Memorial Şişli Hospital
Prof. Dr. Salih Pay is a rheumatology specialist and professor. He has been a professor since 2008. He graduated from GATA Gülhane Military Medical Faculty in 1987. He completed his internal medicine residency at GATA in 1995. He finished rheumatology training at Hacettepe University from 1996 to 1998. He served as an assistant professor at GATA from 1999 to 2000. He became an associate professor in 2000. He conducted experimental research on chemokines and chemokine receptors at the UC San Diego – Stein Research Center from 2001 to 2002. He has published nearly 100 scientific articles.
He currently practices at Koru Ankara Hospital. His focus is on rheumatic diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, vasculitis, Behçet's disease, gout, and osteoporosis.
Dr. Rukiye Nurten Eker Omeroglu is a pediatric specialist at Memorial Bahcelievler Hospital. She holds dual expertise in pediatric cardiology and rheumatology. Her career includes a long tenure at the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Omeroglu treats children with complex heart and joint conditions. She works at a JCI-accredited facility known for its environmentally friendly design.
Rheumatology is the primary specialty managing scleroderma in Turkey. Specialists coordinate care across dermatology, pulmonology, cardiology, and gastroenterology departments. Major JCI-accredited centres in Istanbul and Ankara use multidisciplinary teams. They treat autoimmune connective tissue disorders. These teams handle immunosuppressive therapies and targeted vascular treatments.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish rheumatology expertise is highly concentrated in large healthcare groups like Memorial. Memorial operates 92 specialised departments. Prof. Dr Salih Pay at Private Koru Ankara Hospital exemplifies this depth. He has over 35 years of medical experience and specific training from the University of California-San Diego. This level of specialist experience often exceeds what patients find in smaller regional clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that rheumatologists lead the treatment plan while dermatologists manage skin changes. Those requiring plasma exchange should confirm the hospital has a dedicated apheresis department. The hospital should also provide haematology oversight in Turkey.
Turkish clinics offer standard immunosuppressants like mycophenolate mofetil and methotrexate. They also provide advanced therapies including autologous stem cell transplantation. JCI-accredited centres in Istanbul and Ankara provide multidisciplinary care. Specialist rheumatologists use vascular therapies and biological infusions. These help manage organ involvement and severe Raynaud's phenomenon.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish hospitals like Memorial Şişli Hospital and Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital often have JCI accreditation. They also have specialised apheresis units. These units allow for therapeutic plasma exchange, a less common treatment for severe cases. Patients should confirm a clinic has an on-site haematology department. This department would supervise these specific off-label procedures.
Patient Consensus: Patients highlight that large Istanbul hospitals provide necessary equipment for plasma exchange. Many note that hydroxychloroquine helps some reach remission. However, pushing for apheresis often requires visiting major city centres.
Turkish JCI-accredited hospitals such as Memorial Bahçelievler and Memorial Şişli provide specialised care for connective tissue diseases. These centres offer multidisciplinary diagnosis for scleroderma. Treatment often involves rheumatologists, cardiologists, and pulmonologists. Facilities in Istanbul and Ankara manage complex autoimmune conditions using modern targeted therapies.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish rheumatology departments often sit within massive tertiary hospitals that treat over 50,000 international patients annually. For scleroderma, centres like Memorial Bahçelievler are advantageous because they house LEED Platinum-certified environments and 3T MRI technology. This infrastructure allows for high-resolution imaging of vascular and tissue changes with significantly less noise and discomfort.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey often choose large private hospital groups for their comprehensive diagnostic testing. They suggest requesting a multidisciplinary plan covering lung, heart, and gastrointestinal reviews before arrival.
Turkish scleroderma packages provide multidisciplinary care. They combine rheumatology, dermatology, and pulmonary specialists into a single itinerary. These bundles typically include VIP airport transfers, 4-star or 5-star hotel accommodation, and a personal coordinator. Patients also receive medical invitation letters for visa processing and dedicated translation services.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many hospitals claim high-tech facilities, Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital stands out for its LEED Platinum-certified design. This focus on eco-friendly environments specifically helps autoimmune patients. They are often sensitive to hospital air quality. Its location five minutes from Istanbul Airport also reduces the physical strain of travel after intensive treatments.
Patient Consensus: Patients note Turkish clinics excel at organising multiple specialist reviews in one day. Dedicated international departments make navigating complex hospital layouts much easier for those with mobility issues. They suggest verifying health ministry authorisation. But they found the English-speaking staff and concierge care very reassuring.