Best Kidney Transplant Doctors Abroad for Australian Patients

Professor Bulent Unal is the Head of General Surgery at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital, specialising in complex kidney and liver transplantations.

• Completed advanced transplantation and oncology surgery training at the University of Giessen-Marburg in Germany
• Conducted specialist research as a National Cancer Institute scientist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Board member of the Surgical Oncology Association and active member of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, and Oncologists
• Highly published researcher with over 20 years of focus on hepatobiliary and transplant outcomes

Dr Mesut Pekmez has performed over 900 procedures, making him a high-volume specialist in kidney transplantation at Lokman Hekim University Ankara Hospital.

• Specialises exclusively in organ transplantation and complex general surgery
• Trained at Ankara Baskent University, one of Turkey's premier institutions for surgical training
• Active member of the Ankara Surgical Association
• Provides thorough eligibility evaluations by reviewing patient medical reports before travel

Professor Abuzer Dirican is a highly distinguished liver and kidney transplant surgeon who leads the general surgery and surgical oncology department at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital.

• Completed a prestigious clinical and research fellowship focused on transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery
• Serves as a Professor at the Liver Transplant Institute at İnönü University
• Authored key chapters on liver transplantation in prominent medical texts like Schwartz's Principles of Surgery
• Maintains an extensive international research profile in hepatobiliary and transplant medicine

The doctor is the director of the Organ Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Center at Istinye University Liv Hospital, specializing in kidney, pancreas, and liver transplants for both adults and children. With over 5,000 kidney transplants, including 350 pediatric cases, more than 1,000 liver transplants, and 77 pancreas transplants, the doctor has an extensive surgical portfolio.

Additionally, the doctor has performed complex simultaneous organ transplants, including 74 pancreas and kidney, 14 liver and kidney, and 2 heart and kidney operations. The doctor has held significant roles at Akdeniz University and is a lecturer at Istinye University.

Associate Professor Soykan Barlas is a highly published kidney transplant specialist who leads complex surgical programmes at VM Medical Park Florya Hospital.

• Specialises in robot-assisted and hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy
• Over 20 peer-reviewed articles focusing on kidney transplant outcomes and donor safety
• Expertise in managing paediatric kidney transplants and high-risk desensitisation cases
• Book editor and lead author on kidney transplantation and surgical techniques
• Academic lecturer at Demiroğlu Science University Faculty of Medicine

The doctor is a seasoned oncologist and general surgeon with over 25 years of experience, specializing in cancer treatment and organ transplants. Recognized for significant contributions in the field, the doctor has received numerous awards, including the AACR Scholar-in-Training Award and the Certificate of Outstanding Achievement in Liver Transplantation. The doctor is an active member of several prestigious associations, including the American Society of Breast Cancer and the Surgical Oncology Association, where they serve on the Board of Directors.

The doctor holds a M.Sc degree from the Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, and completed a Ph.D./Specialty in General Surgery at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital.

The doctor graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul University and completed a specialization in general surgery. With extensive experience in general surgery and kidney transplants, the doctor has served in various hospitals, including Private Gaziosmanpasa Hospital and Medical Park Goztepe Hospital, as a General Surgery Specialist and Kidney Transplant Specialist. The doctor has also held a position as a Liver Transplant Specialist at Memorial Sisli Hospital. The doctor is a member of several professional organizations, including the Turkish Medical Association and the Turkish Surgical Association.

The doctor is a Turkish transplantologist with over 20 years of experience, specializing in kidney transplants. Since 2018, the doctor has been serving as a kidney transplant surgeon at Medipol Mega University Hospital. Previously, the doctor held the position of Head of the Organ Transplantation Department at Çamlıca Medicana Hospital and Pamukkale University General Surgery. The doctor was also the head of the Johns Hopkins Kidney Transplant Center. The doctor graduated from Istanbul University with a degree in general medicine and further specialized in general surgery at Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital.

The doctor has authored over 35 scientific papers on organ transplant studies and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Turkish Transplantation Centers Coordinators Association and the Turkish Surgical Association.

Associate Professor Halil Erdis has performed over 900 successful surgical procedures and leads the organ transplant department at Valued Med Hub Hospitals.

