Assoc. Prof. M.D. Nilüfer Aykaç

As an 82-year-old with chronic COPD, I'd seen many specialists, but Dr. Aykaç was different. During my routine checkup, she didn't just glance at my charts; she spent 45 minutes asking about my sleep, my garden (which I can no longer tend), and even the humidity in my apartment. She prescribed a new inhaler regimen but also connected me with a hospital physiotherapist for breathing exercises tailored to the elderly. Her holistic approach treated me as a person, not just a pair of failing lungs. At Acibadem Altunizade, her follow-up calls feel like a friend checking in.

Our 7-year-old son, Alp, developed a terrifying, persistent cough after what seemed like a mild cold. We rushed to the emergency department at midnight. Dr. Aykaç, who was on call, had a magical way with him—she showed him cartoons of 'lung heroes' fighting germs on her tablet. She diagnosed a rare case of plastic bronchitis, a complex airway condition. She explained everything to us with drawings, never using scary jargon. Her calm, playful demeanor kept Alp from panicking during the bronchoscopy. She saved him, and now he wants to be a pulmonologist!

I'm a 45-year-old marathon runner who failed a pre-race pulmonary function test. Dr. Aykaç discovered exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, but her investigation didn't stop there. She ordered a detailed cardiopulmonary exercise test and found a previously undiagnosed mild vocal cord dysfunction complicating the picture. Her approach was like detective work—piecing together clues from different tests. She collaborated with a speech therapist at the hospital for my vocal cords and designed a unique pre-run medication and warm-up protocol. I just completed my first marathon without gasping. She treats elite athletes and everyday people with the same meticulous precision.

Following a complex lung decortication surgery for severe pleural empyema at another hospital, my recovery stalled. I was weak and terrified of relapse. Dr. Aykaç took over my post-operative care at Acibadem. She didn't just monitor the surgical site; she created a 'lung rehabilitation map' with weekly goals, from breathing drills to nutritional targets. She spotted a subtle sign of residual inflammation via ultrasound at a follow-up and adjusted treatment instantly. Her style is fiercely protective and scientifically rigorous. She fought for me when I was too tired to fight for myself. I owe her my return to a normal life.