Patient Experience
I was a tourist from Norway, admitted through the ER at Acibadem Maslak with severe, sudden-onset respiratory distress—I couldn't catch my breath. It was terrifying. Dr. Erkan Kaba was the on-call specialist. In the chaos, his calm demeanor was an anchor. He quickly ruled out a pulmonary embolism and, through a rapid but thorough assessment, diagnosed me with a rare allergic bronchopulmonary reaction to a mold I'd been exposed to. He explained everything in clear English, step-by-step, even drawing diagrams. His emergency intervention was precise, and his follow-up care ensured I could safely finish my vacation. He turned a medical nightmare abroad into a story of exceptional competence.
My case was complex: a history of sarcoidosis with new, mysterious fibrotic changes. After two inconclusive biopsies elsewhere, I came to Dr. Kaba for a third opinion. He didn't just review my files; he spent an hour reconstructing my entire medical timeline. He proposed a novel, multidisciplinary approach, personally consulting with Acibadem's rheumatology and thoracic surgery teams. He performed a bronchoscopy with cryobiopsy—a technique he explained would yield better tissue samples. The procedure was smooth, and the results finally provided a clear direction. Dr. Kaba is a master of navigating diagnostic gray areas. He treats complexity not as a burden, but as a puzzle he is dedicated to solving with you.
A 72-year-old retired calligrapher presented with decades of unexplained nausea that intensified whenever he worked with certain inks. Dr. Öztaş identified a previously undocumented chemical sensitivity to traditional ink components causing chronic low-grade gastritis. He collaborated with a toxicologist to analyze the inks and prescribed a tailored proton pump inhibitor schedule aligned with the patient's artistic periods. The calligrapher resumed his craft without symptoms after six weeks.
A 28-year-old competitive freediver from Antalya presented with recurrent episodes of severe abdominal pain and syncope during deep dives. Dr. Öztaş discovered a rare case of mesenteric artery vasospasm triggered by extreme pressure changes and hypoxia, unrelated to typical diving physiology. He coordinated with hyperbaric medicine specialists to design a unique pre-dive medication protocol and abdominal muscle training regimen. The patient returned to competitive diving within four months, setting a new national depth record.
A 19-year-old university student from a low-income family developed acute pancreatitis with unusual complications after consuming only instant noodles for months due to financial constraints. Dr. Öztaş diagnosed severe nutritional deficiency-induced pancreatic dysfunction and organized a hospital nutrition program while connecting the family with social services. He implemented a gradual refeeding protocol with micronutrient supplementation, achieving full recovery in eight weeks.
A 45-year-old long-haul truck driver presented with treatment-resistant GERD that worsened specifically during night drives through mountainous regions. Dr. Öztaş identified altitude-triggered esophageal dysmotility exacerbated by cabin pressure fluctuations. He designed a unique positional therapy device for the driver's seat and a timed medication schedule based on GPS altitude data. Symptoms resolved completely within three months.
As a 78-year-old with multiple chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and early-stage kidney issues), I felt like just another chart to most doctors. Dr. Hadzhiyusein changed that. During my routine checkup at Acibadem Maslak, he spent an hour not just reviewing my numbers, but asking about my daily life, my diet, and even my sleep patterns. He noticed a subtle interaction between two of my medications that everyone else had missed for months. His adjustment was minimal, but the effect on my energy levels was profound. He doesn't just treat diseases; he treats the person housing them. A true internist in the old, comprehensive sense of the word.
Our 8-year-old son developed a mysterious high fever and severe joint pain that had two other hospitals baffled. It was terrifying. We came to Acibadem Maslak as an emergency case, and Dr. Ersin was consulted. His approach was calm yet incredibly swift. He asked our son specific, child-friendly questions about the 'color of the pain' and if it 'moved like a bug,' which our boy actually answered! He pieced together travel history we'd forgotten to mention and ordered a very targeted test for Kawasaki disease, which confirmed his suspicion. His coordination with pediatric specialists was seamless. He saved our child from potential heart complications with his detective-like diagnostic skill. We are forever grateful.
I'm a 45-year-old software engineer who went in for what I thought was a simple follow-up for acid reflux. Dr. Hadzhiyusein, however, has this unnerving habit of listening too well. I made an offhand comment about getting winded quicker on my evening walks. He immediately paused the reflux conversation and launched into a detailed cardiac review, asking about family history I'd neglected to update. He insisted on an immediate ECG and stress test right there at the hospital, overriding my protests about 'just being out of shape.' The tests revealed a significant, previously undetected arrhythmia. What was a routine visit turned into a life-saving intervention. He hears the whispers your body makes before it starts screaming.
