic repairs.
• Expert in LVAD systems and total artificial heart surgery.
• Established heart transplant centers at several major medical institutions.

Prof. Dr. İbrahim Doğan is a gastroenterologist. He earned his MD from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1991. He became an Internal Medicine specialist at Gazi University in 1996. He completed gastroenterology subspecialty training at İnönü University in 2001.

His academic career was at Gazi University. He served as Lecturer (2002), Assistant Professor (2003), Associate Professor (2007), and Professor (2012). He worked as a researcher at the University of California San Diego from 2004 to 2006. He has practiced at Koru Hospital since January 2023.

Clinical focus includes gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gastroparesis, achalasia, bloating, gas and belching, fecal incontinence, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. He performs ERCP, stent placement, balloon and bougie dilation, polypectomy, argon plasma coagulation, double-balloon enteroscopy, and bleeding control.

Dr. Vedat Okutan is a pediatrician with minor specialty training in pediatric cardiology. He graduated from the Gülhane Military Medical Faculty (1980–1986). He completed an internship at GATA Haydarpaşa Training Hospital (1986–1987). He finished specialization training in Pediatric Health and Diseases at the Gülhane Military Medical Academy (1989–1993). He then completed minor specialty training in Pediatric Cardiology at the Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Hacettepe University (1998–2000).

Clinical focus: imaging for congenital heart disease, including fetal echocardiography. Care for acquired heart diseases such as rheumatic fever, Kawasaki disease, and myocarditis. Cardiac assessment for children who play sports, including evaluation of murmurs, fainting, and chest pain.