Assoc. Prof. M.D. Umut Karabulut

I was visiting Istanbul from Norway when I experienced sudden, crushing chest pain. The hotel rushed me to Acibadem International, where Dr. Karabulut was on emergency call. Despite the language barrier and my panic, his calm, precise English and immediate action were astounding. He diagnosed a rare coronary artery spasm, not a typical blockage, within minutes using advanced imaging I hadn't even seen in Oslo. His team performed a targeted catheterization to confirm. He didn't just treat the symptom; he spent an hour with my wife and me explaining the physiology, the role of stress (travel!), and a personalized medication plan. He even coordinated my safe flight home with a Turkish cardiology colleague in Norway. He turned a terrifying foreign emergency into a masterclass in compassionate, global care.

My 8-year-old son, Leo, was born with a complex heart condition and has seen many specialists. Our consultation with Dr. Karabulut was for a second opinion on a future corrective surgery. He didn't just review the files; he got on the floor with Leo, used a stuffed animal and a hand-drawn cartoon to explain how the heart 'plumbing' would be fixed, calling the procedure a 'superhero upgrade.' He spoke directly to Leo, not just to us. His technical explanation to us was breathtakingly detailed, involving 3D printed models of Leo's own heart from the hospital's lab, showing options we never knew existed. He presented risks with honesty but framed within a narrative of hope. We left feeling, for the first time, that we truly understood the path forward. He is a genius who speaks the language of both worried parents and a curious child.

As a 72-year-old retired engineer with a routine pacemaker, I consider myself a student of my own health. My follow-up with Dr. Karabulut was anything but routine. Instead of a quick check, he presented a full year of data from my remote monitoring device, plotted on graphs he'd annotated himself. He pointed out a subtle, asymptomatic pattern of slightly increased atrial activity. 'Your heart is sending us an early telegram,' he said. He proposed a proactive, minimal-adjustment medication change and a specific hydration and sleep protocol, explaining the electrophysiological rationale in a way that satisfied my analytical mind. He treated me not as an old patient, but as a partner in a long-term engineering project—the project of my own longevity. His blend of deep data literacy and preventative philosophy is exceptional.

I am a 45-year-old marathon runner who went in for a 'routine' stress test due to family history. Dr. Karabulut noticed an infinitesimal anomaly in my recovery heart rate variability that everyone else had dismissed. He was politely insistent on further investigation, sensing something 'athletically incongruent.' A subsequent cardiac MRI, which he personally supervised, revealed a previously undetected, mild case of myocarditis—likely from a viral infection I hadn't noticed. He ordered immediate rest, no running for 3 months. I was devastated. But his approach was firm yet inspiring: 'You are an athlete. Your heart is your primary muscle. We must train it back to health with patience first.' He designed a phased return-to-sport protocol with precise biomarkers. He didn't just save me from potential cardiac damage; he reframed my entire understanding of athletic heart health. Now, back to running, I feel stronger and more informed than ever.