Prof. Dr. Işın Doğan Ekici

Prof. Dr. Işın Doğan Ekici is a pathologist at Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul, where she works in the Pathology Department. Her work centers on the diagnostic assessment of tissue and cell samples, and the findings she reports are used to support clinical decision-making by the treating physicians. She has more than 29 years of experience in medicine and holds the academic title of Professor.

Dr. Ekici graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1997. She then completed her specialty training in Pathology at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, finishing in 2003. She has been part of Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2018, contributing to the pathology services of the hospital within a multidisciplinary setting.

Clinical focus

Pathology is a laboratory-based medical specialty. Tissue and cell samples that are removed from a patient during a biopsy or an operation are prepared and examined so that a diagnosis can be established or excluded. Dr. Ekici’s contribution lies in this diagnostic assessment: she evaluates the submitted material and documents her findings in a pathology report. That report becomes part of the patient’s medical record and is used by the clinicians who are responsible for the patient’s care.

Because pathology results frequently influence which treatment options are considered, Dr. Ekici’s work is closely connected with the other departments of the hospital. Diagnostic findings from the Pathology Department support the patient’s care pathway and treatment planning, and they are discussed with the treating teams as needed. For international patients this means that pathology services are delivered as one component of a broader, multidisciplinary hospital setting rather than in isolation. Pathologists do not usually treat patients directly; their role is to provide the diagnostic information on which clinical decisions are based.

How Dr. Ekici works with international patients

Dr. Ekici communicates 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. The team also arranges appointments and organises 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 where appropriate and a discussion of the available options. In the context of pathology, existing pathology reports and, where available, previously prepared slides or tissue blocks may be relevant to a case review, and patients are usually advised about what to send in advance. A video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before travelling or to review findings from a distance.