Prof. Cengiz KÖKSAL, M.D.

Cardiovascular Surgery

Areas of Expertise

• Minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement
• Off-pump (beating heart) mitral valve surgery
• Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement
• Minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery
• Carotid (neck artery) surgery
• Aesthetic varicose vein surgery
• Non-surgical treatment of arterial/venous aneurysms in the legs

Education

• Primary Education – Afyon, Turkey
• Secondary & High School – Darüşşafaka High School, Graduated as Top of Class
• M.D., Doctor of Medicine – Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, 1992
• Specialization in Cardiovascular Surgery – Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University (1992–1998)

Career

• Cardiovascular Surgeon – Süreyyapaşa Chest, Heart and Vascular Diseases Hospital (2001–2007)
  • Contributed to the foundation of the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic
  • Achieved Associate Professor title in 2005
• Senior Surgeon – Kartal Koşuyolu High Specialization Training and Research Hospital (2007 onward)
  • Appointed Deputy Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery in 2009
  • Clinical Educator from 2011 to 2017
  • Performed over 2,000 open-heart and vascular surgeries
  • Education Supervisor of the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic (2016–2017)
• Professor – Bezmialem Vakıf University, Faculty of Medicine (2017–2024)
  • Head of Cardiovascular Surgery Department
• Current Position – Medipol University, Medipol Acıbadem Regional Hospital (Since July 2024)

International Training and Grants

• Leonardo da Vinci EU Scholarship Winner, Portugal (2012)
• Advanced trainings in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (without sternotomy or heart-lung machine) conducted in:
  • Israel, Portugal, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany (2012–2016)

Achievements & Honors

• "Physician of the Year", Ibn Sina 1000th Year Medical Awards (2018)
• Only physician in Turkey authorized to educate and practice off-pump mitral valve repair
• Organizer of annual Mitral Valve Repair Workshops with national and international participation
• President, National Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Association (2016–2018)
• Editor, the most comprehensive vascular surgery textbook published in Turkish

Academic Contributions

• 80+ peer-reviewed international scientific articles
• 75+ national publications
• Authored 4 book chapters

Delivered 

200+ presentations

 in national and international conferences (since 2011)

EDUCATION:

2015

Uludag University, Ophthalmology

2008

Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine

2001

Kırıkkale Science High School, Numerical

EXPERIENCE:

2019 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Ophthalmology (Vitreo-Retinal Surgery and Medical Retina Fellowship)

2016 SBÜ Zekai Tahir Burak EAH (Retinopathy of Prematurity Fellowship)/

2015 - 2023 Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital

2023 - Medipol University Pendik Hospital

Education:

Bachelor's Degree

• Field: Faculty of Medicine
• University: Gazi University
• Years: 2009-2015

PhD/Medical Specialty

• Field: Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology Department
• University: Mustafa Kemal University
• Years: 2016-2020

Experience:

General Practitioner

• Institution: Kırıkhan Community Health Center
• Years: 2015-2016

Research Assistant Doctor

• Institution: Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine Cardiology Department
• Years: 2016-2020

Specialist Doctor

• Institution: Hatay Training and Research Hospital
• Years: 2020-2022

Doctor Academic Staff

• Institution: Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine Cardiology Department
• Years: 2022-2024
•  

Assoc. Prof. Atakan Topçu, M.D., is a medical oncologist at Medipol University and Medipol Acıbadem Regional Hospital. He treats solid tumors, including lung, breast, colorectal, gastric, and neuroendocrine cancers. His work also covers targeted therapies, immunotherapy, geriatric oncology, and cancer-related malnutrition, cachexia, and sarcopenia.

He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers. Recent work includes a 2024 Frontiers in Medicine study on geriatric syndromes and a 2023 Future Oncology paper on sarcopenia and anxiety in lung cancer. He has also published on the CONUT score in breast cancer and on malnutrition in HER2-negative metastatic gastric cancer.

Dr. Topçu serves on the Editorial Board of BMC Cancer. He is a member of the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology, ESMO, and the Turkish Geriatrics Society. Education and training: M.D., Uludağ University; residency in Internal Medicine, Marmara University; fellowship in Medical Oncology, Bezmialem Vakıf University.

Prof. Selin Kapan has been a Professor of General Surgery since 2017. She is currently with Istanbul Aydın University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery (2022–present). She previously worked at Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital as a Specialist and Associate Professor. She also served as Educational and Administrative Supervisor at Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital. In addition, she was Medical Coordinator and General Surgeon at Istanbul Surgery Hospital.

She has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers. Her research covers hernia repair, perianal fistula, pilonidal disease, hepatic hydatid disease, laparoscopic surgery, and gastrointestinal surgery. Her work has been published in journals such as Digestive Surgery, Hernia, Techniques in Coloproctology, and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. She is a member of the Turkish Surgical Association, the National Trauma and Emergency Surgery Association, the Hernia Society, the Turkish HPB Surgery Association, the Stem Cell and Cellular Therapies Association, and the Gastroesophageal Reflux Association.

