Board of Directors

Prof. Dr. Yahya Güvenç is a distinguished Turkish neurosurgeon specializing in brain and spine surgery. Born in Hatay, he completed his early education in Antakya before earning his medical degree from Karadeniz Technical University between 1999 and 2005, where he also served as president of the Medical Faculty Student Council and TUS Student Union. Currently a professor at Marmara University School of Medicine, he has contributed significantly to the field through research on spinal biomechanics, anatomical dissections, and finite element analysis of pedicle screw trajectories, with publications in numerous top journals like Turkish Neurosurgery and World Neurosurgery. His work emphasizes innovative techniques in thoracic and lumbar stabilization, reflecting a career dedicated to advancing neurosurgical outcomes.

Professor Salim Şentürk, MD, was born in Trabzon, Turkey, in 1982. He graduated from Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine in 2005 and completed his neurosurgery residency at Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital (2007–2013), along with the four-year European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) training program. After mandatory service in Çorum (2013–2014), he worked as a neurosurgeon at Koç University Hospital (2014–2018). In 2018–2019, he completed observational spine fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Spine Center and Rhode Island Hospital, USA. From 2019 to 2024, he practiced at Memorial Health Group, and since September 2024 has been in private practice. Prof. Şentürk is a pioneer in endoscopic spine surgery in Turkey. He edited the country’s first comprehensive book on the subject (published in Turkish and English) and a six-volume question bank series for the Turkish Neurosurgical Society proficiency and European Board (EBNC) exams. He has developed and published innovative endoscopic and minimally invasive spine surgery techniques in international journals, organized numerous live surgery courses and congresses both nationally and internationally, and is a frequently invited faculty member at global spine meetings.

Dr. Karaarslan was born in 1981 in Malatya and graduated from Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine in 2004. After completing his neurosurgery residency at Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital in 2011 and his state service in Rize, he joined Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University in 2012 as an Assistant Professor, also completing a two-month clinical fellowship in stereotactic and functional pain and epilepsy surgery at Pamukkale University. He served as Department Chair between 2013 and 2016. A member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society and its relevant education groups, he has received multiple national awards, including the 2009 “Careful Use of Turkish Award,” several first-place institutional awards (2018–2019), and best oral presentation prizes in spinal surgery. He has authored over 65 international and 15 national peer-reviewed articles, 11 book chapters, and contributed as editor or associate editor to two books, with over 100 conference presentations. He became an Associate Professor in March 2020, is fluent in English, and currently serves on the faculty of Istanbul Medeniyet University while also providing clinical care at Göztepe City Hospital. He is married with two children.

Assoc. Prof. Güçlühan Güçlü is a distinguished Turkish neurosurgeon and associate professor renowned for his expertise in neurosurgery, with a holistic approach to patient care that emphasizes overall quality of life beyond mere physical recovery. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, followed by residency training in psychiatry at UCLA Medical Center and a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, before specializing in neurosurgery through extensive international experiences, including advanced training at the Cleveland Clinic, Saint Louis University, and the Arkansas Neuroscience Institute in techniques for spine surgery, cerebral aneurysms, and endoscopic operations. From 2003 to 2023, he served as a neurosurgery specialist at Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital, and from 2018 to 2023, he held the role of clinical administrative responsible at İstanbul Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital; he now practices at VM Medicalpark Florya Hospital in Istanbul, focusing on neuro-oncology, epilepsy and movement disorder surgeries using innovative methods like deep brain stimulation, and treatments for brain tumors, pituitary disorders, spinal conditions, and scoliosis with modern minimally invasive technologies. Among his notable achievements is an international award and numerous published articles, underscoring his commitment to cutting-edge advancements in functional brain health and patient-centered outcomes.

Dr. İsmail Bozkurt is an esteemed neurosurgeon specializing in brain, nerve, and spinal disorders, with a particular expertise in advanced spine surgery techniques. Born in Ankara in 1985, he received his primary education in the Netherlands and completed his middle and high school studies in the United States, fostering a global perspective on medical practice. He earned his medical degree from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine and completed his neurosurgery residency at Ankara Atatürk Research and Training Hospital. Throughout his career, Dr. Bozkurt has dedicated himself to patient-centered care, serving for many years at Çankırı State Hospital before joining Medical Park Ankara Batıkent Hospital, where he currently practices in the Neurosurgery Clinic. He has completed the 4-year education program of European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) where after he obtained his European Board Certificate. His clinical focus encompasses minimally invasive procedures, including fully endoscopic lumbar disc herniation surgeries, as well as treatments for complex spinal malignancies, degenerative disorders, trauma, disc herniations, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and spinal fractures. Renowned for his commitment to innovative spinal interventions, Dr. Bozkurt continues to advance neurosurgical outcomes in complex spine pathologies. Dr. Bozkurt up to date has over 80 international publications with more than 400 citations and an H-index of 12. He is an active reviewer for the World Neurosurgery Journal and the editor of The Journal of International Spine Society.

