Prof. Mehmet Zafer Berkman, MD

Prof. Mehmet Zafer Berkman, MD is a neurosurgeon at Acibadem Maslak Hospital in İstanbul, where he works in the Neurosurgery unit with a subspecialty focus on the treatment of pituitary diseases. He has more than 45 years in medicine. He graduated from İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine in 1981 and completed his neurosurgery training at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1988. He was appointed Associate Professor in 1998 at SSK Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital and Professor in 2008 at Namık Kemal University Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Berkman began his career as a neurosurgery specialist at Çorlu Military Hospital (1988–1990). From 1990 to 2001 he worked at the Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital Neurosurgery Clinic, first as a specialist physician and later as Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Clinic. In 1995 he spent time as a clinical observer at the Katharinen Hospital Neurosurgery Clinic in Stutgart, Germany, and at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Neurosurgery Clinic in Mainz, Germany. Between 2001 and 2008 he was Head of the Neurosurgery Clinic at Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, a role he held again as Professor from 2010 to 2013. At Namık Kemal University Faculty of Medicine he served as Head of the Department of Neurosurgery (2008–2010), Vice Dean (2008–2009) and a member of the Board of Directors and the Faculty Board; he was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Namık Kemal University Faculty of Science (2009–2010). In 2007 he joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. He is a member of the Türk Nöroşirürji Association, the Turkish Neurosurgical Association Neuro-Oncological Surgery Teaching and Training Group, the Turkish Neurosurgical Association Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Teaching and Training Group, the Nervous System Surgery Association and the Turkish Medical Association.

Clinical focus

Dr. Berkman’s clinical work centers on pituitary disorders and on conditions affecting the brain, including brain tumours, brain aneurysms, cerebral haemorrhage and arachnoid cysts. Each of these conditions is assessed individually, taking into account the patient’s symptoms, imaging findings and any treatment already received, before surgical or non-surgical options are discussed.

He also treats spinal conditions, including disc herniation, loss of lumbar lordosis, and back, neck and spinal pain. In addition, his practice includes the surgical treatment of head and neck cancers. The choice of approach depends on the nature and location of the condition and on the patient’s overall health, and not every patient assessed will be a candidate for surgery.

How Dr. Berkman works with international patients

Dr. Berkman consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, 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 and a discussion of the available options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their case before or instead of traveling to İstanbul.