Dr. Zuhal Cakmak Peksen is a Family Medicine Specialist since 2017. She earned her MD from Çukurova University in 2010. She completed specialty training at Yüzüncü Yıl University between 2013 and 2017. She is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in Health Management at Anadolu University (2024–present).

She has 15 years of clinical practice (2010–2025) across 8 institutions. Her experience includes research in Family Medicine (2013–2017) and work at several Family Health Centers. Since 2020, she has served at TOKİ Avrupa Family Health Center in Gaziosmanpaşa, Istanbul.

Dr. Muhammed Mustafa Atci is an Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at İstinye University, Liv Hospital Topkapı (2025–present). He previously served as Associate Professor and Education Coordinator at Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital (2023–2025). He was also a Medical Oncologist there (2018–2021).

He has been a member of ASCO and the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology since 2018. He is the author or co-author of 19 peer-reviewed international papers on colon, breast, gastric, pancreatic, lung, thyroid, sarcoma, and colorectal cancers.

Notable works include a multicentre study on stage IIB colon cancer survival (Journal of Chemotherapy). He also studied the De Ritis ratio for lung metastasis in testicular cancer (Current Urology). His prognostic studies used PET/CT, MSI, lymph node ratio, and metabolic tumor volume.

Dr. Halil Can is a Professor of Neurosurgery (2025; Associate Professor 2020). He completed neurosurgical training at Istanbul University–Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2007. His clinical focus includes endoscopic and microsurgical spine surgery for fractures, tumors, and degenerative disease; advanced pain procedures; endoscopic skull base and pituitary surgery; and neurovascular, neuro-oncologic, and peripheral nerve surgery.

He has 21 international peer-reviewed papers (SCI/SSCI). Topics include cadaveric morphometry of Kambin’s triangle and the transforaminal triangular working zone, lumbar arterial and anterior approach anatomy, and an in vitro test of a new lumbar fixation device.

His clinical studies include a single-team series of 81 posterior circulation aneurysms, with 13 flow-diversion cases. He also reported five spinal cavernous malformation cases. He conducted Phase I safety and feasibility stem-cell trials in pediatric hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and in chronic complete spinal cord injury.

Dr. Ali Osman Mucuoglu is a neurosurgeon. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Dokuz Eylül University from 2013 to 2019 after graduating from Eskişehir Osmangazi University in 2012 (2005–2012). He worked at Dokuz Eylül University and Muş State Hospital from 2019 to 2021. He has practiced at Atlas University Hospital since 2021.

He has five publications. These include a case report in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports that has been cited seven times. He also reported on 3D printer‑assisted transsphenoidal hypophysectomy and on emergency minimally invasive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) surgery. He delivered an oral presentation at the 33rd Turkish Neurosurgical Society Congress in 2019.

He is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society, the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, and the Istanbul Chamber of Medicine. His advanced training includes spinal surgery courses in 2016 and 2017, the European Training Course on Head Injury and Functional Neurosurgery in 2017, and Surgical Neuroanatomy in 2017. He also holds an animal experimentation certificate from 2016.

Assoc. Prof.  Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz graduated from Hacettepe University in 2000 as a Medical Doctor.  She completed her specialty training in the Department of Neurology at Ankara University in 2006.

She started her compulsory service in Mardin Nusaybin State Hospital in 2007.  Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz continued her duty in Gaziantep 27 December State Hospital in 2008.  She worked as a neurologist at Biophysis Nilüfer Medical Center and Ali Osman Sönmez Oncology Hospital in Bursa between 2010-2011, and at Istanbul Universal Aksaray Hospital between 2011-2012. From October 2012, she started to work as a Doctor Lecturer in Istanbul Medipol University Neurology Department.  Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz received the title of associate professor in 2021.  In 2015, she worked as an Honorary Observer in Parkinson's Disease and Deep Brain Stimulation (Neuromodulation) at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology in London.  She took part in many training programs on Deep Brain Stimulation (Neuromodulation) in Turkey and abroad between 2013-2022.

Regarding her speciality in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, she has 5 Tubitak projects, a 2-chapter book , 30 clinical researches and 80 reports presented in domestic and abroad. Assoc. Prof. Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, who is still working within the staff of Medipol University, managed the Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Unit of the Department of Neurology during her working time and plans Deep Brain Stimulation therapy applications with the neurosurgical team.

Since September 2018, she has been working as a coordinator for student education in the 5th semester of Neurology. As of December 2022, she has developed treatment plans for patients at Medipol University Istanbul Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center (PARMER) and provides the most appropriate personal medical follow-up and treatment support for each patient.

