Guiding the Science of Medicine, Three Scientists are in Yeditepe

Prof. Gazi YAŞARGİL, M.D., Prof. Fahrettin KELEŞTEMUR, M.D., and Prof. Muzaffer DEĞERTEKİN, M.D., light the way for the medical community with their studies conducted in Yeditepe University.

As is the case with the pioneering scientific organizations around the world, the scientists who make investigations in Turkey are listed in “100 Turks Guiding the Science of Medicine” according to ‘H-index” that is recognized in the international literature.

H-index demonstrates the number of citations for investigations carried out by scientists. H-index is very important, as higher scores indicates contribution of investigations of scientists to other scientific studies.

Prof. Gazi YAŞARGİL, M.D. – The Neurosurgeon of Our Century

Being the most renowned neurosurgeon and the founder of micro-neurosurgery, Prof. Gazi Yaşargil was selected as “Neurosurgeon of the Century” in Conventional Neurosurgeons Congress in 1999 for his contributions to the science and creative and unique studies in the field of Neurological Sciences and he continues his efforts only in Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital in Turkey.

Educating students, carrying out both scientific projects and maintaining his career of physician, Prof. Gazi Yaşargil, M.D., advises young people, who want to have medical education, to be curious, patient, compassionate and warmhearted. “Being very smart and skillful fall short. Students should improve themselves by working in a well-disciplined manner and they should use wisdom, knowledge and conscience in decision-making processes. It is also important to have a proper life style and work undauntedly. Being a good surgeon requires serious interest and ambition” he says.

Prof. Fahrettin KELEŞTEMUR, M.D., made investigations on trauma-related hormonal abnormalities

Emphasizing his happiness to be listed in “100 Turks Guiding the Science of Medicine”, Prof. Fahrettin KELEŞTEMUR, M.D., Medical Coordinator of Yeditepe University Hospitals, deals with reproductive endocrinology, pituitary diseases and finally endocrine changes secondary to head trauma in the last two decades. Prof. Keleştemur is the first scientist worldwide who revealed out hormonal abnormalities that develop in combat sport athletes.

Highlighting the fact that his study had repercussions in sports and medicine communities, Prof. Fahrettin Keleştemur, M.D., says

“It has long been known that head traumas cause hormonal disorders. However, we were first to demonstrate effects of recurrent head traumas on boxing and kickboxing athletes. The study created very tremendous awareness in the social field, as it is closely related to public health.”

Prof. Fahrettin Keleştemur, M.D., stated that their studies significantly clarified the mechanisms, which underlie the hormonal abnormalities secondary to brain injury. Moreover, he emphasized that their studies on pituitary dysfunctions secondary to bleeding in women while giving birth made significant contributions to the science.

Prof. Muzaffer DEĞERTEKİN, M.D., and his studies on drug eluting stents

Being listed for his studies on invasive cardiology, Prof. Muzaffer DEĞERTEKİN, M.D., Head of Cardiology Department in Yeditepe University Hospitals, talks about his studies: “I am ranked in this list for my studies conducted on placement of stent to ensure patency of coronary arteries and lesser need to open cardiac surgeries (bypass surgery). In the history of bypass surgeries, placement of stent into coronary arteries was added to the agenda as an alternative approach. However, the risk of re-stenosis was very high for stents that were implanted in the early history of this approach. Accordingly, I took a role in preliminary investigations on placement of drug eluting stents to humans. These studies yielded successful results. They were exemplary for the subsequent studies and they created a base for many studies in this field. Thus, we could reduce the risk of re-stenosis following placement of stent from 25 to 30 percent to 3 to 5 percent.”

These studies not only made significant contribution to the science of medicine, but also initiated widespread use of this procedure. Thus, the need to coronary bypass surgery in general population decreased by 50 percent in the last decade. Accordingly, a significant advancement is experienced that implies better access of patients to the treatment, ability to open cardiac vessels (recanalization) in a myocardial infarction and longer patency thereof.