Prof. M.D. Ümit İnce

My 82-year-old mother's biopsy results were confusing our entire family. Multiple doctors gave vague interpretations. We came to Dr. Ümit İnce as a last resort. He didn't just read the report—he spent an hour with us, showing us the actual slides on his microscope screen, explaining cellular patterns in simple Turkish. His patience with my mother's questions was extraordinary. He identified a rare benign condition that mimics malignancy, saving her from unnecessary aggressive treatment. His thoroughness gave our family peace we hadn't felt in months.

Our 7-year-old son had persistent swollen lymph nodes. Pediatricians suspected lymphoma. The anxiety was unbearable. Dr. İnce handled our case with remarkable sensitivity. He personally called us after hours to explain he'd found evidence of an unusual cat-scratch fever variant, not cancer. What stood out was how he spoke directly to our son, calling him 'little investigator' and showing him colorful cell images. He followed up twice to ensure recovery. His combination of expertise and genuine care for a frightened child was beyond anything we expected from a pathologist.

During emergency appendectomy surgery at Acibadem Maslak, the surgeon discovered unexpected tissue. Dr. İnce was called to the OR for intraoperative consultation at 2 AM. He performed frozen section analysis immediately, identifying a rare parasitic infection rather than metastatic cancer. His rapid, accurate diagnosis changed the entire surgical approach on the spot. I only learned this later from my surgeon—Dr. İnce never even introduced himself to me. His invisible, critical work in that emergency likely prevented months of unnecessary chemotherapy. Sometimes the most important doctors are those you never meet.

As a medical student observing rotations, I requested to shadow in pathology. Dr. İnce transformed what I thought would be a boring week into the most fascinating medical experience of my training. He didn't just dictate reports—he taught me to 'read the story cells tell.' We reviewed a complex thyroid case together; he challenged me to differentiate between two similar conditions, guiding me through staining patterns like a detective solving a mystery. His passion for diagnostic precision was contagious. He's the reason I'm now specializing in pathology—a mentor who sees teaching as integral to patient care.