Dr. Abdulmammad M. Guliyev is a neurosurgeon based in Istanbul, currently working at Kartal Kızılay Hospital. He completed his medical degree at Azerbaijan Medical University in 2013, and then specialized in neurosurgery at Marmara University, finishing his residency in 2020. Dr. Guliyev’s clinical expertise spans a broad spectrum of brain and spinal surgery: from microneurosurgery, spinal instrumentations, cervical and lumbar spine operations, to pediatric neurosurgery, stereotactic brain biopsies, and peripheral nerve procedures. He has participated in numerous advanced training courses — including neuroanatomy, spine-surgery modules, pediatric neurosurgery, neurotrauma, neuronavigation, and minimal-invasive spinal interventions — showing a commitment to maintaining up-to-date surgical knowledge and technique. He has contributed to the scientific literature with works on topics such as spinal cord compression due to arachnoid cysts, cranio-cerebral trauma from unusual causes, metastatic spinal tumors, and complications after cervical degeneration surgeries. In his practice, Dr. Guliyev is known for attentive patient communication and post-operative care: patient testimonials often praise his empathy, clarity in explanation, and commitment — noting for instance rapid relief of symptoms and follow-ups even after discharge.

Asst. Prof. Azat Mustafayev is a neurosurgeon specializing in brain and spine surgery. Born in Kazakhstan, he earning his medical degree from Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Kazakh-Turkish University, and completed his residency training in the Department of Neurosurgery at Marmara University. He has participated in national and international congresses, conferences, and training courses in the field of spinal surgery. His areas of interest in spinal surgery include degenerative diseases, spinal deformities, and spinal tumor surgery.

Prof. Dr. Ender Ofluoğlu, a prestigous Turkish neurosurgeon specializing in neurosurgery as well as spine surgery, was born in 1971 in Rize, and later pursued his medical education at Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine in Samsun, graduating in 1994. Following initial roles as a physician in the Infectious Diseases Branch Directorate of Artvin Provincial Health Directorate (1994–1996) and as a responsible physician at Merkez Taflan Health Center in Samsun (1996–1999), he completed his neurosurgery residency at Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital's III. Neurosurgery Clinic in Istanbul from 1999 to 2004, where he also served as an resident physician; his expertise thesis, "Rat Spine Implant-Associated Infection Model," was supervised by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zileli at Ege University. Ofluoğlu advanced his career as a specialist physician at Artvin State Hospital (2004) and subsequently at Bakırköy's III. Neurosurgery Clinic (2004–2014), while concurrently providing part-time services at Medical Park Bahçelievler Hospital from 2009 onward, before ascending to the position of Associate Professor in Neurosurgery at the same institution in 2014. He now treats his patients at his private clinic. An active contributor to the field, he is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgery Association, the Neurosurgery Society—where he has served as a Board Member since 2015 and as the 2015 Congress President—the Turkish Spine Association (Board Member, 2015–2017), and the TND Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group; fluent in English, he is married with one daughter.

Prof. Dr. Onur Yaman is a Turkish neurosurgeon and spine-surgery specialist, born in Germany in 1976. He completed high school in İzmir and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Ege University in 2001. He subsequently completed his neurosurgical training at Celal Bayar University (2003–2009), and rose through the academic ranks — becoming Associate Professor in 2015 and Professor in 2021. Over his career, Prof. Yaman has worked at a number of major Turkish medical centers — including hospitals in Muş, Rize, and Tepecik, the Ankara Spine Center, Koç University Hospital, and the Spine Center of Memorial Hospitals Group. Since August 2024, he has been practicing at NP İstanbul Brain Hospital and running his own clinic. His clinical expertise covers a broad range of spinal and neurological conditions — including scoliosis, spinal and disc herniation, spinal deformities, tumors, fractures, spinal cord anomalies, and degenerative spine disease. He is also an accomplished researcher and academic: authoring numerous peer-reviewed national and international articles, contributing chapters to books, presenting at conferences, and holding a patent for a spinal laminoplasty plate. Moreover, he is actively involved in many professional societies —Middle East Spine Society (which he has served as president), AO Spine, Eurospine, and other national neurosurgical and spine associations. He stands out as a leading figure in Turkish neurosurgery and spine surgery — combining extensive clinical practice, academic scholarship, surgical innovation, and leadership within the spine-surgery community.

