Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özdoğan | Medical Oncologist

Medical Oncologist

Prof. Dr.
Mustafa Özdoğan

Oncology guided by science, with people at its heart.

Memorial Göztepe Hospital · Istanbul

Science and humanity

For me, medicine was a calling, not a choice

For many people, deciding what to do or who to become is a search that can last a lifetime. For me, that decision took shape early, through unfortunate but formative events. Experiences in my early years influenced my choice of medicine.

I was born in Niğde in 1968. I completed my medical education at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine between 1986–1993. At Akdeniz University, I completed specialist training in Internal Medicine in 1996–2000 and subspecialty training in Medical Oncology in 2000–2003.

I became a faculty member in 2003, an associate professor in 2006 and a professor in 2011. In 2004, I undertook advanced work on hyperthermia and minimally invasive treatments in Germany. I served as Head of Oncology at Medstar Antalya in 2012–2025 and at Memorial Antalya in 2013–2025.

Since 2025, I have continued my work at Memorial Göztepe Hospital, where I see my patients.

At times during my career, I have sat on both sides of the table. The hardest of these experiences was witnessing the leukaemia journey of my much-loved mentor, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Samur, who taught me oncology. That experience taught me not only medicine, but also compassion, patience and the importance of connecting with the human spirit.

My purpose has been not only to treat cancer, but to understand it deeply and explain it accurately. The desire to seek the truth and share what is right and beautiful is a language shared by every physician devoted to science. The digital platform I established was therefore born from the aim of explaining cancer clearly and accurately, reducing fear and supporting healthy living.

Let us build an informed society, free from fear, together.

Through this website, I hope to share knowledge and inspiration that can benefit the health of individuals and society alike.

My academic biography

I began my medical education at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine in 1986 and graduated in 1993. After completing compulsory service in Isparta and Antalya, I completed specialist training in Internal Medicine at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine in 1996–2000 and subspecialty training in Medical Oncology in 2000–2003.

I began working as a faculty member at Akdeniz University in 2003. In 2004, I carried out advanced clinical and laboratory work in Germany on complementary medicine, hyperthermia treatment and minimally invasive cancer treatments in cancer care.

Throughout my academic career, more than 200 of my articles have been published in national and international peer-reviewed journals. Of these, 12 received awards. Two studies I conducted on the relationship between patients and physicians in oncology hold particular meaning for me.

My academic and clinical interests

Personalised, innovative cancer treatments: Molecular profiling and clinical optimisation of targeted and combination therapies.
Immunotherapy: immune checkpoint inhibitors and cellular therapies: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1, CAR-T and next-generation T-cell engineering approaches.
Genetic, genomic and epigenetic testing in cancer: Tumour-agnostic biomarkers, liquid biopsy and ctDNA-based MRD monitoring.
Precision Medicine and Artificial Intelligence applications: Clinical decision support systems, prognostic algorithms and digital patient monitoring (ePRO).
Translational oncology and molecular mechanisms: Integrating clinical findings with laboratory models; organoid and omics technologies.
Patient–physician communication and ethical decision-making in oncology: Individualised information, end-of-life care and ethical integration of artificial intelligence.
Minimally invasive and targeted treatments: Complementary clinical approaches such as hyperthermia, local ablation and intra-arterial applications.
Complementary medicine and integrative oncology in cancer: Scientifically grounded nutrition, physical rehabilitation, psycho-oncology and quality-of-life management.
Mentorship and academic leadership in oncology: Training the next generation of oncologists and international collaboration in academic publishing.
Hereditary cancer syndromes and genetic counselling: Early diagnosis and family screening strategies for syndromes such as BRCA, Lynch and Li-Fraumeni.
Digital transformation in healthcare and bioentrepreneurship: Transforming clinical data through innovative platforms such as CheckTheLife and Criserna.

Pioneering projects and contributions

The Art House concept: By introducing the “Art House” approach to chemotherapy units for the first time in Türkiye, I contributed to the spread of practices addressing patients’ psychosocial needs.
Oncology nursing: I contributed to the development of oncology nursing in our country. I initiated and led Türkiye’s first Oncology Education Nursing Project.
The Cancer Schools Project: Conducted with Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, this project is an important public-health initiative aimed at helping society understand cancer through accurate, accessible information.

Academic publication overview

The figures below are recorded in the source biography. The current list of publications and citations can be followed through Google Scholar.

Mustafa Özdoğan, MD - Google Scholar
Total citations: 4525
H-index: 33
i10-index: 73 (consistent with Google Scholar data)
Number of academic awards: 12

Doctoral / advanced qualification and specialist theses

Internal Medicine specialist thesis (2000):
“The von Willebrand factor response to the venous occlusion test in healthy individuals and patients with myeloma.”
Thesis supervisor: Prof. Dr. Levent Ündar
Medical Oncology subspecialty thesis (2003):
“Factors increasing the tendency to thrombosis in patients with cancer.”
Thesis supervisor: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Samur

Memberships of scientific organisations

Hereditary Cancer Association – President
Head and Neck Cancer Association – President
Turkish Association for Cancer Research and Control, Antalya Branch – President
Antalya Oncology Association – Founding member / President for 2 terms
Antalya Breast Diseases Association – Founding member / President for 2 terms
Antalya Nephrology Association – Member
European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) – Member
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) – Member
Turkish Society of Medical Oncology – Member (Board member, 2009–2011)
Medical Oncology Group Association – Member

Academic awards

VI. Turkish Medical Oncology Congress (March 2016) – Best Poster Presentation
VI. Turkish Medical Oncology Congress – Studies Referenced in International Guidelines
II. Aegean Haematology–Oncology Congress – Best Poster Presentation
XXI. National Cancer Congress – Poster Presentation
XI. National Oncological Research Workshop – Presentation Award
Turkish Society of Interventional Radiology, 8th Annual Meeting (March 2013) – First Prize for Oral Presentation
IV. Medical Oncology Congress (March 2012) – Selected Oral Presentation
Turkish Society of Haematology, XXX. National Congress – Young Researcher
XV. National Cancer Congress – First Prize for Presentation
Novartis Patients’ Relatives – Third Prize
Medical Oncology Society – Research Award
Medical Oncology Workshop – Presentation Award

A final word

On this journey guided by science, I have valued sharing what I learned as much as observing quietly. I have seen cancer not only as a disease, but as a challenge shared by the individual, the family and society. My efforts have therefore been directed not only at treatment, but also at raising awareness, making things understandable and building hope.

This page is an overview of my professional experience, scientific work and academic knowledge. Every word here was written with the responsibility of touching human lives. I believe that knowledge grows when shared, and that hope increases only when we stand together.

Let us, together, become a society that does not fear cancer, through the power of science.

A message from Prof. Dr. Mustafa Özdoğan

Education and professional appointments: Memorial’s official biography