Prof. Dr. Serdar Özgen

Prof. Dr. Serdar Özgen is a neurosurgeon who sees patients at Acibadem Maslak Hospital (İstanbul) and Acibadem Dr. Sinasi Can (Kadikoy) Hospital (İstanbul), where he works within the Neurosurgery unit. His practice is centered on spinal health and pediatric neurosurgery, and he has more than 36 years of experience in medicine.

Dr. Özgen graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1990 and completed his neurosurgery specialty training at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery between 1990 and 1996. He then worked there as a neurosurgery specialist from 1996 to 1998. From 1998 to 1999 he was a Spine Research Fellow at the University of Arkansas, UAMS, in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. He returned to Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery, serving as assistant associate professor from 1998 to 2005 and, after receiving the title of associate professor in 2005, as associate professor until 2009. In 2010 he was appointed professor at Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine. He is a member of the Medical Chamber, the Türk Nöroşirürji Association, the Turkish Neurosurgery Association Spinal Surgery Group, the North America Spine Society (NASS), the Turkish Spine Association, the European Spine Society, Eurospine, and the Nervous System Surgery Association. His published work includes studies on cervical corpectomy, combined anterior and posterior approaches for multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy, intramedullary spinal cord ependymomas, spinal meningiomas, upper lumbar disc herniation and the anatomy of the vertebral artery.

Clinical focus

Dr. Özgen’s clinical work concentrates on the spine. He evaluates and treats spinal deformities, including kyphosis, scoliosis and hypolordosis, as well as cervical spinal stenosis, lumbar spinal stenosis and disc herniation. Patients with neck, back and low back pain are assessed to identify the underlying cause and to discuss whether conservative measures or spine surgery may be appropriate. He also manages spinal and spinal cord tumors.

A second area of his practice is pediatric neurosurgery, covering neurosurgical conditions in children. In every case, the choice of treatment depends on the individual findings, the imaging and the patient’s overall situation, and Dr. Özgen discusses the possible options and their limitations with the patient or family before any decision is made.

How Dr. Özgen works with international patients

Dr. Özgen consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The 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 options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before traveling or as a follow-up after a visit.