Dr. Esra Kotan

A 7-year-old Syrian refugee boy, Ahmed, presented with severe malnutrition and recurrent pneumonia. Dr. Kotan discovered a rare immune deficiency through extensive testing. She coordinated with a nutritionist and social worker to secure specialized formula and housing support. After 6 months of immunoglobulin therapy and nutritional rehabilitation, Ahmed gained 5kg and had no further infections, allowing him to attend school for the first time.

Maya, a 14-year-old competitive gymnast from an affluent family, developed unexplained fatigue and joint pain. Dr. Kotan identified pediatric fibromyalgia exacerbated by overtraining pressure. She implemented a multidisciplinary approach involving a pediatric rheumatologist, psychologist, and physical therapist. The family initially resisted reducing training hours, but after 3 months of cognitive behavioral therapy and paced activity, Maya returned to modified training with significantly improved symptoms.

3-month-old Leo, born prematurely to a single mother working night shifts, was brought in with failure to thrive. Dr. Kotan diagnosed severe gastroesophageal reflux disease missed during NICU follow-up. She arranged a home health nurse visit that revealed improper formula mixing. With thickened feeds and positioning techniques taught during extended clinic hours, Leo gained weight appropriately within 8 weeks.

A 10-year-old Turkish-German boy, Emre, presented with mysterious neurological episodes resembling seizures. Dr. Kotan recognized psychogenic non-epileptic seizures triggered by bullying at his bilingual school. She facilitated family therapy sessions addressing cultural identity pressures and collaborated with school administration. After 4 months without medication, Emre's episodes ceased completely.