Patient Experience
Our 92-year-old grandmother, Ayşe, was admitted with severe pneumonia and complications from her existing heart condition. Most doctors saw her age first. Dr. Erdem Uzunoğlu was different. He coordinated a delicate treatment plan between cardiology and pulmonology, treating her not as a fragile elder but as a complete person whose comfort and dignity mattered. He sat by her bed, explained things in simple terms she could hear, and adjusted medications with incredible precision. He gave us more time with her. This wasn't just pediatrics; it was profound, compassionate geriatric care within a pediatric framework. A true healer.
Our 8-year-old son, Kerem, had a terrifying bicycle accident, resulting in a complex compound fracture of his femur. The ER was chaotic, but Dr. Uzunoğlu's arrival changed everything. His calm was immediate and contagious. He didn't just look at the X-ray; he looked at Kerem's terrified face and explained the upcoming surgery using a metaphor about fixing a superhero's leg. The surgery was long and intricate, but his post-op follow-ups were just as meticulous. He remembered Kerem's love of football and tailored his physio advice around it. He turned a traumatic emergency into a journey of recovery that my son now proudly talks about.
For our newborn daughter, Elif's routine 6-month checkup, Dr. Erdem noticed a subtle, almost imperceptible asymmetry in her hip clicks that everyone else had missed. He didn't dismiss it. He ordered a specific ultrasound and confirmed very early-stage developmental dysplasia. Because of his eagle-eyed vigilance during a routine visit, we avoided future surgery. The treatment was just a harness, and he guided us through the emotional worry with such reassurance. He caught what wasn't even a complaint yet. That's not just a checkup; that's preventive care of the highest order.
My teenage daughter, Deniz, has a rare autoimmune condition that requires constant, complex management. We've seen many specialists who treat the charts, not the child. Dr. Uzunoğlu is our anchor. During a recent follow-up, Deniz was withdrawn and non-compliant with her meds. Instead of lecturing, he asked her about school, her friends, the stress she felt. He uncovered she was being bullied because of her medication schedule. He then worked WITH her to adjust the timing discreetly and connected us with a counselor. He manages the complex medicine by first caring for the complex human. He sees the whole patient, every single time.