About Dr. Ahmet Alanay
Dr. Ahmet Alanay is an internationally recognized surgeon, advancing the spinal care specialty and contributing to surgeons’ training around the world. He is a recipient of numerous national and international awards, and is a pioneer of many state-of-the-art techniques and new approaches in spinal surgery—especially spinal deformities in Turkey. These include the:
- Vertebroplasty technique for vertebral fractures
- Neuromonitorization technique for scoliosis surgeries
- Magnetically controlled growing rods for early onset scoliosis
- Anterior thoracoscopic tethering technique for scoliosis treatment
Dr. Alanay serves as a board member and chair of the education council of the U.S.-based Scoliosis Research Society, the world’s most prestigious spinal society. He also is a founding member of the European Spinal Study Group (ESSG) and is a member of other study groups.
Pediatric and adult spinal disorders is Dr. Alanay’s subspecialty.
Education
Dr. Alanay graduated from Ankara University Medical Faculty and completed his residency in 1996 at the Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, and subsequently received his Orthopedics and Traumatology specialist degree. He completed a fellowship on spine surgery between 1998-1999 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Alanay received his associate professor degree in 2002 and professor degree in 2007 from the Hacettepe University Medical Faculty.
Faculty and Clinical Positions
In 2012, Dr. Alanay began working at Acibadem Health Group and established the Comprehensive Spine Center at the Acibadem Maslak Hospital. Additionally, he is an instructor of orthopedics and traumatology at the Acibadem University School of Medicine, and still continues his research in this field. From 2009-2012, Dr. Alanay worked at the Istanbul Bilim University School of Medicine and in the Spine Center of Florence Nightingale Hospital from 2009-2012. Prior to that, Dr. Alanay was an assistant professor at the Hacettepe University Medical Faculty and a visiting faculty member from 2005-2006 at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
Personal Life
Dr. Alanay is married with two children. His wife, Prof. Dr. Yasemin Alanay, is dean of the Acibadem University School of Medicine and is a faculty member of its Department of Pediatric and Pediatric Genetics Unit.
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Mr A S Rai (FRCS)
Past President British Association Spinal Surgeons
Director spineaid
Foundation Programme Director
Dr Alanay and I met almost 16 years ago on the European travelling fellowship as young surgeons traveling together visiting some of the best centres in Europe. I have seen Ahmet's career develop at a exponential rate for him to be internationally recognised as a world expert in spinal surgery. He is well read , authored many original research articles, introduced new and novel techniques of treating scoliosis ( magnetic rods and more recently vertebral tethering ), trained numerous surgeons but has always been humble and caring towards his patients and peers. His surgical results are carefully audited to demonstrate clinical efficacy but also allows comparison to his peers and other units.
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Han Jo Kim MD
Associate Professor
Fellowship Director
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
Having only heard of Professor Ahmet Alanay, I was honored to meet him and be in the operating room with him on a recent visit to Istanbul and the Acibadem Medical Center. He is an impressive human being who has assembled a team and center that is among the best in the world for spine surgery and related research. Clearly, he is a leader in the field and I am looking forward to working with him closely on collaborative scientific and clinical endeavours!
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Baron S.H. Lonner, MD
Chief, Division of Spine Surgery
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Alanay has devoted his career to his passion for caring for the patient with scoliosis and other spinal conditions. He is a leading surgeon who has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his patients through expert and innovative surgery and non-operative care. He strives to improve outcomes in the care of the scoliosis patient through dedicated clinical research that is an important focus of his team’s efforts.
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Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD
Clinical Professor; Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California; San Diego
Medical Director Emeritus, San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders
Past President, Scoliosis Research Society
I've known Ahmet Alanay, MD for well over 20 years. I've found him to be an attentive, caring and compassionate physician. He is not only a internationally well known spine surgeon and researcher, both of which I feel are important for having the best outcomes for patients, but most importantly, he is a great human being who truly cares for his patients. I can't say enough about Dr. Alanay as a physician and a person; I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a spine surgeon who is a world expert and really cares.
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Lawrence G. Lenke, MD
Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Chief, Division of Spinal Surgery
Director, Spinal Deformity Surgery
Co-Director, Adult and Pediatric Comprehensive Spine Surgery Fellowship
Columbia University Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery
Surgeon-in-Chief, The Spine Hospital, New York-Presbyterian/Allen
Dr. Alanay is an internationally recognized leader in the field of spinal surgery with a unique ability in the complex field of Spinal Deformity surgery. Through his detailed preoperative analysis, his technically outstanding Intraoperative execution, and thorough and compassionate postoperative care, he has set the standard for excellence in this field for those patients he treats from Istanbul and from around the world. I, and the rest of my colleagues who also treat spinal deformity patients, appreciate his outstanding contributions to our profession which ultimately benefits all of our patients.
