Spec. MD. Gul Bozdemir

My 87-year-old mother, who has congestive heart failure and early-stage dementia, was admitted to Medical Park Izmir with severe edema and confusion. Dr. Bozdemir approached her not just as a collection of symptoms, but as a whole person. She sat at her bedside, speaking slowly in Turkish, explaining each step to her even when we weren't sure she understood. She coordinated between cardiology and neurology, simplifying a complex medication regimen to avoid interactions. What struck me most was her call to me at 8 PM to say, 'Your mother ate her dinner tonight and remembered your name.' That human touch, amidst the clinical complexity, was everything.

As a 32-year-old expat with unexplained recurrent fevers and joint pain for six months, I'd seen three doctors who dismissed it as 'stress.' Dr. Bozdemir spent our entire 45-minute consultation mapping a timeline of my symptoms on a notepad. She ordered very specific tests I'd never heard of, including for Mediterranean fever variants, considering my family history from Adana. She diagnosed me with Familial Mediterranean Fever, a condition I didn't know existed. Her explanation was so clear, using diagrams of inflammatory pathways. She didn't just prescribe colchicine; she created a lifestyle management plan. For the first time in half a year, I have answers and control.

Our 5-year-old son, Kerem, was hospitalized with severe dehydration from a stomach bug that wouldn't quit. Dr. Bozdemir has a way with children that is pure magic. She didn't wear her white coat when entering his room, and she carried a small, worn stuffed rabbit she called 'Dr. Tavşan.' She let Kerem listen to his own heartbeat first, then the rabbit's 'heartbeat.' She explained the IV fluids as 'giving your body little superheroes to fight the bugs.' Her medical skill was evident in how quickly she stabilized him, but her artistry was in making him laugh through his tears. She turned a traumatic emergency into an adventure. We are forever grateful.

I am a 54-year-old restaurant owner and a type-2 diabetic who neglected my health for years, thinking I was 'too busy.' During a routine checkup, Dr. Bozdemir didn't scold me. Instead, she said, 'Let's look at your life like a menu, what can we adjust without closing the restaurant?' She collaborated with the hospital's dietitian to create a 'Mediterranean Kitchen Survival Guide' tailored to my work. She found mild kidney impairment I didn't know I had and caught it early. Her follow-up is relentless in the best way; her secretary calls to confirm appointments, and she emails brief, encouraging check-ins. She managed to make me feel responsible for my health without ever making me feel ashamed. She's not just treating a disease; she's rebuilding a life.