Dr. Yeşim Bakar graduated from the School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Hacettepe University in 1997, completed a Master of Science Degree at the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department at Hacettepe University in 2000, and a Philosophy of Doctorate at the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department in Hacettepe University in 2005. Dr. Bakar worked at Baskent Hospital as a Physical Therapist between 1997 and 1998 at the School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Hacettepe University as a Research Assistant between 1998 and 2005 years, she had an academic degree at Abant Izzet Baysal University as Assistant Professor in 2005 as Associate Professor in 2011 and Professor in 2016.
Yeşim Bakar has worked as a Physical Therapist and Academic Staff for over twenty-five years. In 2001, she received training in Manual Lymph Drainage Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy at Földischule in Germany and became a certified Lymphedema Therapist. After that, she won the German Academic Exchange Servis Award and went to Földiclinic Germany (European Centre for Lymphology) as a researcher for 6 months in 2001. Then she returned to her country and opened the first lymphedema unit at Hacettepe University in Turkey. She can be accepted as the first of the pioneers of lymphology knowledge in Turkey.
She is also currently a Senior Instructor for Manual Lymph Drainage/Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (Földischule, Germany), responsible for giving the post-graduate courses including manual lymph drainage techniques for lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency and compression techniques. Nearly 700 post-graduate physiotherapists in Turkey were trained and certified by her efforts. Dr. Yeşim Bakar has dedicated most of her time on teaching and especially working on research projects on subjects of lymphedema and physiotherapy.
Specifically, her studies are associated with oncological rehabilitation, lymphedema, women's health, and chronic venous insufficiency. She has over 200 International Publications and research papers in peer-reviewed journals paper presentations at the International Congresses and more than 20 book chapters regarding lymphology, phlebology, and oncologic physiotherapy. Her publications have been cited more than one thousand five hundred times. In addition to her academic studies, Dr. Bakar has served many years of administrative experience in different administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Head of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Member of the University Senate and Board of Directors, and Member of the Ethics Committee. She is the Founding President of the Lymphedema Association in Turkey in 2008 and the Lymphology Association in 2014. She is a member of the European Society of Lymphology and the Turkish Physiotherapists Association. She has been working in a private clinic since January 2024.
Dr. Alper Tuğral is working as an academician in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at Izmir Bakırçay University, Türkiye. He earned his PhD in 2021, with his doctoral dissertation focused on evaluating the upper extremity functionality of breast cancer survivors. His scholarly and research activities are concentrated in several pivotal areas within physiotherapy and rehabilitation. These include, but are not limited to, the management and therapeutic approaches for lymphedema and its rehabilitation processes; comprehensive rehabilitation strategies in oncological care; therapeutic interventions and rehabilitative measures for venous diseases; and the principles and practices of complex decongestive physiotherapy. Dr. Tuğral's research is crucial for advancing both theoretical knowledge and clinical practice in these specialized areas. His published works cover a range of topics including breast cancer, the role of exercise in cancer treatment, and functional outcomes in cancer rehabilitation. Additionally, he contributes to the academic community by teaching various lectures, including kinesiology, biostatistics, prosthetics and orthotics, and lymphedema management, as part of the Bachelor of Science degree program. He has been attending International scientific congresses such as the European Society of Lymphology (ESL) and the International Society of Lymphology (ISL) since 2015. His works were awarded with a "Young Lymphologist Prize" in ESL 2019, Czech Republic, and "Best Oral Presentation" in ESL 2016, France.
