Prof. Alper Özkan, MD

Prof. Alper Özkan, MD is a cardiologist at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, where he works in the Cardiology Department. His subspecialty area is cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and his clinical work covers coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, structural heart conditions and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He has more than 23 years in medicine and consults in Turkish and English.

Dr. Özkan graduated from İnönü University Faculty of Medicine in 2003. From 2004 to 2009 he worked at Kartal Koşuyolu Heart & Training and Research Hospital, and in 2010 he completed his cardiology training at Kartal Koşuyolu Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital. Between 2009 and 2013 he held research fellow positions at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, first in Invasive Cardiology (2009–2011) and then in Cardiovascular Imaging (2011–2013). After returning to Turkey he completed his compulsory service at Elazığ Harput Devlet Hospital (2013–2015) and at the Cardiology Clinic of Elazığ Training and Research Hospital (2015). He became an Associate Professor at Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine in 2016. He is a member of The European Society of Cardiology, The European Society of Cardiology &Valvular Heart Disease Working Group, The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, The American Society of Echocardiography, the Turkish Cardiology Association and the Turkish Medical Association.

Clinical focus

A central part of Dr. Özkan’s practice is the assessment and treatment of coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease. This includes diagnostic angiography and, where indicated, percutaneous coronary intervention. He also manages the risk factors that contribute to coronary disease, in particular hypertension and hyperlipidemia, as part of longer-term cardiovascular care.

His work in cardiovascular imaging is reflected in his focus on heart valve disease, including aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation and rheumatic heart disease. He also evaluates patients with structural conditions such as atrial septal defect (ASD) and with myocarditis. In addition, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation forms part of his approach for patients recovering from cardiac events or living with chronic heart conditions. The choice of investigation or treatment depends on the individual patient’s findings, and options are discussed with the patient once the assessment is complete.

How Dr. Özkan works with international patients

Dr. Özkan consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, arranges appointments and organises the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation with Dr. Özkan before travelling or as a follow-up after treatment.