Prof. İlim Irmak, MD

Prof. İlim Irmak, MD is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist working in the Pulmonology unit at Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul. She has more than 18 years of experience in medicine. Her clinical work covers lung cancer and other thoracic cancers, lung nodules, bronchoscopy and EBUS, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary embolism, sleep disorders including insomnia and sleep apnea, and lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Dr. Irmak graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2008 and completed her specialty training in chest diseases at Süreyyapaşa Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital in 2013. From 2019 to 2021 she was a lecturer at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Chest Diseases, and in 2021 she received the title of Associate Professor. She joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2024. She is a member of the European Respiratory Society, the Turkish Respiratory Research Association and the Türk Toraks Association. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on topics including cystic fibrosis registry data, COVID-19 pneumonia, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic marker in small cell lung cancer, and bone mineral density in lung transplant recipients.

Clinical focus

A central part of Dr. Irmak’s practice is the evaluation of lung nodules and the diagnostic work-up of lung cancer and other thoracic cancers. She performs bronchoscopy and EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound), procedures that allow tissue and lymph node sampling from the airways and are used to clarify the nature of suspicious findings on chest imaging. Findings from these procedures are reviewed with the patient and, where relevant, with colleagues from other disciplines so that further steps can be planned.

Dr. Irmak also manages chronic airway conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as acute problems including pulmonary embolism and lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Her work in sleep medicine covers sleep disorders including insomnia and sleep apnea. Care planning in these areas takes into account the patient’s history, symptoms, lung function and any previous treatment, and is adjusted over time as the clinical picture develops.

How Dr. Irmak works with international patients

Dr. Irmak 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 CT or X-ray reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges the appointment 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. Irmak before or instead of traveling.