Professional Experience
Dr. Akçakaya’s clinical and academic roles include:
- Current role as Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Florence Nightingale Hospitals (Demiroğlu Bilim University Medical Faculty) in Istanbul.
- Prior positions:
- Attending neurosurgeon at Liv Hospital Ulus, Istanbul (2015-2019).
- Neurosurgery specialist at GOP Taksim Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul (2013-2015).
- Leadership & teaching roles: Faculty board member of Istinye University Faculty of Medicine (2019).
- Experience spans complex neurosurgical procedures including stereotactic and functional operations and peripheral nerve surgeries.
Academic Contributions
Dr. Akçakaya is active in both teaching and research:
- Serves as faculty and lecturer for neurosurgical training courses, especially in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery.
- Conducted presentations at international conferences on movement disorders, pain surgery and neuromodulation.
- Research interests include stereotactic navigation, ventriculoperitoneal shunt outcomes, peripheral nerve repair and movement-disorder surgery.
- Developed or contributed to training modules in neuromodulation and functional neurosurgery.
- Mentors neurosurgery residents and fellows at Florence Nightingale Hospitals and affiliated universities.
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Akçakaya specializes in treating a wide range of neurosurgical conditions, with patient-friendly descriptions:
- Movement disorders (such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor) and surgical management when medications are insufficient.
- Pain surgery (for chronic pain syndromes, neuropathic pain) using neurosurgical techniques.
- Functional and stereotactic neurosurgery — for example, deep-brain stimulation, stereotactic lesioning or mapping.
- Peripheral nerve surgery (for injuries to the brachial plexus or peripheral nerves) aiming to restore function and reduce pain.
- Neuro-oncological surgery (brain tumours, acoustic neuroma, skull-base tumours) with modern microsurgical and navigation-guided techniques.
Publications and Research
Dr. Akçakaya’s published research includes peer-reviewed work such as:
- “Results of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery using electromagnetic and optical navigation: experiences in 31 patients” — published in the Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (2024).
- Additional articles in Turkish neurosurgical journals on stereotactic navigation, functional surgery and neuromodulation.
- Involvement in educational publications and training manuals for neurosurgery.
- ResearchGate and ORCID profiles may be available but were not publicly confirmed in all sources at time of profile creation.
Patient Care Philosophy
Dr. Akçakaya emphasises a patient-centred, transparent and collaborative approach to neurosurgical care:
- Believes in clear communication: explaining surgical options, risks and expected outcomes in a language patients understand.
- Emphasises empathy and education: supporting patients and families through pre-operative counselling and post-operative rehabilitation.
- For international patients: offers online pre-consultations and multilingual support (Turkish, English) facilitating care from abroad.
- Focus on cultural sensitivity and comfort: international patient centre ensures that each case receives personalised attention.
- Testimonials highlight successful outcomes and compassionate care, such as patient feedback from Ukraine praising his expertise and empathy.
Professional Affiliations
- Member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society (Türkiye) and active in its teaching and training committees.
- Member of the Neuromodulation Association (Turkey) focused on neuromodulation techniques in neurosurgery.
- Certified via the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) training programme and European Board Exam in Neurosurgery.
- Licensed to practise neurosurgery in Turkey and accredited by relevant national neurosurgical boards.
- Holds academic title of Associate Professor (Assoc. Prof.) in the Turkish higher education system.
FAQs
- Is Dr. Akçakaya board-certified?
- Yes — He completed his neurosurgery training and holds certification via the European Board in Neurosurgery and is a board-certified neurosurgeon in Turkey.
- What types of surgeries does he perform?
- He performs movement-disorder surgeries (deep-brain stimulation), pain surgery, stereotactic functional neurosurgery, peripheral nerve repair, and neuro-oncological tumour surgeries.
- Does he treat international patients?
- Yes — he practises at an internationally accredited hospital network offering online pre-consultations and multilingual support for patients from abroad.
- How long is the typical hospital stay?
- Functional neurosurgery or stereotactic procedures may require a stay of 1-3 days, while complex tumour or nerve repair surgeries may involve longer stays depending on recovery needs.
- What languages does he speak?
- Dr. Akçakaya speaks Turkish and English, enabling him to consult with both local and international patients.
- How do I prepare for a consultation with him?
- Gather your medical history, imaging (MRI/CT), prior reports, and list of symptoms. International patients should arrange online pre-consultation and send scans securely before the visit.
- What makes his care unique?
- He combines advanced neurosurgical techniques such as functional navigation and neuromodulation with a patient-centred philosophy focused on communication and holistic recovery.