Prof. Dr. Erkin Sönmez is a Turkish neurosurgeon who graduated from Başkent University Faculty of Medicine in 2004 and completed his specialty training in Neurosurgery there in 2010. He later earned the title of associate professor in 2017 and currently serves as a full professor in the Department of  Neurosurgery at Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine. In addition to his academic role, he practices clinically — among other institutions — at Memorial Ankara Hospital, specializing in a wide range of neurological and spinal disorders, from brain tumors and spinal cord pathologies to herniated discs, hydrocephalus, and cranial trauma. He is also trained in international fellowships including AO Spine Fellowship at Universitätsspital Basel and EuroSpine Fellowship at Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, underscoring his commitment to advanced spinal surgery. Fluent in Turkish, English, and German, Prof. Sönmez combines academic expertise with hands-on surgical experience to treat complex brain and spine conditions.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Yalçın Demirci is a Turkish neurosurgeon born in 1974 in Artvin. He entered medical school at Erzurum Atatürk University in 1991, became a general practitioner in 1998 at SSK Borçka Hospital, and after completing obligatory military service in 2004, specialized in neurosurgery between 2006 and 2011 at the 2nd Neurosurgery Clinic of Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital. Following his residency, he completed compulsory service (2011–2013) at Dr. Münif İslamoğlu State Hospital, then worked at Yalova Uzmanlar Hospital (2013-2015), and later at Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital and Bursa City Hospital (2015–2023). Since 2024, he has been practicing in his own private clinic in Bursa. Dr. Demirci is active both clinically and academically: he has authored dozens of experimental and clinical studies published in national and international journals, contributed to several book chapters, and presented multiple papers at national and international congresses. He was awarded “Best Paper” at the 6th Congress of the Middle East Spine Society in 2022. He is a member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society and the Turkish Spine Society, and since March 2022 has served as Chairman of the Board of the Bursa Artvin Foundation, reflecting his ongoing commitment to professional, academic and community service.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Arim is an Iraqi-born spine surgeon affiliated with Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital in Mosul. He is an active member of the Middle East Spine Society (MESS), serving on its executive committee. Dr. Arim regularly participates in international spine-surgery education — for example, he has been faculty at the Istanbul Cadaver Course for spine surgery, contributing to training and cadaver-lab sessions. Through his clinical and academic work, he contributes to advancing spinal surgery practices across the Middle East and supports the training of new surgeons in complex spinal procedures.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ülkün Ünlü Ünsal is a Turkish neurosurgeon specializing in spinal surgery, currently working at Manisa Şehir Hastanesi. Born in 1985 in Konya, he graduated from Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgery training at Celal Bayar University and became a specialist in 2015. Over his career, he has contributed to research on spinal surgery — including a publication assessing sagittal alignment after single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. He also participates as faculty in surgical education and training events such as the Istanbul Cadaver Course in spine surgery. Among his clinical achievements is the surgical correction of a complex pediatric spinal deformity in a six-year-old child, combining treatment of congenital scoliosis and tethered spinal cord in a single session. Through both surgical practice and academic work, Dr. Ünsal stands out as an experienced spinal neurosurgeon serving patients and training peers in Manisa.

Dr. Murat Baloğlu is a Turkish neurosurgeon and spine specialist practicing at Eskişehir City Hospital. 2 He began his medical training in 1993 at Anadolu University Faculty of Medicine, specializing in neurosurgery, and completed further advanced microsurgical training at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1998. Since 1999 he has served as a neurosurgery specialist, with a focus on spinal surgery, vascular neurosurgery, and minimal-invasive and revision procedures — having performed over 4,000 operations. Over the years, Dr. Baloğlu has treated a broad range of nervous system conditions including spinal deformities, spinal tumors, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, trauma, and brain vascular diseases. In addition to surgical care, he integrates holistic approaches — including pre- and post-operative exercise guidance, lifestyle education and complementary therapies — aiming to support both physical recovery and overall patient well-being.

