M.D. Erkan Adnan Kelebek

I was visiting Istanbul from Norway when I suffered a sudden, crushing chest pain. Rushed to Acibadem International, I was terrified and couldn't communicate well. Dr. Erkan Adnan Kelebek took charge immediately. His calm, commanding English and swift diagnosis of a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)—rare in men—saved my life. He performed an emergency catheterization with such precision. What struck me most was how he explained everything to my panicked wife via video call from the cath lab, holding the phone up with his elbow. A true lifesaver who operates with both technical mastery and profound humanity.

Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, was born with a complex congenital heart defect. After three failed procedures elsewhere, we were desperate. Dr. Kelebek didn't just look at her scans; he got on the floor with her, asked about her favorite cartoons, and earned her trust. He proposed a novel, hybrid approach—a collaborative surgery in the cath lab with his cardiac surgery colleagues. The way he mapped her unique anatomy was like an artist studying a canvas. Post-procedure, he visited her daily, always wearing the silly dinosaur pin she gave him. Two years on, she's riding a bike. He didn't just fix a heart; he gave a child her childhood back.

As a 78-year-old retired history professor with persistent atrial fibrillation, I'd seen many cardiologists. They all just wanted to adjust medications. Dr. Kelebek was different. During my routine checkup, he spent an hour reviewing my old EKGs, listening to my stories about Istanbul's past, and connected my irregular heartbeat to a specific anxiety about my late wife's anniversary. He then proposed a tailored ablation, but only after a fascinating discussion about the 'historical rhythms' of the city and the heart. The procedure was flawless. He followed up with a handwritten note, referencing a Byzantine poem about resilience. He treats the person, not just the chart.

I'm a 45-year-old marathon runner. During a routine stress test for a corporate health program, Dr. Kelebek noticed a subtle, inconsistent anomaly others had dismissed as 'athlete's heart.' He wasn't satisfied. He ordered a specific cardiac MRI protocol that revealed early-stage arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)—a silent threat. His approach was blunt but compassionate: 'Your running career is over, but your life is just beginning. We will manage this together.' He designed a preventive treatment plan involving medication and careful monitoring, and connected me with a patient support group. He turned a routine visit into a life-preserving intervention with brutal honesty and unwavering support.