M.D. Selin Özcan

Our 92-year-old grandmother, Ayşe, was admitted with severe pneumonia and complications from her existing COPD. Most doctors saw only her age. Dr. Özcan saw her personhood. She coordinated a delicate treatment plan with pulmonology, explaining every medication interaction to us in plain Turkish. She sat by Nene's bed each morning, holding her hand and speaking softly, which seemed to calm her confusion. The recovery was slow, but Dr. Özcan never rushed. She treated our grandmother with a dignity we hadn't seen in other hospitals. She's not just a pediatrician; she's a healer who understands the whole family.

Our 8-day-old son, Atlas, stopped breathing at home. The ambulance brought us to Acıbadem Altunizade in panic. Dr. Özcan met us in the ER, her calm presence cutting through our terror. She diagnosed a rare tracheoesophageal fistula—a tiny, life-threatening defect. She didn't just explain the complex surgery; she drew it for us on a whiteboard. During the 5-hour procedure, she sent a nurse with updates every 45 minutes. Post-op, she noticed a subtle change in his breathing pattern at 3 AM and adjusted his care instantly. She saved his life with precision and cared for our souls with profound empathy.

For my 6-year-old daughter Elif's routine asthma checkup, Dr. Özcan did something extraordinary. Instead of just listening to her lungs, she got down on the floor. She asked Elif to teach her stuffed rabbit 'Dr. Tavşan' how to use the inhaler correctly. Through this play, she discovered Elif was using her spacer wrong for months. She then spent 20 minutes with me, not just adjusting medication, but brainstorming how to make the school nurse understand Elif's needs. It wasn't a checkup; it was a masterclass in seeing the child behind the chart. Elif now asks when we can go back to see 'the doctor who plays.'

My teenage son, Deniz (15), was referred after six months of unexplained fatigue and joint pain. Other specialists dismissed it as 'growing pains' or anxiety. Dr. Özcan ordered a specific, rarely considered panel of tests and diagnosed early-stage Lyme disease—contracted during a scout trip. Her approach was unique: she spoke directly to Deniz first, asking about his soccer goals, then explained the science to him like a colleague. She created a treatment plan that worked around his exam schedule and even emailed his school to arrange accommodations. She treated him not as a child, but as a young adult capable of understanding his own health. The recovery has been remarkable.