Assoc. Prof. MD. Akif Ayaz

My 82-year-old mother, Fatma, was admitted with severe dehydration and confusion during Ramadan. Dr. Ayaz didn't just treat the numbers on her chart. He sat with her, explained in gentle Turkish why her body needed water even while fasting, and created a personalized hydration schedule that respected her religious practice. He coordinated with her cardiologist and adjusted seven different medications without a single interaction issue. What impressed me most was his Friday visit, he came specifically to check if the new regimen was working before the weekend. Her mind cleared within two days. He treats the whole person, not just the disease.

As an expat software developer with mysterious recurrent fevers for 8 months, I'd seen 4 doctors across Istanbul. Dr. Ayaz approached it like a diagnostic puzzle. Instead of another broad antibiotic course, he spent 45 minutes mapping my travel history (I work remotely from beach towns), noticed a correlation with coastal stays, and suspected something uncommon. He ordered very specific tests for bacterial cultures most don't consider. It turned out to be Chromobacterium violaceum, a rare infection from tropical waters. His meticulous detective work solved what others missed. His clinic even helped navigate the rare medication import process. Life-changing.

Our 6-year-old son Kerem was hospitalized with what appeared to be severe gastroenteritis, but Dr. Ayaz noticed subtle neurological twitches others dismissed. He halted standard treatment, suspecting something mimicking intestinal issues. He personally accompanied us to pediatric neurology, translating complex information into clear analogies ('Think of his nerves like misfiring telephone wires'). It was anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, rare and serious. Dr. Ayaz became our medical quarterback for 3 weeks, coordinating between ICU, neurology, and infectious disease teams. He gave us his personal number for after-hours worries. His vigilance caught a life-threatening condition disguised as a stomach bug.

I'm a 45-year-old teacher with a routine checkup that turned into a masterclass in preventive medicine. Dr. Ayaz didn't just glance at my bloodwork; he created a color-coded timeline graph showing 5-year trends in my cholesterol and glucose, explaining how each line told a story about my metabolism. He identified a prediabetic trend others called 'borderline.' Instead of medication, he designed a 'micro-habit' plan: 3-minute post-meal walks, specific apple varieties for snacks, and sleep hygiene tweaks. Three months later, my numbers reversed course. He practices medicine that's both deeply scientific and profoundly practical, he doesn't just prescribe pills, he prescribes understanding.