Treatment abroad » Doctors » Cardiosurgery » Turkey » Prof. Mehmet Salih Bilal

Prof. Mehmet Salih Bilal

Cardiac surgeon

4.9

12 reviews

Istanbul, Turkey

Clinical experience: over 40 years

Languages: English

Anna Buga

Verified review

Coronary artery bypass surgery

In May 2025, my husband underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at Medicana Ataşehir Hospital. We were very fortunate to be treated by an outstanding cardiac surgeon. Mehmet Salih Bilal performed the surgery brilliantly and selected the optimal treatment plan and preparation for the next surgery — brain surgery. Invaluable support was provided by the interpreters Kamelia and Nargiza — these girls were constantly in touch with us. Kind, caring, and treating us like family; I truly don’t know what we would have done without them. I believe the clinic is very lucky to have such employees on staff. Special thanks to cardiac surgeon Sancak, who performed the operation together with Professor Mehmet Salih Bilal and then supervised my husband during his hospital stay. A wonderful specialist and an amazing person. Thank you to the entire cardiac surgery department — true professionals. The hospital as a whole left only positive impressions, and I believe that receiving heart treatment at Medicana Ataşehir was a great stroke of luck for us.

28/11/2025

Ann N.

Verified review

Heart surgery

We brought our mother from abroad for treatment due to a life-threatening heart condition. She spent a month preparing for surgery and recovering postoperatively. Professor Mehmet Salih Bilal and Dr. Sencer Akdeniz are first-class surgeons! They not only saved our mother’s life but also showed kindness and genuine care. She was also followed by Professor Ömer Yiğiner, an excellent and highly professional cardiologist. The nurses were very kind and highly competent. Special thanks to Ayşe, Salma, and Yavuz from the cardiology patient care service for their kindness and attentiveness. We would also like to thank the cardiac intensive care nurses who tirelessly monitored our mother after surgery. This is an excellent hospital — very well organized, clean, and equipped with modern medical technology. Thank you to Cazgul and Guldeniz for coordinating our stay.

16/02/2025

Hacı Eyyup ÇAM

Verified review

Heart surgery

First of all, we would like to express our endless gratitude to our doctor, Professor Dr. Mehmet Salih BILAL, and Dr. Halil Sencer AKDENIZ. We are also deeply grateful to the intensive care team and the entire postoperative care staff. After the surgery, proper care was provided in the cardiac surgery department…

24/01/2025

Erkan Shekagjiu

Verified review

Double Switch surgery

We sincerely thank Professor Dr. Mehmet Salih BILAL and Dr. Halil Sencer AKDENIZ for performing the complex Double Switch surgery on our son, Gem Shekagjiu, and for their professionalism, confidence, and support, which made this process easier for us. We also thank all the staff of Medicana Ataşehir Hospital, who were constantly attentive and helped us with everything. You lightened our burden. Thank you 🙏❤️

Erkan & Mirlinda

05/01/2025

Çiğdem Kurt

Verified review

Heart valve surgery

My mother was admitted to Medicana Ataşehir Hospital on September 30, 2024, for heart valve surgery. From the moment of hospitalization, Dr. Halil Sencer AKDENIZ showed great care, and on October 1, 2024, Professor Dr. Mehmet Salih BILAL and Dr. Akdeniz performed the surgery and provided continuous and thorough postoperative monitoring. They regularly informed us about the surgery, intensive care, and recovery process, and Dr. Akdeniz even came in on his day off to check on my mother. Thanks to their care, my mother made a full recovery.
We first met Professor Mehmet Salih BILAL in 2011 during my grandfather’s bypass surgery, and our trust in him has always been absolute. During my mother’s surgery, we also met Dr. Halil Sencer AKDENIZ, and we are grateful to have gone through this process with them. We express our endless gratitude to both of them.
We also thank the postoperative ward and the staff on the 5th floor (nurses, head nurses, orderlies, and cleaning staff), who took care of my mother’s health around the clock. Special thanks to Saliha Hanım, who was with us from the very beginning and helped us with everything.
With love and respect, we thank Professor Dr. Mehmet Salih BILAL, Dr. Halil Sencer AKDENIZ, and everyone involved in this process.

27/11/2024

Merve ERMAN CENGİZ

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

I am the mother of a baby born with a congenital heart defect (AVDS). Learning about this condition just 10 days after my baby’s birth and realizing that surgery would be necessary affected me deeply, both as a mother and as a surgeon. After extensive research, we decided to follow up and treat our baby at Medicana Ataşehir Hospital. It was a long journey for us… Knowing that your child has a heart condition creates anxiety both in your heart and your mind. We knew that this moment would come and prepared for it every day. When our baby stopped gaining weight, the day of surgery finally arrived — and I handed my sleeping baby over to the operating room. Endless gratitude to Mehmet Salih BILAL, Halil Sencer AKDENIZ, Murat Saygı, and the entire team… They gave my baby back to me as if born anew. It is wonderful that your hospital has such invaluable professionals.

27/07/2024

Ser Akim

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

We spent one week in the pediatric cardiac surgery department. Mehmet Salih BILAL and the entire staff were very attentive. Cleanliness at the hospital is excellent — ten out of ten.

