M.D. Ümran Duranay

Our 11-day-old granddaughter, Elif, developed a terrifying high fever and wouldn't feed. In the middle of the night, Dr. Ümran met us at Acibadem Maslak with astonishing calmness. While we were panicking, she examined Elif with hands so gentle the baby barely stirred. She diagnosed a serious urinary tract infection that required immediate hospitalization. For seven days, Dr. Ümran visited Elif's room first thing every morning and last thing every night, explaining each antibiotic change to us in simple terms. She didn't just treat the infection; she taught my son and daughter-in-law how to be parents in a crisis. Elif is now a chubby 3-month-old, and we credit Dr. Ümran with saving her life and our sanity.

As expats from Norway, we were skeptical about pediatric care in Istanbul until our 8-year-old son, Lukas, developed mysterious joint pain and a persistent rash. Three doctors gave us three different opinions. Dr. Ümran spent a full 45 minutes in her consultation, asking about our family history back in Scandinavia and even Lukas's diet. She ordered very specific tests others had missed. Her diagnosis: Pediatric Lupus. Her approach was a revelation—she created a coordinated care plan involving a pediatric rheumatologist and explained the long-term management not to us, but directly to Lukas in a way he could understand. She gave him a 'mission' to track his symptoms. We've never felt so heard. She's not just a doctor; she's a medical detective and a family strategist.

My 15-year-old daughter, Zeynep, a competitive swimmer, was diagnosed with severe scoliosis requiring complex spinal fusion surgery. The prospect was horrifying. Dr. Ümran didn't just discuss the surgery; she hosted a meeting with us, the orthopedic surgeon, and a physiotherapist. She focused on the 'after'—how Zeynep could return to swimming, managing pain, the psychological impact. During the 6-hour surgery, she gave us updates every 90 minutes. Post-op, when Zeynep was scared to move, Dr. Ümran sat on her hospital bed and said, 'Your strong swimmer's lungs are your best weapon now. Let's use them.' She made recovery a challenge to conquer. Six months later, Zeynep is back in the pool, slower but determined. Dr. Ümran managed the whole ecosystem of her care.

We brought my 82-year-old mother, Gülseren, to Dr. Ümran because her regular internist was stumped by her relentless fatigue and weight loss. 'A pediatrician for an elder?' people questioned. Dr. Ümran reviewed her childhood medical history from 70 years ago, stored nowhere, which my mother recited from memory. She connected dots no adult specialist had considered: a rare, late-manifesting complication from a childhood illness she had in her village. The treatment was simple, but the diagnosis was genius. Dr. Ümran treated my mother not as a fading elder, but as a whole-life patient. The respect she showed her was medicinal in itself. My mother now says, 'My children's doctor fixed her old child too.' It was holistic care that transcended age.