Funda Özdemir

Funda Özdemir is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialist with more than 23 years of experience. She works within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit of Acibadem Health Group, which she joined in 2009. Her listed areas of expertise are physical therapy, mobility rehabilitation, pain reduction therapy, and individualized rehabilitation planning.

Ms Özdemir graduated from Hacettepe University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in 2003. After graduating, she worked at BİLGE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION CENTER from 2003 to 2009. In 2009 she also worked with the TBF WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM. In the same year she joined Acibadem Health Group, where she has practiced since.

Clinical focus

Ms Özdemir’s work centers on physical therapy for patients who need support with movement, function, and pain. Mobility rehabilitation is one of her listed areas: this involves working with patients whose ability to move, walk, or perform everyday activities has been affected, with the aim of restoring or maintaining function as far as the underlying condition allows. Pain reduction therapy is another listed focus, using physical therapy approaches intended to help manage pain and support day-to-day activity.

Individualized rehabilitation planning is also among her areas of expertise. In practice, this means that a rehabilitation program is developed around the individual patient’s condition, current level of function, and personal goals, rather than following a single fixed protocol. Her earlier experience at a special education and rehabilitation center and with a national basketball team reflects work with different patient groups and different rehabilitation needs. As with any rehabilitation program, the suitability of a given approach and the expected course depend on the individual case and are assessed after a clinical evaluation.

How Funda Özdemir works with international patients

Ms Özdemir speaks Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. For international patients, 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, 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. Video consultation is available for international patients, which allows patients abroad to speak with Ms Özdemir before travelling. Any recommendations made remotely are preliminary and may be revised after an in-person examination.