11/04/2024

İlker Uzun

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

The attentiveness of the staff, the smiles of the nurses, and the doctors’ approach to patients make this the only place I fully trust. Our cardiac surgeon, Professor Mehmet Salih BILAL, is a wonderful person. I am extremely satisfied with his work: he performed a bypass surgery on my father, replacing four vessels, and followed the entire recovery process. Special thanks to Ms. Saliha, the hospital administration, nurses, cleaning staff, cafeteria employees, and everyone working in other departments.

01/02/2024

Nuran Akpolad

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

I thank our cardiac surgeon Mehmet Salih BILAL for successfully performing a complete corrective heart surgery on my daughter — a surgery that no one else could do. Within one month, we experienced a miracle after 6.5 years of searching for specialists.

29/08/2023

Rafet Çimen

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

On March 26, I underwent open-heart surgery at the hospital. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my doctors Mehmet Salih BILAL and Mehmet GÜZELOĞLU for restoring my health. I also thank the entire intensive care and ICU staff: Engin, Mustafa, and Ilhamay.

21/04/2023

Dilanur Kalaycı

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

My 6-month-old baby underwent open-heart surgery performed by Professor Mehmet Salih BILAL. He is one of the very best surgeons. I would especially like to thank the intensive care nurses Bilge, Ayşe, and Nurşen — they answered every question patiently and reassured me. The ward nurses were also very attentive and caring. We only experienced minor communication issues with the coordinator.

04/02/2023

Alik Kop

Verified review

Congenital heart defect

This is a modern hospital with a high level of hygiene and safety, equipped with the latest technologies. It has an experienced team of doctors and nurses. From the very beginning of my treatment and throughout my 10-day stay, I am grateful to the hospital administration, intensive care staff, and all employees for their support and dedication. Special thanks to cardiac surgeon Mehmet Salih BILAL for treating a rare condition that many considered incurable. Thank you to the entire medical and nursing team.

30/06/2022

Cardiac surgeon

Clinical experience: over 40 years

Achievements and awards

More than 250 presentations at national and international scientific congresses.

44 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals and 53 articles in national scientific journals.

Extensive international training and clinical experience in Belgium, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy.

Hands-on experience performing highly complex cardiac surgeries in international settings, including missions in Yemen and Kazakhstan.

Leadership roles in leading Turkish medical institutions and Istanbul hospitals as Clinical Director, Professor, and Head of Cardiovascular Surgery Departments.

About Prof. Mehmet Salih Bilal

Specialization

Adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, including complex congenital heart defects and neonatal surgery
Robotic cardiac surgery and robotic valve reconstruction
Minimally invasive heart and valve surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery using arterial grafts
Ross, LVOT, Double Switch, and David procedures
Aortic surgery

Education

Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa, 1984
Postgraduate training and specialization in cardiovascular surgery, Istanbul University Cardiology Institute, 1986–1992

Clinical Experience

General Practitioner (compulsory service), Bitlis, 1984–1986
Assistant Physician, Istanbul University Cardiology Institute, 1986–1992
Specialist, Istanbul University Cardiology Institute and Florence Nightingale Hospital, 1992–1993
Associate Professor, Istanbul University Cardiology Institute, from July 1993
Associate Professor (tenured), Istanbul University Cardiology Institute, 17.10.1995
Clinical Director, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, TDV 29 Mayıs Hospital, 2000–2001
Head Physician, Siyami Ersek Hospital, 2002–2008
Clinical Director, Medicana Çamlıca Hospital, 2002–2003, 2005–2009
Professor, Yeditepe University, 2005
Clinical Director, Medicana International Istanbul Hospital, 2008–2021

International Experience:

Belgium, Aalst, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Hospital — 6 months from February 1994
Advanced training in aortic aneurysm surgery, heart transplantation, mitral valve repair, arrhythmia surgery, and coronary artery bypass grafting.
USA, University of Alabama, Department of Cardiac Surgery — 6 months from March 1996
Specialized postgraduate training in cardiac surgery.
USA, New York, Columbia Presbyterian University — from September 1996
Adult and congenital heart surgery, with focused training in left ventricular assist devices (LVAD).
United Kingdom, London, Great Ormond Street Hospital — August 1998 (1 month)
Training in pediatric cardiac surgery.
France, Paris, La Pitié Hospital — 1999
Training in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (beating-heart surgery).
France, Paris, Marie Lannelongue Hospital — 1999
Clinical observations in pediatric cardiac surgery.
Netherlands, Saint Antonius Hospital — 2001
Advanced training in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.
Germany, Giessen University — 2007
Observational training in pediatric cardiac surgery.
Italy, Massa, Pasquinucci Hospital — 2009
Advanced training in minimally invasive mitral valve repair within Dr. Glauber’s team.
Yemen — 2009
Participation in cardiac surgeries as part of a Ministry of Health medical team.
Kazakhstan, Astana — 2015
Educational programs and training in cardiac surgery.

Professional Memberships

Turkish Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Turkish Society of Cardiology
Turkish Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
National Vascular Surgery Association
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)
CTSNET (Cardiothoracic Surgery Network) — an international online professional platform for cardiothoracic surgeons
International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS)

The clinic where the doctor practices

Medicana Atashehir

10 reviews

Turkey, Istanbul

Published 01.02.2026