Assoc. Prof. M.D. Ata Can

As a 72-year-old retired carpenter with decades of joint pain, I'd seen several orthopedists who just prescribed painkillers. Dr. Ata Can was different. He spent an hour examining my hands, asking about specific tools I used, and even had me mimic hammering motions. He diagnosed a rare form of occupational osteoarthritis and created a custom splint regimen combined with targeted physiotherapy. For the first time in 20 years, I can hold my grandson's hand without wincing. His approach wasn't just medical—it was deeply human, understanding how my life shaped my condition.

Our 8-year-old daughter fractured her elbow in a playground fall at midnight. The ER referred us to Dr. Can, who came to the hospital immediately. What could have been traumatic became magical—he used dinosaur analogies to explain the X-rays ('See this T-rex bone?'), let her choose the color of her cast (neon green), and performed a minimally invasive procedure that left almost no scar. During follow-ups, he celebrated her healing progress with small stickers. He treated her not as a small adult, but as a child, making the entire experience empowering rather than frightening.

I'm a professional marathon runner who developed unexplained knee pain that six specialists couldn't diagnose. Dr. Can approached it like a detective—he analyzed my running gait with motion-capture technology, reviewed my nutrition logs, and even considered my travel schedule. He discovered a biomechanical imbalance exacerbated by airport sprints to catch flights. His solution combined micro-adjustments to my form, a travel-specific stretching routine, and a single, precise corticosteroid injection. I just qualified for Boston. He doesn't just treat injuries; he understands performance physiology at an elite level.

After a complex motorcycle accident resulting in a compound tibia fracture with nerve involvement, three surgeons told me amputation might be necessary. Dr. Can saw possibilities others didn't. He performed a groundbreaking 11-hour surgery using a custom 3D-printed bone scaffold and nerve grafting technique. What's remarkable is his post-op protocol: daily video calls during initial recovery, psychological support referrals, and a rehabilitation plan that adapted weekly based on my progress metrics. Eighteen months later, I'm walking without a limp. He doesn't just operate—he architects recovery.