Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, UAMS/Arkansas Children's Hospital

It doesn’t take long for Elylem Ocal’s personality to sparkle. The self-deprecatingly funny pediatric neurosurgeon from Istanbul admittedly has “a mix of Canadian–Arkansan English, with a Turkish accent.”

“This’ll never go away,” she joked. “I make funny mistakes still, and my staff in the office teaches me one new word or phrase every week,” said Ocal, who also speaks Spanish.

She’s quick to admit she likes her first name – Elylem, means action of deed, usually in reference to a rebellious figure.

“I’m an action figure,” she joked, admitting that as the older of two daughters born to Tahsin, a government employee, and Adalet, a sales manager, she was very adventurous. “I liked to make experiments, which usually ended in accidents. I call it ‘scientific curiosity,’ which helped me a lot in my career.”

Ocal’s youngest aunt, Sehnaz, cared for her while her parents worked. “She’s like a sister,” she said, recalling that Sehnaz “taught me my first English words.”

An elementary schoolteacher, Mrs. Cakir, also influenced Ocal.

“She gave me a strong foundation and … always pushed me to my limits, sometimes too much,” said Ocal. “She always wanted to see me as doctor in a white coat. She was there for my graduation from medical school! It was a dream fulfilled to see her there, looking at me proudly.”

However, before medical school, Ocal considered other interests.

“As a teenager, I wanted to go in politics, study international relations, or be a businesswoman,” she said. “My dream was to become the first female prime minister of Turkey.”

Ocal graduated at the top of her class at the Marmara University School of Medicine in 1999. As the first physician in the family, her relatives urged her to consider specializing in family or internal medicine.

“Everyone was so excited to have a doctor in the family,” she said. “They weren’t happy with my choice of neurosurgery! I love children and thought about becoming a pediatrician for a while, but the brain and entire nervous system was exciting to explore, challenging to understand. It was a puzzle waiting to be solved. Even with the invention of new technologies and better understanding of its function and structure, the brain and entire nervous system is still a mystery. It amazes me every day. That’s why I chose neurosurgery. Combined with my love for children and passion for their wellbeing, I decided to do pediatric neurosurgery. I find it very fulfilling when a child smiles back at you after undergoing surgery.”

Ocal completed her internship and residency requirements at the Cerrahpasa School of Medicine at Istanbul University in 2004, followed by specialized training at Yale University School of Medicine, and a clinical fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery from British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada, that ended in 2011. “This is one of the well-respected places to train for pediatric neurosurgery,” said Ocal. “My mentors – Drs. Steinbok, Cochrane and Singhal – helped me define my path as a pediatric neurosurgeon.”

Ocal has a special interest in spina bifida and brain tumors, rare conditions that are challenging to treat.

“We still have a limited understanding of their genetic basis, etiology and pathologies,” she said. “These patients may need a lot of care, multiple treatments and/or surgeries. It takes a team to deal with these conditions, including the patient, parents, multiple medical disciplines and professionals. You have to push the limits most of the time and I like to do that!”

Ocal’s decision to relocate to Arkansas required little consideration.

“As one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, Arkansas Children’s Hospital seemed a place that would provide me with opportunities as a new attending taking her first job,” she said. “It has more than enough amenities to serve a large population of patients with diverse clinical conditions to treat, research to do, well-known mentors and experienced colleagues from every discipline. Most importantly, the passionate staff gives hope, care and love. Although Little Rock is the littlest place I’ve ever lived in, I found everything that I was looking for, including very good, welcoming people.”

Ocal, a Turkish folk dancer who’s done the international dance festival circuit and is now learning salsa dancing, recently discovered fishing and horse riding as new outdoor hobbies.

“Recently I did ice fishing and dog sledding, which was cold but fun,” said Ocal, who swims regularly, practices yoga, and is a certified Level 3 wine expert. “My next big thing will be duck hunting … and, of course, Razorback games!”

Of her “bucket list” items, Ocal wants to teach pediatric neurosurgery in developing and underdeveloped countries (“I always wanted to join Doctors Without Borders, but they don’t want neurosurgeons,” she noted), take a trip to the North Pole, watch aurora borealis with a hot cup of tea in hand, and skydive, “if I can find enough courage,” she said.

“It was difficult to be away from home, family and friends in Turkey,” said Ocal, whose mother lives with her six months every year. They often visit Evrim, a political analyst in Washington DC, and her family, including Mavi and Liam. “However, I like to explore new things, new cultures and new places. I’m also very adaptable. Every place I’ve lived was a new adventure. I met valuable people, friends, and colleagues from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and languages. This gave me a better understanding and wider perspective of our world. I am truly blessed.”