Şirin Parkan, MD

Şirin Parkan, MD is a Family Medicine specialist at Acibadem Dr. Sinasi Can (Kadikoy) Hospital in İstanbul, where she works within the Family Medicine and Functional Medicine units. Her professional interests include functional medicine, chronic disease management, family and marriage counselling, and health management. Her work is directed at the overall health of the individual and the family rather than at a single organ system, and she follows patients over time for both ongoing and preventive care.

Dr. Parkan attended Alman High School from 1982 to 1990 and studied medicine at İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine between 1990 and 1997. She completed her specialty training in Family Medicine at Taksim Training and Research Hospital in 2003. Her professional experience includes a period at Taksim Verem Savaş Dispanseri from 1998 to 1999 and at VKV Amerikan Hospital from 2003 to 2004, after which she joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2004. She is a member of the Turkish Association of Family Medicine Specialists, the Istanbul Medical Chamber and the Health Education and Drama Association. Her published work includes chapter authorship in Family Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment (2018) and Family Medicine and Primary Care. At the Crossroads of Social Change (2018), as well as articles on vascular dementia (2017) and on obesity and stigma (2015) in Türkiye Klinikleri special topics journals.

Clinical focus

Dr. Parkan’s clinical practice centers on family medicine with a functional medicine perspective. In chronic disease management, this involves reviewing a patient’s history, current medications and previous test results, considering how lifestyle and daily habits may contribute to symptoms, and agreeing on a plan for follow-up. Health management in her practice refers to a structured overview of a patient’s general health, including routine assessments and preventive measures appropriate to age and personal history.

Alongside medical care, Dr. Parkan offers family counselling and marriage counselling. These consultations address the ways in which family relationships and everyday stress can affect health and well-being, and they may be combined with medical follow-up where relevant. The scope and suitability of counselling are discussed with each patient individually, and the approach is adapted to the patient’s circumstances and goals.

How Dr. Parkan works with international patients

Dr. Parkan 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 MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments 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 before travelling or to follow up after a visit; the extent of what can be assessed remotely depends on the individual case.