Prof. Dr. Hadi Özer
Prof. Dr. Hadi Özer, as the founder of Turkish US Society, could you summarise for us, the historical events that led to the foundation ?
My first experience with A-mode echoencephalography was at the Hospital of Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia. The indication was to explore why a calcifed pineal gland of a patient had shifted from midline. We also tested a prototype portable US machine, made by Smith-Kline company, to verify the shift of the pineal gland. The date was unforgettable; Nov. 23, 1963. That day President Kennedy was assassinated.
The first B-mode gray-scale US; articulated arm Picker’s Echo-view EDC machine with a 2.5 mHz transducer was installed in Prof. Herbert L. Abrams’ Radiology Department at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in 1970. As a member of staff, I witnessed this event and attended the lecture given by Dr. Hans Henrik Holm, who was visiting the department. Abdominal US studies had been started by my colleague Dr. Edward H. Smith.During the next 2 years I worked at the same department and learned the basics of US. In June 1972, I returned to Turkey. In 1974, in Ankara University Radiology Department, I used a Siemens machine to perform probably “the first abdominal US” in Turkey. The same year I became the Chairman of the Department of Radiology in Ege University.
I started to use a Picker US machine. Together with my colleague E. Alp Niron, who was educated in USA, we increased the patient numbers in US practice, and started to perform US-guided biopsies. Meanwhile our team also concentrated on imaging hydatid disease. Our studies on hydatid cyst classification were published in British Journal of Radiology in 1981, almost simultaneously with Gharbi’s famous paper. Early US studies done by radiologists and gastro-enterologists, led to a spreading interest in Turkey and many US machines from Siemens, Kretz, and Pie-Data were imported. In parallel with the huge interest, the need for US education was obvious and Turkish US Society (TUD) was founded in 1985, by 10 colleagues from different specialties.
What has changed since those times in the arena of ultrasound?
Starting from 1987, Turkish Ultrasound Society has organised US Congresses and has participated in scientific activities of MASU and EFSUMB. We have observed and witnessed a huge development in technology along with advancement of the applications of the anatomical and functional imaging.
What are your thoughts about the future of ultrasound in the world?
Many patients are now being “screened” with US either at the office, emergency room or at home. Multidisciplinary use of US necessitates that the learning of basics of US should start at Medical School, before residency. The advanced and comprehensive training should be given during the years of residency accordingly to the specialty chosen.
