Prof. Yusuf Yıldırım, MD, FACS

For more than 23 years, Prof. Yusuf Yıldırım, MD has dedicated his career to the surgical treatment of cancer, combining advanced surgical expertise with compassionate, patient-centered care.

A specialist in Surgical Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology, Professor Yıldırım provides comprehensive surgical care for patients with gynecologic, breast, gastrointestinal, and peritoneal cancers. His approach is centered on selecting the right surgical strategy for each patient—aiming for the best possible oncologic outcome while preserving function and quality of life whenever possible.

After graduating from Ege University School of Medicine, he completed specialty training in General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, and Surgical Oncology. He became Associate Professor in 2007 and was appointed Professor in 2013.

As part of his continuing surgical training, Professor Yıldırım completed advanced robotic surgery training at Cleveland Clinic (USA) in 2014. In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a distinction reflecting the College's standards of surgical competence, professional integrity, and ethical practice.

His academic work includes more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, over 2,000 citations, contributions to medical textbooks and book chapters, and editorial work for international oncology journals. He has also served as an invited speaker, scientific session chair, educator, and mentor at numerous national and international meetings, reflecting a long-standing commitment to advancing cancer surgery through research and education.

Professor Yıldırım is actively involved in international professional organizations including ESSO, ESGO, and EUSOMA, helping him remain closely connected with evolving evidence, multidisciplinary practice, and international standards in cancer care.

Professor Yıldırım is the only surgeon in Türkiye with formal specialist training in both Surgical Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology. This dual specialist training provides a distinctive perspective on the surgical management of complex cancers across traditional specialty boundaries. His clinical practice encompasses complex cancer surgery, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC, oncoplastic breast surgery, robotic cancer surgery, and multivisceral procedures when required.

Today, Professor Yıldırım sees patients at his private practice and performs surgery at Acıbadem İzmir Kent Hospital, a tertiary healthcare institution providing comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer care.

Above all, he believes that excellent surgical care begins with trust, honest communication, sound clinical judgment, and genuine compassion.

“Always strive to do the right thing and give your very best. Treat every patient as you would wish to be treated yourself—with compassion, patience, honesty, and respect.”