Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Turchia, Istanbul
Dr. Nermina Alagic is an attending cardiologist at Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul, a Johns Hopkins Medicine affiliate. She graduated from Istanbul University–Cerrahpaşa. She completed her cardiology residency at Istanbul Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital (2014–2018). She focuses on cardiac imaging. She has expertise in 2D/3D transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE). She advanced this training through research at the UAB Echo Lab (2015) and hands-on 2D/3D TEE work in the TEE Lab (2018–2019).
Her research covers photomedicine and cardiology. Her papers appear in Journal of Biomedical Optics, PNAS, Photochemistry and Photobiology, Echocardiography, Minerva Cardioangiologica, and Archives of Medical Science (2013–2020). She completed a clinical and interventional cardiology observership at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney (2019). She also worked at the Harvard Medical School Wellman Center for Photomedicine (2012–2013). She is a full member of the Turkish Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology, and an EACVI silver member. Award: ASP Fredrick Urbach Memorial Student Travel Award (2013).
Dr. Cenk İndelen is a cardiovascular surgery specialist. He has practiced since 2002. He has worked at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital since 2025. He completed his residency in thoracic, cardiovascular, and vascular surgery at Kocaeli University (1996–2002). He became an associate professor in 2023.
His focus is patient blood management and cardiothoracic optimization. He has published on transfusion cost-effectiveness and PBM implementation (Cardiovasc J Afr, 2023). He has also reported on the economics of aortic valve replacement (Heart Surg Forum, 2023) and techniques in coronary, mitral, and aortic surgery. His work also appears in JAMA (2023), Crit Care Med (2025), and Transfusion (2025).
Accreditations and memberships: Orsi da Vinci robotic console training (Belgium, 2014). Koç University Animal Use Certificate (2017). Society for the Advancement of Patient Blood Management course (2020). Publons Peer Reviewer course (2020). Member of the Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, ISMICS, the ERAS Society, the Blood Transfusion Society, the Society for the Advancement of PBM, and ASCVTS.
Dr. Hakan Ucar is an interventional cardiologist at VM Medical Park Florya Hospital. He is board-certified by the European Society of Cardiology. Dr. Ucar specializes in complex coronary and peripheral interventions. He has published over 30 articles in international peer-reviewed journals. His research focuses on oxidative stress and coronary artery disease complexity.
Dr. Cengiz Koksal is a cardiovascular surgeon at Medipol Acibadem District Hospital in Istanbul. He is the only physician in Turkey authorized to train others in off-pump mitral valve repair. Dr. Koksal specializes in minimally invasive heart surgery and beating-heart techniques. He has performed over 2,000 open-heart and vascular procedures.
Turkey is a leading destination for chronic heart failure treatment due to advanced cardiac technology and board-certified specialists. Clinics use 512-slice CT scans and AI-supported 3 Tesla MRI for precise heart mapping. Most top-tier facilities in Istanbul hold JCI accreditation, ensuring international safety protocols.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Professional experience in Turkey is exceptionally high. Prof. Cengiz Koksal alone has performed over 2,000 open-heart and vascular surgeries. This volume allows Turkish specialists to offer rare procedures like off-pump mitral valve repair. Many surgeons are also international instructors, making them trainers for peers in other countries.
Patient Consensus: Patients value how quickly they can book appointments for heart reassessments. Many note that having imaging, labs, and specialists in one building saves significant time.
Turkish cardiac centers provide comprehensive advanced treatments for Chronic Heart Failure, including specialized Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation and heart transplantation. JCI-accredited facilities utilize cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). Advanced interventional techniques like TAVI and Mitraclip provide non-surgical options for valve-related heart failure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many seek basic care, the real differentiator in Turkish cardiac centers is the presence of specialized valvular experts. For instance, Prof. Dr. Cengiz Koksal is the only physician in Turkey authorized to perform off-pump mitral valve repairs. Choosing a surgeon with this level of specific authorization for minimally invasive techniques significantly reduces the physical toll compared to traditional open-heart surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the need for a full written treatment plan and suggest confirming the availability of English-speaking coordinators. Many emphasize obtaining a second opinion when considering major interventions like LVAD or transplant surgery.
Heart failure treatments in Turkey show high success rates, including 87% health gains for innovative stem cell therapies. Most JCI-accredited hospitals follow American Heart Association guidelines. Quality benchmarks focus on reducing re-hospitalization through multidisciplinary care at centers like Memorial Göztepe and Medipol Acibadem.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many look for general success rates, the local differentiator is specialist density. For example, Professor Cengiz Koksal at Medipol Acıbadem has performed over 2,000 procedures. He is the only Turkish physician authorized to teach off-pump mitral valve repair. Choosing surgeons with such verified procedure counts often leads to more stable long-term results than selecting based on hospital size alone.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that immediate stability depends on the cardiac ICU team strength. High quality is often recognized through better breathing, improved exercise tolerance, and clear follow-up plans after discharge.
Turkish hospitals provide advanced heart failure care through JCI-accredited facilities and specialized university centers. Leading institutions in Istanbul offer heart transplantation, LVAD implantation, and sophisticated diagnostics. Specialized teams utilize 512-slice CT and 3 Tesla MRI for precise cardiac mapping and treatment planning.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many private centers are well-equipped, the deepest expertise often lies with professors practicing at university-affiliated hospitals. For instance, Prof. Dr. Cengiz Koksal at Medipol Acibadem District Hospital has performed 2,000 procedures. He is uniquely authorized in Turkey for specific mitral valve repairs, which are critical for correcting underlying heart failure causes.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to choose hospitals that offer continuous monitoring and long-term follow-up care. Many emphasize that tertiary centers in Istanbul provide much faster diagnostic processing than smaller regional clinics.
Patients should plan for a 10 to 14 day stay in Turkey for chronic heart failure treatment. This timeframe allows for 1–2 days of cardiac screening and specialist consultation. Specific protocols typically require 7 days. Remaining time ensures clinical stability before international travel.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish cardiology centers like Memorial Göztepe Hospital utilize 512-slice CT and 3 Tesla MRI for rapid staging. Our data shows that top specialists, including Prof. Dr. Cengiz Koksal who has performed over 2,000 procedures, emphasize that the diagnostic workup often dictates the stay length more than the procedure itself. Choosing JCI-accredited facilities ensures standardized protocols that can streamline these evaluations.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is vital to factor in buffer days for medication adjustments and repeat lab work. Many emphasize staying near the clinic for a few days after discharge to manage travel fatigue safely.
Turkish language proficiency is not required for heart failure treatment in Turkey. JCI-accredited hospitals provide dedicated international patient departments and multidisciplinary teams. These centers offer professional medical interpreters and English-speaking cardiologists. Facilities like Memorial Göztepe Hospital utilize advanced diagnostic tools without language barriers.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top Turkish cardiologists often hold international board certifications and degrees from England or the US. For instance, Dr. Ilhan Mavioglu trained at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. This global training ensures surgeons can communicate complex care plans directly in English with patients.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is vital to bring previous medical records and medication lists clearly translated into English. They also recommend selecting private hospitals over public clinics to ensure smoother communication and support during discharge.