Assoc. Prof. Emel Kabakoğlu Ünsür, MD

Assoc. Prof. Emel Kabakoğlu Ünsür, MD is a pediatrician at Acibadem Kartal Hospital in İstanbul, where she works in the Pediatrics unit. She has more than 25 years in medicine, and her practice covers general pediatrics, newborn follow-up, and the assessment of children with nutritional, growth, infectious, and urinary concerns. She graduated from Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine in 2001 and completed her residency in Child Health and Diseases at Zeynep Kamil Women’s and Children’s Diseases Training and Research Hospital in 2007. In 2019 she earned a doctorate in Sosyal Pediatri (social pediatrics) at Erciyes University Health Sciences Institute.

After her residency, Dr. Ünsür completed compulsory service as a specialist at İstanbul Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital and İstanbul Kağıthane State Hospital. Between 2009 and 2010 she was a subspecialty resident in Neonatology at İstanbul Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, and from 2011 to 2013 she served as an assistant professor in the Department of Child Health and Diseases at T.C. İstanbul Bilim University Faculty of Medicine. She then worked as a specialist at İstanbul Medipol University Faculty of Medicine (2013–2014), trained as a subspecialty resident in Pediatric Nephrology at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine (2014–2015), and practiced at Kayseri Memorıal Hospital (2015–2016). From 2016 to 2024 she was a specialist in Child Health and Diseases at Acıbadem Kayseri Hospital, and between 2017 and 2020 she also held a faculty position in a first and emergency aid program. She is a member of the Türk Pediatri Association, the Sosyal Pediatri Association, and the Turkish Medical Association. Her published work includes studies on first-day bilirubin levels in early discharged newborns, vitamin D supplementation in infants, the effect of obstetric anesthesia on newborn wellbeing, childhood obesity in relation to infant feeding type, and diagnosis and treatment models of PFAPA syndrome.

Clinical focus

Dr. Ünsür evaluates and follows children with a range of common and less common pediatric conditions. Her areas of expertise include childhood nutrition disorders and growth disorders in children, as well as constipation and infant colic. She also assesses urinary symptoms such as hematuria in children and urinary incontinence in children, drawing on her subspecialty training in pediatric nephrology.

In the area of infectious and inflammatory disease, she manages childhood infectious diseases, upper respiratory tract infections in children, childhood rash illnesses, and PFAPA syndrome (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical lymphadenitis). Her practice also covers childhood vaccinations and newborn follow-up, including the treatment of neonatal jaundice, an area in which she has both clinical experience and published research.

How Dr. Ünsür works with international patients

Dr. Ünsür consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for families who need them. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as ultrasound, X-ray, MRI or CT reports, laboratory and pathology results, and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the child’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 child’s case before traveling or as part of follow-up.