Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diğdem Özer

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diğdem Özer is a gastroenterologist at Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul, where she works in the Gastroenterology unit. She has more than 28 years in medicine. Dr. Özer graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 1998, completed her Internal Medicine training at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 2004 and completed her Gastroenterology training at Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital in 2011.

Her professional experience began as an Internal Medicine Specialist at Ankara Güven Hospital between 2004 and 2008. After her gastroenterology training, she served at Şırnak Devlet Hospital in 2011–2012 and then worked as a Gastroenterology Specialist at Ankara Güven Hospital (2013–2014), Bursa Acıbadem Hospital (2014–2016) and Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara Hospital (2016–2022). She is a member of the Endoscopy Association and the Turkish Gastroenterology Association. Dr. Özer has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on subjects including Helicobacter pylori eradication, bowel preparation for screening colonoscopy, direct-acting antiviral treatment of hepatitis C in patients with end-stage renal disease and kidney transplant recipients, pancreatic stenting in chronic pancreatitis, prognostic scoring in primary sclerosing cholangitis and radiation exposure during ERCP training.

Clinical focus

Dr. Özer’s clinical work covers a broad range of digestive, liver, pancreatic and biliary conditions. In endoscopy, her areas of expertise include ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), which is used in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary tract diseases and pancreatic diseases, as well as capsule endoscopy and PEG tube placement for patients who need long-term nutritional support. She also evaluates and manages patients with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and anal incontinence.

In hepatology, her practice includes liver diseases in general, fatty liver disease and liver failure. She also assesses and treats common upper gastrointestinal complaints such as reflux, gastritis and dyspepsia. The choice of investigation and treatment depends on each patient’s history, symptoms and previous findings, and is discussed with the patient after clinical assessment.

How Dr. Özer works with international patients

Dr. Özer 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, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, endoscopy reports, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and 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 that may be appropriate. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation with Dr. Özer before traveling or as a follow-up after treatment; whether further tests or procedures are needed is decided on a case-by-case basis.