Dr Khalig Yagublu

Education and general surgery training

Born in Azerbaijan, Dr Khalig Yagublu completed his medical education at Azerbaijan Medical University, including one year of English preparation followed by six years of medical study. He undertook his specialist training in general surgery at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ) Faculty of Medicine.

During his general surgery residency, which began in 2015 and lasted more than five years, he participated in over 2,000 cases. He developed particular interests in gastrointestinal, hepatopancreatobiliary and bariatric surgery, and wrote his specialist thesis on bariatric surgery.

Professional experience

After medical school, he worked as a general practitioner at Erzincan Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital. Over approximately two years, he provided care across more than 34,000 patient visits.

Following the restart of OMÜ’s liver transplant programme in 2019, he participated in approximately 40 organ retrieval procedures and 20 deceased-donor liver transplant cases.

From 2020 to 2023, he worked as a General Surgery Specialist at Tokat State Hospital. His CV describes contributions to procedures not previously performed locally or newly introduced in a secondary-care hospital setting. These included the Whipple procedure, bariatric surgery, and minimally invasive gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and oncological procedures.

Surgical work and professional recognition

According to his supplied CV, his experience includes more than 1,000 bariatric operations and over 3,000 laparoscopic abdominal operations. These figures describe previous professional experience and do not guarantee an individual patient’s outcome.

He reports receiving letters of appreciation from CİMER, the Tokat Governor’s Office, Tokat Provincial Health Directorate and Tokat State Hospital management for his service and professional work. He has also given local and national media interviews about cases he has treated.

His CV describes initiating a Guinness World Records application concerning 14,387 gallstones removed during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a patient presenting with biliary pancreatitis. This refers to an application, not a confirmed world record.

Academic work and private practice

After considering academic and private-sector opportunities, he decided to work at Memorial Ataşehir Hospital in Istanbul. He also began an academic role as an assistant professor at Üsküdar University and regards teaching future doctors as an important part of his professional work.

Since his residency, he has contributed to national and international scientific publications, oral presentations, posters and book chapters. He reports article authorship and editorial work in international journals, particularly in bariatric and oncological surgery.

He continues his professional development through scientific congresses, courses and seminars.

Approach to patient care and personal background

He considers caring for patients from different countries and representing Türkiye in international healthcare to be part of his professional responsibility. He values attentive, considerate and dedicated patient care, and describes pursuing his goals through science, patience, effort, determination and discipline.

Dr Khalig Yagublu married before beginning his medical career and is the father of two children. He speaks English.