Prof. M.D. Hakan Ümit Ünal

Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, developed sudden, severe abdominal pain while we were vacationing in Istanbul from Norway. Dr. Ünal diagnosed a rare pediatric intussusception at 11 PM. He calmly explained the emergency air-contrast enema procedure to her using balloon animal analogies, and she giggled through what should have been terrifying. His pediatric sensitivity was extraordinary.

As a 72-year-old retired history professor with a lifelong fear of hospitals, my chronic diverticulitis had become debilitating. Dr. Ünal didn't just perform a flawless colonoscopy; he spent 45 minutes before the procedure explaining every instrument with historical medical context, transforming my anxiety into fascination. His approach felt like an academic collaboration rather than a medical procedure.

I'm a 34-year-old professional freediver who developed unexplained gastroparesis that threatened my career. Dr. Ünal connected my condition to pressure-related vagus nerve irritation—something no other gastroenterologist had considered. His customized treatment plan involved coordinated breathing exercises with my diving coach, and I'm now back to 40-meter dives.

My 58-year-old husband, a chef, was diagnosed with advanced esophageal varices. Dr. Ünal performed emergency band ligation during a midnight crisis, then created a post-procedure nutrition plan that transformed restrictive 'bland foods' into creatively textured gourmet dishes that maintained my husband's culinary passion during recovery.