Muhammed Aykota, MD

Dr. Aykota was born in 1985 and completed his high school education in Denizli, Turkey. He graduated from Trakya University Faculty of Medicine in 2009 and started his professional career the same year. After completing his compulsory service in Dursunbey, Balıkesir, he began his residency in General Surgery at Pamukkale University in 2010. During his residency, he developed a strong interest in advanced laparoscopic surgery and participated in some of the first bariatric surgeries in Turkey alongside renowned bariatric surgeon Prof. Dr. Koray Tekin. In 2013, he served as a surgical assistant during a live surgery performed by Prof. Jacques Himpens at the IFSO World Congress in Istanbul, which marked a turning point in his passion for bariatric surgery. In 2014, Dr. Aykota received training and certification in Robotic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. During this time, he also participated in bariatric operations at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, under the mentorship of Dr. Mitchell Roslin. In the later years of his residency, he also developed an interest in oncologic surgery, particularly hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. He completed his residency in 2015 and continued his compulsory service in Sandıklı State Hospital, Afyonkarahisar between 2015–2018. Following this, he was appointed Assistant Professor at the Department of General Surgery, Pamukkale University, where he played an active role in establishing the university’s Liver Transplantation Center and participated in the first cadaveric and living donor liver transplants. In 2020, he founded the Obesity Center at Pamukkale University, which became a national and international referral center for bariatric patients. He was awarded the title of Associate Professor by the Turkish Interuniversity Board in April 2022. Since April 2023, Dr. Aykota has been working in the private sector, continuing to provide high-quality care to patients with obesity and complex surgical needs. International Experience: 1. Robotic General Surgery Workshop, Cleveland Clinic, November 13–16, 2014, USA 2. 21st IFSO World Congress, September 28–October 1, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3. 23rd IFSO World Congress, September 27–29, 2018, Dubai, UAE 4. Advanced Bariatric Patient Management Course, PONDERAS Academic Hospital, Bucharest, Romania 5. Bariatric Multidisciplinary Team Clinical Immersion, September 13–14, 2022, Norway 6. Complex Revisional Bariatric Surgery – Surgeon & Anesthesiologist Dream Team, March 8–9, 2023, Bruges, Belgium 7. Fast Track Bariatric Clinical Immersion, ABC Hospital, June 5–6, 2023, Cairo, Egypt