• Specialises in laparoscopic surgical methods for minimally invasive kidney transplantation
• Completed a high-level clinical fellowship at Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital
• Holds certification in Good Clinical Practice for high-standard surgical research
• Focuses on hepatobiliary surgery and complex multi-organ transplantation protocols

The doctor is a seasoned Transplant Surgeon and Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialist with a focus on Oncology and General Surgery. With over two decades of experience, the doctor has treated conditions such as Kidney Angiomyolipoma, Kidney Cancer, Liver Cancer, Polycystic Kidney Disease, and Kidney Cysts. The doctor has practiced at several international clinics, including a role as a National Cancer Institute Short-Term Scientist at the Surgical Oncology Clinic Magee-Womens Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Hacettepe University in 1995, the doctor is a member of various associations including the Turkish Surgery Association and the Liver Transplantation Association. The doctor has been recognized with awards such as the International Liver Transplantation Society Young Investigator Award and a Certificate of Excellence for completing 1000 liver transplants.

Associate Professor Halil Er is a veteran transplant surgeon who has successfully performed over 900 procedures. He leads the Organ Transplantation Department at Biruni University Hospital, bringing senior clinical leadership to every case.

• Specialises in living-donor renal transplantation with documented low rates of delayed graft function
• Research focuses on improving outcomes for high-risk patients, including those with Hepatitis B
• Expertise in complex reconstructions and managing mortality risks in kidney transplant recipients
• Active member of the Coordination Association of Organ Transplantation Organizations of Turkey

Education and Expertise

1996-2002 – Ankara University Faculty of Medicine – Medical Education

2003-2009 – Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery – Specialization Training

Experience

2009-2011 – Yüksekova State Hospital, Compulsory Service

2011-2012 – Van/Özalp, 6th Border Regiment, Military Service

2012-2018 – Baskent University Istanbul Health Application and Research Center Hospital

2018-2022 – Istanbul Aydın University Istanbul Health Practice and Research Center Hospital

Courses and Certificates

Selim Anorectal Diseases Course, Turkish Colon and Rectal Surgery Association, Istanbul, 17.12.2016 (National)

Training Program on Istanbul Protocol, Practitioner Training, Van, 06.11.2009-07.11.2009 (International)

Burn Course, Ankara Surgery Association, Başkent University, Ankara, 11.04.2009 (National)

Gazi Hernia Days, Hernia Course, Gazi University, Ankara, 18.10.2008-19.10.2008 (National)

Innovations in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Ankara Breast Diseases Association, Ankara, 22.03.

Professor Halil Erbis has performed more than 900 transplant procedures and leads the organ transplant team at Biruni University Hospital.

• Completed a clinical fellowship at Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital, a major centre for complex surgeries
• Specialises in both kidney and pancreas transplants using laparoscopic techniques
• Member of the Turkey Organ Transplant Organizations Coordination Association
• Expert in oncological surgery and hepatobiliary diseases affecting transplant viability

Dr Ertan Emek focuses on organ transplantation at Biruni University Hospital, bringing senior clinical expertise to complex kidney transplant cases.

• Trained at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, a top-tier Turkish medical institution
• Held specialist transplant roles at prestigious centres including Başkent University and Yeditepe University
• Member of the International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS) and the Turkish Surgical Association
• Specialist background in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery for high-precision abdominal procedures

The doctor is a pioneering figure in nephrology, known as the father of nephrology in India. With over 60 years of experience, the doctor has performed more than 6,000 successful kidney transplants, the most by any Indian doctor. The doctor was the first in India to conduct a kidney biopsy and perform kidney transplant surgery.

The doctor has published over 500 scientific papers, contributing to prestigious journals from Oxford, Harvard, and other elite institutions. The doctor has held significant positions, including President of the Executive Committee of India on Medicine and President of the Indian Association of Nephrologists.

The doctor is a senior consultant and specialist in liver and kidney transplants at Aster CMI Clinic. The doctor performs surgical treatments for diseases of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas, and has expertise in islet cell transplantation for diabetes patients. The doctor also treats hepatitis C.

With postgraduate training in General Surgery from Jipmer Research Hospital and a Clinical Fellowship from the American Society of Transplantologists, the doctor is accredited by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. The doctor has authored over 40 scientific papers and received awards from multiple international transplant societies.