Prof. Yener Koc
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Professor Yener Koc is one of Turkey’s leading specialists in bone marrow and stem cell transplantation. After training in the USA — at Boston University and Tufts University — he returned to Turkey in 1999 and personally founded four transplantation centers in succession: at Hacettepe University, Yeditepe University, MedicalPark Antalya, and Medicana International Istanbul.
Today, he heads a modern 21-bed unit with a team of 34 people, including its own HLA-typing laboratory. This makes it possible to perform all types of stem cell transplantation — autologous, allogeneic related and unrelated, and haploidentical.
Throughout his career, Professor Koc has performed more than 1,900 transplants. According to the clinic, the eight-year survival rate for multiple myeloma after allogeneic transplantation is around 66%, for haploidentical transplantation in leukemia patients in first remission — 75%; for thalassemia and aplastic anemia, the cure rate reaches 80–90%.
Since 2004, he has been an active JACIE inspector; author of more than 230 scientific publications; recipient of the international “Healthcare Professional of the Year” award (Cambridge, 2007).
Achievements and Awards
About Professor Yener Koc
Hematology / hematologic oncology (medical specialization — internal medicine + hematology-oncology).
Areas of specialization:
- autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (including haploidentical and from unrelated donors),
- treatment of leukemias, lymphomas,
- myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS),
- multiple myeloma,
- thalassemia and aplastic anemia.
- 1979–1985 — Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara (MD diploma).
- 1987–1991 — residency in internal medicine, Hacettepe University.
- 1991–1992 — clinical fellow, Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology.
- 1992–1994 — research fellow, Evans Memorial Department / Boston University Medical Center, USA.
- 1994–1996 — clinical fellow in hematology-oncology, Boston University Medical Center.
- 1996–1997 — fellow in bone marrow transplantation, Tufts University School of Medicine, New England Medical Center, USA.
- 1997 — “Cancer Medicine and Hematology” course, Harvard Medical School.
- 1990–1991 — senior resident in internal medicine, Hacettepe University
- 1997–1999 — instructor, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Tufts University School of Medicine / New England Medical Center.
- 1999–2005 — Associate Professor, Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology, Stem Cell Transplant Unit; founder of the transplantation department (197 transplants).
- 2005 – present — Professor of Hematology/Oncology, Yeditepe University Medical School (director of the transplantation department, 105 procedures during 2005–2008)
- 2005–2006 — Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Yeditepe University.
- 2008–2019 — Director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Department, MedicalPark Antalya
- 2019 – present — transplantation specialist, Medicana International Hospital Group.
- 2020 – present — founder and head of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Medicana International Istanbul.
Google Scholar: more than 5,100 citations.
The clinic’s website and Bookimed list more than 230 publications.
Co-author of major international EBMT studies on haploidentical transplantation (Cancer 2021, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Nature).
Topics: transplantation in acute leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma; development of new drugs (nucleoside analogs).
Awards: 2007 — “International Healthcare Professional of the Year” (International Biographical Institute, Cambridge, England); 1997 — O-1 Visa for outstanding achievements in medical science (USA); 1995, 1996 — Boston University awards.
- JACIE Accreditation Inspector (European Bone Marrow Transplant Centers / ISCT-EBMT) — since 2004.
- European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT).
- International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT).
Medicana International Istanbul is the flagship of the Medicana Health Group network, one of the largest private medical networks in Turkey. A multidisciplinary center focused on international patients.
The Bone Marrow Transplantation Center was founded in 2020 by Professor Yener Koc. It is a modern 21-bed unit with a team of 34 specialists: hematologists, coordinators, biologists, a clinical pharmacist, and specially trained nurses. It also has its own immunology laboratory and HLA-typing laboratory, which is important for donor matching.
The center performs all types of stem cell transplantation: autologous, allogeneic from related and unrelated donors, and haploidentical. According to the clinic, the eight-year survival rate for multiple myeloma is around 66%, for haploidentical transplantation in leukemia patients in first remission — 75%; for thalassemia and aplastic anemia, the cure rate reaches 80–90%.
An international department is available for foreign patients: transfer, interpreter, document assistance, and video consultations before arrival.
