Assist. Prof. M.D. Hilal Kurtoğlu Gümüşel

My 8-year-old son, Arda, was experiencing unexplained chest pains during football practice. Our pediatrician referred us to Dr. Hilal Kurtoğlu Gümüşel, and I was initially anxious about a cardiologist examining a child. From the moment we entered her office at Acibadem Atasehir, she transformed the experience—she spoke directly to Arda at his level, using cartoon diagrams to explain how hearts work. Her diagnosis was a rare but benign pediatric condition called Precordial Catch Syndrome. She didn't just dismiss it; she gave Arda a 'heart hero' certificate and taught him breathing exercises. Her follow-up included a video call to check if the 'exercises' were working. We left feeling educated and relieved, not scared.

As a 74-year-old with a history of hypertension, I thought I was just having a bad bout of indigestion one Tuesday evening. The pain became crushing. At Acibadem's ER, Dr. Gümüşel was the on-call cardiologist. She moved with a calm urgency that cut through the chaos. She diagnosed a significant LAD artery blockage—a 'widowmaker'—right there. What struck me wasn't just the technical skill of the subsequent emergency angioplasty, but how she held my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, 'Mehmet Bey, we are taking you to surgery now. You are in safe hands.' Her post-op visits were detailed; she explained the stent to my family using a pen and a paper straw. She saved my life with both her hands and her humanity.

I'm a 42-year-old software developer with no prior symptoms. I went to Dr. Hilal for a routine checkup due to a family history of heart disease. Instead of a quick listen and blood work, she conducted a profoundly thorough interview about my stress levels, work habits (including my 14-hour days), and even my diet. She ordered a stress echocardiogram that others might have skipped. It revealed a mild mitral valve prolapse. Her approach wasn't alarmist; she crafted a 'heart maintenance plan' focusing on sleep hygiene, standing desk intervals, and specific dietary tweaks—not just medication. She said, 'We are not just treating a valve; we are optimizing the system it's in.' It was preventive care at its most insightful and personalized.

My husband underwent a complex aortic valve replacement surgery under Dr. Gümüşel's care. The surgery itself was a success, but his recovery in the ICU was psychologically turbulent. Dr. Hilal's management of the follow-up was extraordinary. She noticed his anxiety wasn't improving with standard protocols. She coordinated with a hospital music therapist to have soft, familiar Turkish classical music played in his room at specific intervals and adjusted his medication timeline based on his circadian rhythms, which she personally tracked. She explained every wire and number on the monitors to us, demystifying the ICU. Her skill was in seeing the heart not as an isolated pump, but as the core of a whole, fragile human being. Her expertise bridged the technical and the deeply personal.