PUBLICATIONS

1-Yilmaz N, Yigit A, Akbostanci MC. Clozapine induced epilepsy. Revue Neurologique 2004, Nov;160/11:1093.

2-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Nursel Aydın. Sıcak Su Epilepsili Bir Olgu. Türkiye Klinikleri Nöroloji Dergisi 2004/Cilt2/Sayı 2.

3-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Nursel Aydın. Refleks Epilepsiler. Türkiye Klinikleri Nöroloji Dergisi 2004/Cilt2/Sayı 2.

4-Mine Hayriye Sorgun, Bilge Koçer, Funda Kaplan, Nesrin Yılmaz, Nezih Yücemen, Canan Yücesan. Multipl Sklerozda Kraniyal Nöropati. Turk Norol Derg 2011;17:137-142.

5-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Gökçen Duymaz, Mehmet Akif Yaşar. Parkinson Hastalığı Olan Bir Olguda Malign Sendrom. Turk Norol Derg 2012:18;123-125.

6-Yilmaz NH, Akbostanci MC, Oto A, Aykac O. Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in Ankara, Turkey: an analysis of diagnostic criteria and awareness. Acta Neurol Belg 2012 Oct 31. [Epub ahead of print].

7-Yılmaz NH, Bingol AP. Sensitivity and specificity of Ankara University Cerebral Dominance Inventory in comparison with the Wada test. Acta Neurol Belg 2013 Jun 6 [Epub ahead of print].

8-Sema Demirci, Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Efsun Şenocak, Fatih Han Bölükbaşı. Pons Kavernomu: Kranial Manyetik Rezonans Görüntüleme Bulguları. Turk Norol Derg 2012:19:72.

9-Nesrin Helvacı Yılmaz, Sinem Atik Güngör, Taflan Sahlepçi. Küçük hücreli akciğer kanseri tedavisinde cisplatin kullanımı sırasında gelişen akut iskemik inme: olgu sunumu. J Kartal TR. Baskıdaki Makaleler: KEAH-26937.

POSTERLER:

-Serebral venöz tromboz ve bruselloz Birlikteliği; Olgu Sunumu (42. Ulusal Nöroloji Kongresi-Antalya 2006)

-Waldenström makroglobulinemisine eşlik eden epileptik nöbetler ve nonkonvülsif status epileptikus (42. Ulusal Nöroloji Kongresi-Antalya 2006)

-Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome in Ankara, Turkey (16. Uluslararası Parkinson ve Hareket Bozuklukları Kongresi-Dublin 2012).

-Konjenital Miyastenik Sendrom (29. Ulusal Nörofizyoloji EEG-EMG Kongresi- Antalya 2013).

-Beşinci haftada duyusal iletimleri normal olan bir enjeksiyon nöropatisi olgusu (29. Ulusal Nörofizyoloji EEG-EMG Kongresi- Antalya 2013).

-Olgu sunumu: Mononöritis mültipleks ve lepra (29. Ulusal Nörofizyoloji EEG-EMG Kongresi- Antalya 2013).

-İdyopatik Parkinson Hastalığı’nda hızlanmış unutma ve uyku kalitesi (10. Ulusal Parkinson ve Hareket Bozuklukları Kongresi-Antalya 2013).

-Hiperglisemiye bağlı hemikore ve bazal gangliyon hiperintensitesi: Olgu sunumu (10. Ulusal Parkinson ve Hareket Bozuklukları Kongresi-Antalya 2013).

Assoc. Prof. Ayşe İrem Yasin, M.D., is a medical oncologist who specializes in solid tumors. Her clinical focus includes breast, lung, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, and urologic cancers. She also treats brain and other CNS tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, head and neck cancers, adenocarcinomas, melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and cancers of unknown primary. She practices at Medipol Acıbadem District Hospital (2025–present). She previously worked at Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital (2023–2025).

She completed a Medical Oncology fellowship at Bezmialem Vakıf University (2019–2022). This followed an Internal Medicine residency at the same institution (2012–2016). Her international experience includes the Breast Cancer Unit at the University of Piemonte Orientale in Novara (2022). She also trained at Basel University Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and Harvard Medical School. She holds the ESMO Board Certificate (2022).

Dr. Nurperi Gazioglu is a neurosurgeon. She trained at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine. She earned her MD in 1984 after study from 1978 to 1984. She completed neurosurgery training from 1986 to 1993. Her 1993 dissertation examined “Fetal Hypophysis Transplantation Under the Renal Capsule in Rats.”

She completed advanced courses in endoscopic pituitary surgery (2005, 2007, 2008) and endoscopic lumbar disc surgery (2007). She also trained in molecular genetics for clinicians (2003) and CME with the World Federation of Neurology (2002). She studied epilepsy surgery focused on insular–hippocampal anatomy (1999) and thoracolumbar trauma (1998). She attended the EANS European Neurosurgery Course (1988). Her clinical training includes observerships at APHP Necker–Enfants Malades and Hôpital Lariboisière in 1991. She completed an internship there in 1999.

