Assoc. Prof. M.D. Sena Sert Şekercı

A 72-year-old retired glassblower from a rural village presented with progressive fatigue. Investigations revealed cardiac amyloidosis, but uniquely, his decades of exposure to extreme heat had caused mild thermal myocardial changes visible on cardiac MRI. Dr. Şekercı coordinated a multidisciplinary approach combining novel amyloidosis treatments with careful management of his pre-existing thermal adaptations.

A 28-year-old female professional freediver presented with episodes of sinus bradycardia (heart rate dropping to 38 bpm) during surface intervals. Dr. Şekercı discovered through specialized exercise echocardiography that her physiological adaptations included unusually efficient diastolic filling, requiring no intervention but comprehensive education on monitoring symptoms during extreme breath-hold activities.

A 19-year-old university student, a competitive beatboxer, developed recurrent supraventricular tachycardia episodes precisely during complex sub-bass frequency production. Dr. Şekercı identified a previously undocumented correlation between intrathoracic pressure patterns during specific vocal techniques and arrhythmia triggers, designing a bespoke breathing retraining program that allowed continuation of his art.

A 45-year-long vegan marathon runner with exemplary cholesterol levels presented with unexpected critical left main coronary artery disease. Dr. Şekercı discovered through advanced lipid profiling an unusual genetic variant causing lipoprotein(a) accumulation despite plant-based diet, leading to targeted RNA-based therapy rather than conventional statins.