M.D. Hasan Insel

My 82-year-old mother, visiting from Germany, developed a sudden high fever and confusion during her Bodrum holiday. We rushed her to Bodrum Medical Center in a panic. Dr. İnsel was the on-call internist. He didn't just treat numbers on a chart; he treated my mother. He spoke to her gently in Turkish, explaining each step, even when she was disoriented. He diagnosed a severe urinary tract infection that had become systemic. His approach was holistic—considering her age, her travel fatigue, and her existing mild heart condition. He coordinated with the cardiology department for a safe antibiotic choice. Within 48 hours, she was lucid and smiling. He even followed up with a video call for me after we returned to Germany to explain her ongoing care. He saved her holiday, and possibly her life, with immense compassion and sharp clinical skill.

As a 30-year-old freelance photographer, I ignored 'vague symptoms' for months: fatigue, occasional dizziness, just blaming my irregular schedule. I went to Dr. İnsel for what I thought would be a routine 'vitamin deficiency' checkup. He listened with unnerving patience to my rambling description. Instead of a quick prescription, he ordered specific, targeted blood tests I'd never heard of. He discovered a rare autoimmune thyroiditis that was in its very early stages. His explanation was crystal clear; he used diagrams on his tablet. He started me on a very low-dose, precise treatment plan with lifestyle modifications, avoiding aggressive medication. He said, 'We caught this whispering; we don't need to shout at it.' A year of follow-ups later, my levels are normal, and I feel better than I have in years. He turned a routine visit into life-changing preventative care.

Our 7-year-old son, Leo, had recurring, mysterious abdominal pain that multiple pediatricians dismissed as 'anxiety' or 'growth pains.' We were desperate and skeptical when a friend recommended Dr. İnsel, an internist for adults. Dr. İnsel welcomed us and won Leo over by asking him to draw where the 'stomach monster' lived. He then conducted the most thorough history I've ever witnessed, asking about school, food, even the family dog. He hypothesized it might be a rare presentation of abdominal migraines, triggered by subtle food intolerances. He coordinated with a pediatric allergist for testing and designed a gentle elimination diet plan. He never spoke down to Leo. The pain vanished within three weeks. Dr. İnsel's willingness to think beyond the obvious and his collaborative, child-sensitive approach solved a two-year mystery that specialists had missed.

I was the 'complex case' that bounced between departments. Post-COVID, I had lingering chest tightness, heart palpitations, and crushing fatigue. Cardiology said my heart was 'structurally fine.' Pulmonology said my lungs were clear. I saw Dr. İnsel as a last resort. He spent 90 minutes on our first appointment, creating a detailed timeline of my illness. He didn't dismiss it as 'long COVID anxiety.' He systematically ruled out other causes—endocrine, hematologic, autonomic nervous system dysfunction. He diagnosed me with post-viral dysautonomia and a secondary, previously undetected, mild iron deficiency. His treatment wasn't a magic pill; it was a meticulous, phased management plan: specific supplements, graded exercise therapy, and dietary tweaks. He became my medical quarterback, communicating with my other doctors. He validated my suffering and gave me a roadmap to recovery when others had given up. His expertise in connecting systemic dots is unparalleled.