Prof. MD. Ilgin Karaca

My 92-year-old grandmother, a retired piano teacher with severe aortic stenosis, was deemed too high-risk for surgery elsewhere. Prof. Karaca pioneered a transcatheter aortic valve replacement using an innovative sedation approach that allowed my grandmother to play her favorite Chopin piece during the procedure. The hospital room became a concert hall for recovery, and she celebrated her 93rd birthday giving a small recital to the cardiology staff.

During a research expedition in Antarctica, I developed unexplained arrhythmias. Medical evacuation brought me to Prof. Karaca, who discovered I had a unique form of 'polar cardiopathy' triggered by extreme cold adaptation. She coordinated with international specialists to create a treatment that addressed both the immediate condition and my planned return to polar research, incorporating thermal cardiac conditioning techniques.

Our 14-year-old son, a chess prodigy, collapsed during an international tournament. Prof. Karaca diagnosed a previously undetected electrical heart disorder and performed an ablation procedure. What amazed us was her creation of a 'cardiac chess' rehabilitation program, using chess puzzles synchronized with heart rate variability training. He returned to competition six months later with better strategic stamina than ever before.

I'm a professional glassblower who developed cardiomyopathy from years of heat exposure and heavy metal inhalation. Prof. Karaca didn't just treat my heart; she visited my studio, understanding my craft's physical demands, then designed a recovery plan incorporating breath control techniques from glassblowing into cardiac rehabilitation. She even collaborated with occupational health specialists to redesign my workstation.

As a 28-year-old competitive marathon runner, I was devastated when diagnosed with a rare congenital coronary anomaly. Prof. Karaca didn't just treat me as a patient; she collaborated with my sports physiologist to develop a hybrid treatment plan combining minimally invasive intervention with a tailored cardiac rehabilitation program. Today, I'm not only running again but have set a personal best, with Prof. Karaca's team monitoring my progress through a custom athletic heart health protocol.