Spec. MD. Ulku Ozlem Yolcu

A 3-year-old refugee child from Syria, recently resettled in Istanbul with his single mother, presented with failure to thrive and developmental delays. Dr. Yolcu identified severe celiac disease compounded by nutritional deficiencies from displacement. She coordinated with a social worker to secure gluten-free staples through a charity, taught the mother to prepare traditional Syrian dishes with safe ingredients, and arranged developmental therapy. The child gained 4 kilograms in three months and began speaking his first words in Turkish and Arabic.

An 11-year-old girl from a rural Anatolian village was brought by her grandfather after local healers failed to treat her 'evil eye.' She presented with photosensitivity and butterfly rash. Dr. Yolcu diagnosed pediatric lupus, navigating cultural beliefs by respectfully incorporating the grandfather's spiritual concerns into the treatment plan. She started hydroxychloroquine while allowing a symbolic 'protection amulet' to be worn during hospitalization. The patient achieved remission within a year, with Dr. Yolcu visiting their village during a medical outreach program.

A 7-year-old boy, the only child of two aerospace engineers, presented with mysterious episodic abdominal pain. Dr. Yolcu identified abdominal migraine after eliminating numerous gastrointestinal conditions. She developed a novel biofeedback protocol using the parents' engineering skills to create a simple home monitoring device. The family collaborated on a 'pain prediction algorithm,' reducing emergency visits by 80% and allowing preventive medication to be administered precisely.

A 16-year-old transgender male from an affluent but unsupportive family presented with severe anxiety. During examination, Dr. Yolcu discovered he was self-administering black-market testosterone without medical supervision. She mediated a family conference, educated parents about gender-affirming care, and safely transitioned him to prescribed hormone therapy under multidisciplinary supervision. She also connected him with a supportive peer group, dramatically improving his mental health outcomes.

A 14-year-old competitive figure skater from a wealthy family presented with unexplained fatigue and declining performance. Dr. Yolcu discovered a previously undiagnosed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome masked by athletic conditioning. The family initially resisted intervention during competition season, but Dr. Yolcu facilitated a consultation with the athlete's coach to explain the cardiac risks. A successful catheter ablation was performed during a scheduled training break, with the patient returning to win a regional championship six months later.