Dr. Funda Özdemir

After a paragliding accident left me with a complex brachial plexus injury, I'd seen three specialists who offered little hope. Dr. Özdemir was different. She spent 90 minutes in our first consultation at Acibadem Maslak, mapping every nerve pathway with an ultrasound machine I'd never seen before. Her approach wasn't just physical—she designed a neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation program combining mirror therapy with targeted electrical stimulation. Eight months later, I'm typing this with the hand they said I'd never use properly again. Her Saturday morning video check-ins made me feel like I was her only patient.

My 7-year-old daughter developed severe idiopathic toe-walking that worsened during lockdown. Pediatricians dismissed it as a phase. Dr. Funda noticed subtle asymmetries in her pelvic alignment during what I thought would be a routine consultation. She prescribed custom dynamic ankle-foot orthotics (not the rigid ones others suggested) and turned therapy into games—'balance beam challenges' in the hospital gym, proprioception exercises disguised as treasure hunts. She even coordinated with our school PE teacher. The transformation in six months was miraculous. She approaches children not as small adults, but as complete puzzles needing unique solutions.

At 78, my spinal stenosis made standing for more than three minutes unbearable. Previous treatments offered temporary relief. Dr. Özdemir's holistic approach at Acibadem Maslak was revolutionary: she combined precise epidural injections under fluoroscopy with an aquatic therapy program in their warm pool, followed by ergonomic modifications to my home kitchen. But what truly set her apart was her 'functional goal' system—instead of vague improvement metrics, we worked toward me baking bread again (my lifelong passion). Last week, I delivered a loaf to her clinic. She treats the person, not just the MRI.

A bizarre gardening fall resulted in what others diagnosed as simple whiplash. Dr. Özdemir detected subtle vestibular-ocular dysfunction during a follow-up visit for what seemed unrelated dizziness. Her 'movement laboratory' assessment revealed a cervical proprioception deficit affecting my balance. Her treatment? A bizarre-sounding but effective combination of laser therapy on deep neck muscles and virtual reality balance retraining using goggles that projected moving landscapes. She explained neuromechanics in ways that finally made sense. Most doctors treat injuries; Dr. Özdemir treats the body's communication system that failed after injury.