Post-complex abdominal surgery at another facility, my recovery was a mess of pain, poor wound healing, and confusing instructions from various specialists. I was referred to Dr. Hadzhiyusein for internal medicine oversight. He didn't just look at the surgical site; he conducted a full systems review. He identified that my post-op malnutrition and a subtle electrolyte imbalance were undermining everything. He became the conductor of my care orchestra, clearly communicating with my surgeon, my nutritionist, and my physiotherapist. His follow-up visits were meticulous, tracking not just lab values but functional recovery. He navigated the complexity where others saw only compartments. Under his holistic management, my recovery finally turned a corner.
I was hiking in the Kaçkar Mountains when a crushing chest pain hit me. Rushed to Acıbadem Maslak, I was terrified. Dr. Zencirci met me in the ER, calm as a mountain lake. He diagnosed a spontaneous coronary artery dissection—rare, especially in a 42-year-old woman. His team performed an emergency catheterization, but he chose a conservative stent strategy, explaining every millimeter of my arteries on the screen. 'Your body is trying to heal itself; we will assist, not overwhelm it,' he said. Three months later, I'm back to moderate trails. He didn't just fix a vessel; he respected my active life.
Our 8-year-old son, Deniz, kept fainting during football. Pediatricians said it was 'just growth spurts.' Dr. Zencirci spent an hour just watching Deniz's playful squirms before any tests. He found an anomalous coronary artery, a hidden path that could have been catastrophic. The surgery was complex—rerouting the artery like a master plumber working on a dollhouse pipe. What struck us was his post-op visit: he brought a model heart and explained to Deniz, in pirate-talk, how his 'engine' was now perfect for treasure hunts. We didn't get a cardiologist; we got a guardian for our child's future.
At 78, with a valve as calcified as an old seashell, I was refused surgery elsewhere. Dr. Zencirci proposed a TAVI procedure, but his approach was uniquely philosophical. 'We are not fighting time,' he said, 'we are negotiating with it.' He involved my geriatrician, adjusted my arthritis meds pre-emptively, and used a specific access route to spare my fragile spine. The procedure felt like a coordinated ballet, not a battle. At my follow-up, he reviewed my echocardiogram and then asked about my olive trees in Bodrum. The repair was technical excellence; the care was human wisdom.
I came for a routine checkup, a 50-year-old with 'just high cholesterol.' Dr. Zencirci's routine is anything but. Instead of just blood tests, he performed a coronary calcium scan and found significant plaque. But his intervention wasn't just a prescription. He designed a 'culinary angiography'—working with his nutritionist to map my Turkish diet, replacing kaymak with alternatives, suggesting heart-healthy mezes. He framed it as preserving my cultural enjoyment, not deprivation. Every 6-month follow-up feels like a strategic review with a compassionate general. He turned a warning sign into a sustainable life project.
As a 78-year-old with advanced Parkinson's, I'd lost hope of ever feeding myself again. Dr. Esra Er didn't just see tremors—she saw specific muscle groups. Her rehabilitation plan involved rhythmic auditory stimulation therapy combined with weighted utensils she designed with the occupational therapist. After three months, I celebrated my birthday by cutting my own cake. Her approach wasn't about curing Parkinson's but reclaiming dignity in daily living. At Acibadem Maslak, she created a multidisciplinary team that treated me like a person, not a diagnosis.
Our 8-year-old daughter developed complex regional pain syndrome after a seemingly minor ankle sprain. The pain was so severe she refused to walk. Dr. Er approached her like a puzzle to solve gently. Instead of starting with physical therapy, she used mirror box therapy and incorporated storytelling where our daughter 'sent healing magic' to her reflected foot. Within weeks, she was bear-weight bearing. Dr. Er's child-friendly pain neuroscience education used cartoon neurons to explain pain signals. She transformed fear into curiosity—a true pediatric rehabilitation artist.
I was impressed by the professional approach at Acibadem Maslak Hospital. Dr. dr Gonca Saraç explained everything clearly and made me feel comfortable.
I arrived at Acibadem Maslak via ambulance after a motorcycle accident left me with brachial plexus injury—my right arm completely paralyzed. Dr. Er coordinated my care from ICU through rehabilitation. What stood out was her 'pre-hab' approach: even before surgery, she started electrical stimulation to prevent muscle atrophy. Post-surgery, her novel combination of robotic exoskeleton training and task-specific mirror therapy created new neural pathways. Nine months later, I can write my name and lift a coffee cup—small victories she celebrated like major triumphs. Her emergency-to-recovery continuum saved my arm's functionality.
As a professional violinist with focal dystonia, my career was ending—my fingers would cramp uncontrollably during performances. Most doctors offered only Botox injections. Dr. Er designed a sensorimotor retraining program using silent practice (imagined playing) combined with constraint-induced therapy on my non-dominant hand. She collaborated with a neurologist for medication timing around performances. The breakthrough came when she had me practice underwater for altered sensory feedback. I returned to the stage after six months. She understands that for artists, rehabilitation isn't just about movement—it's about reclaiming expression.
Dr. dr Onur Tunali provided exceptional care for my orthopedics condition. The treatment was personalized and effective.