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Previous Chief Executive Of Turkish Medical Tourism Development Association

At the time of Ms. İstiroti’s first entry into the Health Industry in 1990, healthcare management was not recognised as a profession in Turkey . She became one of the first healthcare executives to apply professional hospital management practices in Turkey. İstiroti, who has helped the training of raising numerous managers in the healthcare sector, received her master’s degree on Health and Hospital Management at İstanbul University and Bahçesehir Univertsity after receiving her bachelors degree in Psychology at Boğaziçi University.

İstiroti started her career in health services management at International Hospital, a model institution in terms of hospital management in İstanbul / Turkey . She started as a public relations manager, then carried on as a administrative coordinator during her 8.5 years of service at this hospital. Afterwards, she worked as the marketing manager at the American Hospital at 2003 . She also pioneered to start the first, largest, and an examplary elderly living center with a rehabilitation hospital within the complex, ”Yaşamkent” under Bayındır Holding as the general manager of that project.

She, as the Deputy General Manager of the group, undertook the duty of opening new hospitals under Acıbadem Healthcare Group and contributed to the development of this healthcare network model with the operational and marketing focus . The institution currently had 9 hospitals and 24 branches, a Health Insurance Company, a University, a project company focusing on turn-key hospital activities and several group companies focusing on health care at her departure .

In the beginning of 90′s, İstiroti observed a lot of patients in Turkey traveling abroad especially to USA, UK, Germany or Israel in order to receive essential and high risk medical services. In charge of the institution’s International Marketing, especially after 2005 by orchestrating activities for patients from abroad incoming to group hospitals,İstiroti turned Acıbadem into a well-recognized, reputable brand in the international arena.

She took the role for marketing b2b services of Bozlu Holding and starting up a cancer center called Neolife in İstanbul . She also supported Dünyagöz Group’s ( widest ophtalmology chain hospitals )  development and the opening of the new facilities and enlarging the chain and overtook the marketing activities as the Deputy General Manager .

By mid 2012, Ms İstiroti worked as the general manager for Liv Hospital undertaking the role of creating the brand ‘Liv Hospital’ as well as the implementation of all the Hospital management processes, creation of the medical and administrative team. Liv Hospital İstanbul openned at 2013 ,  Liv Hospital Ankara at 2014 ( capital city )  , Liv Hospital Samsun at 2017 ( blacksea region ), and Liv Radiation Oncology Center at Tiblisi openned at 2016,  Antep 2020  and İstinye Univercity education Hospital 2016 and Recently Liv Hospital Vadi İstanbul 20220  . She continues the development of the Group as Group Coordinator at the local and international market  

So far , she openned 17 hospitals in her 28 year of career life .  

Meri İstiroti also assumed tasks in TÜSİAD (Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association) Medical Tourism Sub-Committee, and served as the Chairwoman of DEİK (Foreign Economic Relations Board) Healthcare Committee amongst Turkey’s most estimable Non-governmental Organization (NGO)’s on international business. She undertook the Executive Board President position for ‘’Turkish Healthcare Travel Council’’(2015-2019) to introduce Turkey as one of the best medical tourism hubs in the world. She still Works hard to promote Turkey’s brand as Global Medical Tourism site.

She has published books : ‘’ Last Word by Physicians ‘’ & ‘’ Letters to My 30th Age Self ‘’, “Compass: Integrative Approach for Healthcare Marketing ”, “Letters Within Physicians’s bag” , “The Plane Tree of the Ballet: The Life of Madam Lili Barokas” and "The Journey of a Healthcare Brand" . She raises 2 children .

She has been honored by ‘’honor reward ‘’ at her carreer by two Rotary Clubs on 2014 and 2015. She has been rewarded as the ‘’year’s Health manager ‘’ on 2002 by the industry .  2019 “Lifetime honorary Award” was presented by Hospital Manager Magazine  İstanbul. And at 2019 Lifetime Professional Honor Award”  was given by The Future Healthcare organization.

 Please click here for the resume