Prof. Ethem Tankurt, MD

Prof. Ethem Tankurt, MD is a gastroenterology specialist at Acibadem Kent Hospital (Izmir), where he works in the Gastroenterology unit. He has spent more than 45 years in medicine. His clinical work centers on inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, together with coeliac disease, diverticulitis, gastroenteritis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), reflux, gastritis and dyspepsia, and colorectal cancer. He also performs gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

Dr. Tankurt graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1981 and completed his Internal Medicine training at the same faculty in 1985. He then completed Gastroenterology training at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine in 1991, where he became an Associate Professor (Doç.) in the same year. In 1997 he was appointed Professor at 9 Eylül University Faculty of Medicine. His education record also lists the European Board of Gastroenterology (2005) and the American Gastroenterological Association (2007). He joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2023. His professional memberships include the EASL European Association for the Study of Liver, the Turkish Gastroenterology Association, the TASL Turkish Liver Research Association, the AGA American Gastroenterological Association and the Internal Medicine Specialty Association.

Clinical focus

A substantial part of Dr. Tankurt’s practice involves the assessment and long-term management of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. He also sees patients with coeliac disease, diverticulitis, gastroenteritis and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), as well as common upper digestive complaints such as reflux, gastritis and dyspepsia. Treatment decisions in these conditions depend on the individual clinical picture, and the approach is discussed with each patient after review of their history and test results.

Dr. Tankurt performs gastroscopy and colonoscopy, which may be used to investigate symptoms, monitor known conditions or evaluate the large bowel where colorectal cancer is a concern. Whether an endoscopic examination is appropriate, and which one, is decided on a case-by-case basis following the initial consultation.

How Dr. Tankurt works with international patients

Dr. Tankurt consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the hospital’s international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, for example MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, 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 available options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation with Dr. Tankurt before travelling.