Turkish Heritage: Born and raised in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, I finished my high school education at TED Ankara College Foundation High School, earning an International Baccalaureate (IB) and a Turkish National Diploma with highest honors.

Fun fact: My name is written as Ogul but pronounced as OL (like good ol' friend!)

Eye surgeon-to-be: A physician trainee who was introduced to medicine at a young age, I found great meaning in taking care of terminally ill patients in several hospitals and long-term care centers. Helping the clinical staff and taking care of these special patients, I admired the physicians and nurses who desired to take that responsibility. It is difficult to say goodbye to a patient you get close to through volunteering, but I started seeing it as a celebratory moment at the end of life instead of a sad moment.

Now, as an aspiring ophthalmologist, I understand the importance of those experiences. Many of our patients present with illnesses that we can treat or manage effectively, which is incredibly rewarding. However, some of our patients come to us at a late stage like in advanced diabetic retinopathy or have a life-threatening disease like vitreoretinal lymphoma. During those tough times, I find it important to put myself back to the end-of-life care volunteer I was. It is a privilege to be a part of every patient’s journey, whether that is celebrating a successful surgery, achieving control of a systemic inflammatory disease, or honoring the end of a great life.

Educator and Mentor: I have always wanted to be a teacher growing up until I discovered medicine. The word “doctor” means “teacher” in Latin, so we are all educators at heart. After teaching science and mathematics to underprivileged children in high school, I tutored courses online during college and medical school. Applying my interest to ophthalmology, I became a teaching assistant to Dr. Emily Graubart for the third-year core ophthalmology clerkship. I also co-directed Emory’s inaugural tele-ophthalmology elective during COVID-19 and became interested in remote ophthalmic learning, publishing and presenting our elective findings in multiple platforms. I realized I did not have many international ophthalmology mentors in the U.S. and I was determined to change that for those coming after me. I use both social media and in-person platforms to achieve this goal. Mentorship, diversity, and inclusion all go hand in hand, so I hope to continue guiding students interested in medicine and ophthalmology from various backgrounds.

Compassion Trainer: As an avid mindfulness meditator and instructor, I aim to incorporate cognitively-based compassion training into my daily routine. After taking Emory-Tibet Partnership's Compassion Training course, I was inspired to teach the methods of mindfulness on community platforms. I have taught mindfulness to clients of Center for Visually Impaired (CVI) in Atlanta, GA that has provided me great insight into the daily routine and difficulties surrounding those with poor sight. I was humbled that the CVI mindfulness initiative was awarded the Emory University School of Medicine’s Community Engagement Spirit Award.

Researcher and Peer Reviewer: An avid learner, I enjoy conducting my own research and reading articles in clinical journals. I find it exciting to tap into the unknown to discover something that could change how we approach a disease.

I was fortunate to be able to focus on ophthalmology research during medical school. In fact, that’s what got me interested in the field in the first place! My current research is in retina, ocular oncology, and ocular genetics, though I wish to explore other areas of ophthalmology through research and patient care as a resident.

Peer reviewing in academic publications has always fascinated me. Through serving as an invited peer reviewer for ophthalmology journals, I have been fortunate to read articles and suggest improvements. The constructive nature of the process excites me and I hope to continue contributing to new articles as a reviewer.

Fun Hobbies: One of my greatest hobbies is playing instruments, which I have been doing since I was five! I am fascinated by music's ability to instill both soothing and stimulating emotions. I find classical music to be a great way to slow down time and listen to my inner self, so I try to incorporate it to my daily life. In college, I was a flutist in the University of Pennsylvania Marching Band and had the opportunity to play with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

I am an avid foodie interested in both national and international cuisines. I enjoy cooking Turkish food. I have also undertaken international culinary trips to over 25 countries, including Italy, Spain, France, the Philippines, and Finland. Food unites all of us, so I find these activities to be great outlets for exploration, inspiration, and conversation.

Additionally, I enjoy Turkish books, media, and cinema. I love learning more about the Ottoman Empire. As a multicultural empire merging the East and the West, I find its dynamic role in history fascinating. From this passion and prior experience with chess, I also started playing more backgammon, a traditional Middle-Eastern game with origins in Iran. Still a newbie but getting better!

Last but not least, I adore traveling and meeting new people, which is one of the many reasons I came to the United States. Understanding the importance of a liberal arts education, I chose not to pursue a six-year medical education in Turkey. This decision helped me solidify my interest in medicine and discover the fantastic field of ophthalmology. I am grateful for my journey and feel truly blessed to have supportive mentors, family, and friends.