Patient Experience
My 87-year-old father, Ahmet, was admitted to Acibadem Altunizade with severe dehydration and confusion. Dr. Ebru Erdoğan didn't just treat the numbers on his chart—she sat with him, speaking slowly in Turkish, holding his hand until he calmed down. She discovered his new blood pressure medication was interacting poorly with his heart pills, something three other doctors had missed. Her holistic approach—coordinating with his cardiologist, adjusting his diet, and even recommending a gentler physical therapy routine—brought my baba back to us. She treats the person, not just the patient.
As an expat living in Istanbul, I needed a routine checkup but was terrified of navigating the healthcare system. From the first moment, Dr. Erdoğan put me at ease with her flawless English and warm demeanor. She didn't rush; she spent 40 minutes reviewing my family history, lifestyle, and even my stress from relocation. She ordered surprisingly specific tests based on my genetic background (my grandmother had a rare thyroid condition) and found a precancerous polyp during a referral colonoscopy she insisted on. What I thought would be a simple blood pressure visit turned into potentially life-saving preventative care. Her vigilance is extraordinary.
Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, developed a mysterious high fever that wouldn't break, and our pediatrician was stumped. In near-panic, we went to Acibadem's emergency department. Dr. Erdoğan, though an internist, took the case. She examined Elif with such playful gentleness, earning a smile even through the fever. She suspected Kawasaki disease—a rare childhood condition—based on subtle signs others overlooked: slight redness in Elif's eyes and a specific pattern on her tongue. Her immediate coordination with pediatric cardiology and infectious disease specialists confirmed it. Her cross-specialty knowledge and swift action prevented heart complications. She was our calm in the storm.
Following a complex Whipple procedure for pancreatic issues at another hospital, my follow-up care was a disjointed mess. I came to Dr. Erdoğan for a second opinion, exhausted. She didn't just review my file; she reconstructed my entire medical timeline, creating a color-coded chart that mapped my medications, surgical notes, and lab results. She identified a persistent, low-grade infection the surgeons had dismissed as 'normal post-op inflammation.' Her tailored antibiotic regimen and nutritional plan finally ended my six-month ordeal of fatigue and pain. Dr. Erdoğan possesses the rare skill of seeing the hidden narrative in a pile of medical records. She's a medical detective who gave me my life back.