Dr. Altinok Dindar is a general surgeon and a researcher specializing in breast and gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. Her academic journey began with completing her medical education in 2006, followed by a general surgery residency in 2014, and she obtained her Ph.D. in medical biology and genetics in 2020, both accomplished in Turkey. Between 2014 and 2020, she served at the University of Health Sciences Van Training and Research Hospital, located in the eastern region of Turkey. She performed numerous complex surgeries in the areas of gastrointestinal and breast cancers, while also actively engaging in oncological follow-up and clinical research. Complementing her clinical role, she was a dedicated clinical researcher at the Turkish Cancer Institute, under the Health Institutes of Turkey (TUSEB), from 2017 to 2020. Her commitment to advancing personalized medical approaches was further exemplified through her role as a delegate for Turkey in the International Consortium of Personalized Medicine (ICPerMed), under the European Union.

In 2018, she completed the NIH NCI Cancer Prevention and Control Fellowship Summer Curriculum Program in Bethesda, MD, a turning point that led her to the United States to further refine her skills with cutting-edge technologies. Since September 2020, she has been contributing her expertise as a postdoctoral scholar at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR), Knight Cancer Institute. Here, in the Population Health and Computational Biology program, she continues to focus on breast and gastrointestinal cancers. Her innovative research is focused on the intricate interplay among the microenvironment, microbiome, and genomic alterations. By leveraging novel computational tools, she plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between clinical observation and scientific investigation, particularly in understanding the cancer microenvironment and its role in cancer progression. She is deeply committed to multidisciplinary collaborations, forming research groups that push the frontiers of cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Her global perspective extends beyond the United States; she is an active participant in the Nigeria Collaborative Project, aiming to enhance cancer screening and early detection in Nigeria. This commitment has borne fruit in the form of significant scientific publications and contributions to the global fight against cancer.

Dr. Altinok Dindar’s work is a testament to her unwavering dedication to oncology. Her journey from Turkey to the United States and her international collaborations highlight her belief in the power of diversified expertise and advanced technology in personalizing cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. As a member of CEDAR, she continues to be a driving force in the field of oncology, working tirelessly to improve patient outcomes and contribute meaningfully to cancer prevention and early detection.