Patient Experience
My 82-year-old father, who lives with us in Bodrum, developed sudden, severe shortness of breath one evening. We rushed him to Acibadem, terrified. Dr. Hüseyin Doğan met us in the emergency department with remarkable calm. He diagnosed acute heart failure with a precision that felt almost intuitive. What struck me wasn't just his medical skill—it was how he spoke directly to my father, holding his hand, explaining the fluid in his lungs in simple, respectful terms. He adjusted medications for my father's existing kidney condition with such care. Within hours, my father was breathing easier. Dr. Doğan visited him three times that night. We call him 'the guardian of hearts.'
As a 45-year-old marathon runner, my routine ECG at Dr. Doğan's clinic revealed a subtle, asymptomatic anomaly I'd had for years, dismissed elsewhere as 'athlete's heart.' Dr. Doğan wasn't satisfied. He ordered a specific cardiac MRI, a test no one had ever suggested. It revealed a rare, congenital coronary artery anomaly—a ticking time bomb during extreme exertion. His explanation was a masterclass in clarity, using 3D models from the scan. He performed a complex, minimally invasive corrective surgery. Six months later, I ran a half-marathon, my monitor showing a perfect, safe rhythm. He didn't just treat a patient; he saved a passion.
Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, kept fainting during her swim lessons. Pediatricians found nothing. Dr. Hüseyin Doğan, a cardiologist for adults, agreed to see her as a special favor. He transformed his examination room for her, letting her listen to her own heartbeat with the stethoscope first. His suspicion was Long QT syndrome, a genetic electrical issue. He confirmed it with a stress test he adapted like a game, having her blow on a pinwheel while cycling. His gentle, playful approach kept her from being scared. He coordinated with a pediatric specialist in Izmir, managing her medication plan locally. He still calls every three months to check on 'his youngest heart captain.'
I was the 'complex case' transferred from a smaller clinic after a massive heart attack left me with severe damage and constant angina. Multiple doctors described my prognosis as 'guarded.' Dr. Doğan reviewed my file and said, 'We have options.' Not 'I have,' but 'We have.' For two weeks, he designed a hybrid strategy: first, a high-risk but precise angioplasty to open a critical blockage, which he performed himself. Then, he personally coordinated with the cardiac surgery team for a bypass on the other vessels, attending the surgery to advise. His follow-up is relentless—nutritional planning, psychological support for the trauma, and a rehab protocol he tweaks weekly. He fights for your life *with* you. I'm not just alive; I'm gardening again.