Prof. Dr. Rifat Eralp Ulusoy is a cardiologist specialized in clinical cardiology and advanced cardiac imaging. He focuses on echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and stress echocardiography. He also treats heart valve disease, hypertension, heart failure, and cardiomyopathies. He has held academic and clinical roles at leading centers in Turkey and the United States. He is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology.

He has written more than 125 scientific papers and has over 1,400 citations. His clinical interests include heart tumors and cardiac care for cancer patients. He also works on cardiology in chronic kidney failure and dialysis. Other interests are heart disease in pregnancy, pericardial diseases, and heart valve infections.

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sait Buğdacı is a highly experienced physician specializing in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He completed his medical education and specialty training at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine and Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital. His clinical interests include gastrointestinal diseases, endoscopic procedures, and clinical research. He has contributed to medical education through numerous scientific publications and textbooks and currently sees patients at Central Hospital.

Areas of Interest • Pediatric gastrointestinal surgery • Anorectal malformations and motility disorders • Minimally invasive pediatric surgery • Pediatric colorectal and pelvic floor disorders

Dr. Mustafa Yavuz Samanci is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Medipol Acıbadem District Hospital in Istanbul. He has specialized training in stereotactic, functional, and pediatric neurosurgery. Dr. Samanci completed a clinical fellowship in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. He has also finished advanced programs in spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation. He received several TÜBİTAK postdoctoral research fellowships and the Prof. Dr. Hakan Caner Overseas Education Scholarship from the Turkish Neurosurgical Society.

Dr. Samanci is an active member of several national and international neurosurgical societies. These include the Turkish Neurosurgical Society, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, and the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. He has served on editorial boards and scientific committees. His work reflects significant contributions to academic neurosurgery and research.

Dr. Irfan Cicin is a Professor of Medical Oncology at the Trakya University Faculty of Medicine (2015–present). He has over 20 years of medical oncology experience and has held academic roles since 2010.

Education: MD, Istanbul University – Cerrahpaşa (1991–1997). Residency in Internal Medicine, Trakya University (1997–2002). Fellowship in Medical Oncology, Trakya University (2002–2004).

Practice: Medical Oncologist, Trakya University (2005–2008). Medical Oncologist, Elazığ Training and Research Hospital (2008–2010). Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Trakya University (2010–2015). He previously served as a physician in the Turkish Air Force at Etimesgut Military Hospital (2004–2005).

Professional Summary:

Experienced cardiac surgeonspecializing in varicoseveins, coronary bypasssurgery, heart valve diseases, aortic aneurysms, heart aneurysms, and TAVI procedures.

Dedicated to providing high-quality care and innovative surgical solutions to patients.

Education:

2022                      : Professorship, Istanbul Arel University

2015                      : Associate Professorship, Şişli Memorial Hospital

1997-2002:           Residency in Cardiovascular Surgery,Florence Nightingale Hospital/ Kadir Has University 1989-1995                : Medical Degree, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty (English Program)

1982-1989           : TarsusAmerican College

Specializations:

Varicose Veins

Coronary Bypass Surgery Heart Valve Diseases Aortic Aneurysms

Heart Aneurysms

TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) Work Experience:

Current: İstanbul FlorenceNightingale Hastanesi, Cardiovascular Surgery Department Previous: Şişli Memorial Hospital, Cardiovascular Surgery Department

Op. Dr. Ayhan Kara is a neurosurgeon with over 25 years in spine surgery. He specializes in minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures on the cervical and lumbar spine. His work includes anterior discectomy, nucleoplasty, and spinal instrumentation and fixation. He graduated from Dicle University. He completed neurosurgery training at Kartal Training and Research Hospital. He also finished an internship at Helios Clinic in Hamburg.

He has performed hundreds of advanced spine operations. He aims for fast recovery and shorter rehab. He stays active in courses and conferences. He uses current, individualized methods. Interests: minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery (cervical, lumbar), anterior lumbar discectomy, nucleoplasty, spinal instrumentation and fixation.

Prof. Dr. Şevki Erdem is an Orthopedics and Traumatology specialist with expertise in spine surgery, deformity correction, and complex spinal disorders. He earned his medical degree from Atatürk University in Erzurum. He completed specialty training in Orthopedics and Traumatology at Erciyes University. Over several decades in leading Turkish hospitals, he has treated thousands of patients with spinal conditions. He has also trained future spine surgeons. In 2013, the Turkish Ministry of Health named him Doctor of the Year.

He currently practices at Central Hospital in Istanbul. He provides advanced, patient-centered orthopedic care for scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, fractures, tumors, infections, and spinal deformities. He also performs joint replacement.