Assoc. Prof. Sena Sert Şekerci, MD

Assoc. Prof. Sena Sert Şekerci, MD is a cardiologist at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, where she works in the Cardiology Department. Her clinical work centers on heart failure, heart transplantation, pulmonary hypertension, cardiovascular imaging and adult congenital heart disease, with a particular interest in advanced echocardiographic assessment, pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function. She has more than 14 years of experience in medicine.

Dr. Şekerci graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2012 and completed her cardiology training at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine in 2017. In 2016 she undertook advanced echocardiographic evaluation training at the University of Padua, Italy. Between 2019 and 2024 she worked at Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul, in the Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation Department and the Pulmonary Hypertension Department, and she received the title of Associate Professor there in 2023. Her earlier positions include Acıbadem Atakent Hospital (2013–2022) and Çerkezköy Devlet Hospital (2017–2019), where she completed her compulsory service.

Clinical focus

Dr. Şekerci assesses and follows adults with heart failure, including patients being evaluated for or followed after heart transplantation, and adults with pulmonary hypertension. She also sees adults with congenital heart disease. A central part of her practice is cardiovascular imaging, in particular advanced echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function, which she uses to characterize the condition and to inform discussion of possible treatment options together with the patient.

Her published work reflects these interests. Topics include cardiohepatic syndrome and its prognostic value in pulmonary arterial hypertension, the TAPSE/PASP ratio in right ventricular failure after left ventricular assist device implantation, right ventricular mechanics in patients with Behcet’s disease, the association between TAPSE and right atrial contractile strain, right ventricular cardiac power output in pulmonary arterial hypertension, and the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in aortic valve neocuspidization (Ozaki procedure). Dr. Şekerci is a member of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), the Working Group on Heart Failure at European Society of Cardiology, the Heart İmagers of Tomorrow Association (HIT) and the Pulmonary Vascular Diseases and Adult Congenital Heart Disease group at Turkish Cardiology Society. She was elected as a nucleus member of the Working Group on Pulmonary Circulation and Right Ventricular Function at European Society of Cardiology.

How Dr. Şekerci works with international patients

Dr. Şekerci consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as echocardiography or other imaging reports, laboratory results, operative notes and discharge summaries, arranges appointments and organizes 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 traveling or as part of follow-up.