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Jeffrey C. Wang, MD
Chief, Orthopaedic Spine Service
Co-Director USC Spine Center
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery
USC Spine Center
Dr. Ahmet Alanay is one of the world’s experts and thought-leaders in spine surgery on a international level. In the area of complex deformity and scoliosis, he is widely considered amongst the top leaders in the field. He has developed strong relationships with other international spine centers, and contributed greatly to our current knowledge and management of patients with spinal pathologies. His dedication to patient care, education, and research, have resulted in him being a role model for all surgeons. Although he is based in Istanbul, his reputation and surgical skills have made him one of the most widely-recognized spine surgeons in the world.
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Kamal Ibrahim, MD,FRCS(C), MA
Dr. Ahmet Alanay is an accomplished and reputable spine surgeon. He is well recognized researcher, educator, and academician. He has had a stellar career in the field of spine surgery and currently he is a Professor of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Acibadem University School of Medicine and in charge of The Comprehensive Spine Center,
Acibadem Maslak Hospital. Dr. Alanay is, nationally and internationally, well recognized as a skillful surgeon in the field of Pediatric and Adult Spinal Disorders. He is an active and dedicated member of the prestigious organization "Scoliosis Research Society”; currently he is a member of its Board of Directors and previously he was in charge of its worldwide educational program. Ahmet is a great person whose care for his patients is exemplary. I personally cherish his friendship
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Benny Dahl, MD
Professor of spine surgery
University of Copenhagen
I have known Ahmet Alanay for several years and worked close with him both in relation to research and clinical treatment. Ahmet Analay is one of these rare individuals who possesses both excellent surgical skills and professional empathic care of his patients. All this is done on a base of continued medical education and high-level clinical research. When you add to that his sense of humor and international outlook you have a lighthouse in the world of spine surgery.
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Amer Samdani, MD
Chief of Surgents
Neurosurgent in Shriners Hospital Outpatient Clinic
Ahmet is an internationally recognized, world leader in the care of patients with spine deformity. He is kind, compassionate, and very thoughtful- always thinking of how we can improve on what we are currently performing.Having had the pleasure of operating together with him, I would feel very comfortable sending my own family members to him
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Munish C. Gupta, MD
Mildred B. Simon Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor of Neurological Surgery
Chief of Pediatric and Adult Spinal Surgery
Co-director of Adult/Pediatric Spinal Deformity service
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
I have known Professor Alanay for many years. He is a very compassionate ,caring and intelligent physician. He is extremely talented and hardworking surgeon. Professor Alanay is recognized all around the world as a top surgeon and a great educator. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the most prestigious Scoliosis Research Society in the world. Professor Alanay is admired by his spine colleagues and his patients from everywhere.
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Ken Cheung
Jessie Ho Professor in Spine Surgery
Head of Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
The University of Hong Kong
An internationally famous surgeon, highly experienced and passionate in spine deformity surgery.
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K. Daniel Riew, MD
Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, NY
Dr. Alanay is a world-renowned leader in spine surgery with outstanding surgical skills who provides compassionate care for all his patients.
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Manabu Ito, MD, PhD
Director of Surgical Unit and Dept. of Spine and Spinal Cord Disorders
National Hospital Organization, Hokkaido Medical Center
Sapporo, Japan
I have known Dr. Ahmet Alanay for more than ten years. There is no doubt that Dr. Alanay is one of the opinion leaders in the field of spinal deformity treatment not only in Turkey but also in the whole world. His passion is always towards both young and elderly patients who suffer from various types of spinal deformity. I also believe that his smiling face and warm hearted attitudes to all his neighbors is the most precious talent of him as an excellent medical doctor.
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David H Clements, MD
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery
Cooper Bone & Joint Institute
Professor Doctor Ahmet Alanay is an internationally known spine surgeon with an outstanding reputation for surgical skill, patient carei and innovaton. His reputation for teaching attracts surgeons from around the world to his hospital and medical school in Istanbul, Turkey. He is a world leader in spine surgery and research and I am honored to be his colleague!
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Dheera Ananthakrishnan, MD., MSE
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine
Ahmet Alanay is a phenomenal surgeon who treats his patients with equal amounts of skill and humanity.