Prof. Hakan Ümit Ünal, MD

Prof. Hakan Ümit Ünal, MD is a gastroenterologist at Acibadem Bakirkoy Hospital in İstanbul. He practises within the Gastroenterology unit, with a subspecialty focus on the Treatment of Pancreas, Liver and Biliary Tract Diseases. He has more than 28 years in medicine and has been part of Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2024.

Dr. Ünal graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 1998. He completed his Internal Medicine training at Başkent University Faculty of Medicine in 2003 and his Gastroenterology training at the same faculty in 2006. Between 2007 and 2009 he worked at Diyarbakır Devlet Hospital as part of his compulsory service, and from 2008 to 2009 he served in the gastroenterology department of Diyarbakır Military Hospital during his military service. From 2010 to 2015 he worked in the Gastroenterology department of Başkent University İstanbul Hospital, followed by a position at Memorial Hizmet Hospital from 2015 to 2017. He is a member of the Turkish Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Association, the Clinical Enteral Parenteral Nutrition Association, the Türk Gastroentroloji Association and the Turkish Liver Research Association. His published work includes articles on the timing of ERCP in biliary pancreatitis, drug-associated acute pancreatitis, endoscopic findings in the rectum and terminal ileum, and hepatic manifestations of systemic disease.

Clinical focus

A central part of Dr. Ünal’s practice is the evaluation and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. He performs diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy and also carries out endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), an endoscopic procedure performed through the mouth without surgical incisions. The suitability of any endoscopic procedure is assessed individually after a review of the patient’s history and findings.

In line with his subspecialty, Dr. Ünal treats pancreatic diseases, biliary tract diseases and a range of liver diseases, including fatty liver disease and liver failure. Care in these areas typically combines clinical assessment, laboratory and imaging review and, where indicated, endoscopic evaluation, with medical management adapted to the individual patient.

How Dr. Ünal works with international patients

Dr. Ünal 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, 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 who wish to discuss their situation before travelling or to review findings from a distance.