Prof. Dr. Necati Kaplan is a Turkish neurosurgeon and spine surgeon — born in 1976 in Konya. He graduated from İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 2000 and completed his neurosurgical training at Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Ruh Sağlığı ve Sinir Hastalıkları Research and Training Hospital in 2007. Over the years, he has held positions at several hospitals: after completing compulsory service at Şanlıurfa Research and Training Hospital (2007–2009), he worked at Çorlu Özel Şifa Hospital (2009–2014) and Çorlu Özel Reyap Hospital (2014–2017). 2017, he also served in academia at Rumeli University. As of 2024, he works at Optimed International Hospital Çorlu, heading the Brain, Spinal Cord & Neurosurgery department. His clinical interests span a broad range including brain and spinal cord tumors, vascular disorders, hydrocephalus, degenerative and traumatic spinal diseases, peripheral nerve injuries, pediatric neurosurgery, and congenital central nervous system pathologies — as well as advanced topics such as neuroendoscopy, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and experimental treatments like stem cell / exosome therapy in neurotrauma. 2 Academically, he is prolific: his publication record — over 80 papers plus book chapters — covers spinal cord injury, spinal degenerative disease, neuro-oncology, surgical outcomes, and regenerative neurosurgery. Through both his surgical practice and research, Prof. Kaplan represents a modern neurosurgeon combining classical micro- and spinal-surgery skills with innovative, research-based approaches to neurological disease and regeneration.

Associate Professor İsmail İştemen, MD, was born in Mersin, Turkey, in 1980. He graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 2004 and completed his neurosurgery residency at Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital in 2011. Dr. İştemen currently serves as a faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery at Adana City Research and Training Hospital. His primary clinical and research interests focus on minimally invasive spine surgery, including endoscopic and percutaneous techniques. He has authored numerous publications in high-impact international journals on cervical spine pathologies, spinal deformities, and craniocervical junction disorders.

Hidayet Şafak Çine, born in Malatya in 1990, graduated from Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine and completed his neurosurgery residency at Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital. Since 2021, he has been practicing at Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yalçın City Hospital, where he was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2025; in the same year, he enhanced his expertise in complex spinal surgery through an observership at the University of Minnesota Spine Center. Specializing in spinal surgery—with particular focus on adolescent scoliosis, complex deformities, advanced instrumentation, vertebral and spinal cord tumors, and congenital anomalies—Dr. Çine is recognized for his precise surgical technique and deep neuroanatomical knowledge. He maintains strong academic productivity through numerous publications in national and international journals, active participation in congresses as a speaker and faculty member, and ongoing peer review for prestigious journals such as World Neurosurgery, Global Spine Journal, and Turkish Neurosurgery, establishing himself as a dynamic and influential figure in modern neurosurgery in Türkiye.

Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Edip Akyol is a Turkish neurosurgeon working in the Department of Neurosurgery at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ). He earned his medical degree from Atatürk University between 1998–2004 and completed his specialization in neurosurgery in 2018. His clinical and research interests span brain and spinal surgery, neurovascular and neuro-oncologic conditions, and pediatric neurosurgery — with published works covering topics such as spinal cord injury, brain trauma, and surgical outcomes. In addition to his surgical practice, Dr. Akyol actively contributes to academic neurosurgery through teaching, research, and participation in conferences, helping to advance both clinical care and scientific knowledge in Türkiye’s neurosurgical community.

Çağrı Canbolat MD graduated from Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine in 2011 and completed his medical specialization in Neurosurgery at Cumhuriyet University in 2018. Starting his professional career at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital in 2019, he then moved to Memorial Hospital in 2020, followed by Medicana Hospital in 2022. He worked as a Neurosurgeon at Liv Hospital Vadistanbul between 2023 and 2024, specializing in adult and pediatric brain, nerve, spine, and spinal cord surgery. Since 2025, he has been working as a Neurosurgeon at Medical Park TEM Hospital, where he continues to focus on adult and pediatric brain, nerve, spine, and spinal cord surgery. He also has an interest in innovative technologies such as 3D modeling, surgical simulation, virtual laboratories, and artificial intelligence within the field of neurosurgery. He is an active member of the Turkish Medical Association, the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group, the Turkish Spine Society, and the Middle East Spine Society. Moreover, he served as the Chairman of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Specialist Neurosurgeons Group (TURNUG) for the 2023–2025 term.

Dr. Bilgehan Potoğlu is a neurosurgeon specializing in spinal disorders, spinal surgery, non-surgical spine treatments, and regenerative therapies for spinal and spinal cord diseases. A graduate of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, he completed part of his medical training in Milan, Italy, and gained extensive clinical experience in emergency medicine before earning his neurosurgery specialization in 2022. He has worked in multiple tertiary hospitals across Türkiye and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2025. Alongside his academic and clinical work, he has contributed to conferences, publications, and book chapters, with personal interests in philosophy and the history of science.