Prof. M.D. Ismail Cinel

My 82-year-old father, Ahmet, was admitted to Bodrum Hospital Acibadem with severe pneumonia that rapidly progressed to septic shock. Dr. İsmail Cinel took over his case in the ICU. What struck me wasn't just his medical expertise—which was evident in how he adjusted ventilator settings and managed vasopressors—but his communication. Every day at 3 PM precisely, he would sit with our family in the small consultation room, drawing diagrams on a whiteboard to explain my father's capillary leak syndrome. He used metaphors from sailing (noting we were in Bodrum) about 'riding out the storm.' After 17 days, my father walked out. Dr. Cinel still calls every fortnight to check on his oxygenation. We've never experienced such sustained care.

Our 6-year-old daughter, Elif, suffered a near-drowning incident during a family holiday. The local clinic stabilized her but warned of potential secondary drowning. We rushed to Acibadem where Dr. Cinel was waiting. He didn't just treat numbers on a monitor; he created a calm environment. He noticed Elif was terrified of the oxygen mask, so he had a nurse bring in a stuffed dolphin and demonstrated on it first. He explained pulmonary edema to us using a sponge and water—simple but profound. He personally monitored her through the critical 8-hour window, ordering serial chest X-rays. His vigilance caught early pulmonary infiltrates others might have missed. He discharged her with a handwritten note for her school nurse. We vacation in Bodrum annually; we now view Dr. Cinel as our family guardian.

I'm a 45-year-old restaurant owner who collapsed with acute pancreatitis complicated by renal failure. My case was complex—I was transferred from another hospital's ICU. Dr. Cinel's approach was radically different. Instead of the usual barrage of specialists, he coordinated a 'closed-loop' system where he was the central conductor. He performed a bedside ultrasound himself daily, tracking my pancreatic necrosis. When nutrition became an issue, he devised a precise parenteral nutrition protocol, adjusting it literally hour-by-hour based on my triglyceride levels. Most remarkably, he identified an underlying autoimmune component everyone else had overlooked. His critical care extended beyond survival to diagnosing the root cause. Six months later, I'm back running my business, thanks to his detective work in the ICU.

My husband underwent high-risk coronary bypass surgery at 68. Post-op, he developed severe ARDS—a known complication but devastating. Dr. Cinel managed his ECMO (heart-lung machine) therapy. The experience was technical yet deeply human. Dr. Cinel would arrive at 5 AM, review the midnight logs, and adjust flows himself. He instituted a strict 'awake ECMO' protocol, keeping my husband sedated but conscious, which prevented delirium. He even facilitated video calls with our grandchildren, arguing that 'psychological oxygenation' mattered. When weaning from ECMO, he used a gradual, pressure-supported method he developed himself, which he called 'Bodrum Taper.' My husband's recovery was slower but without neurological deficits. Dr. Cinel's blend of cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned, attentive care redefined critical care for us.