I am pleased to announce a change in the local leadership of IPI Istanbul. Effective January 1, 2026, Dr. Levent Dalar will assume a supervisory role for the Institute and will transition the day-to-day operations—including education and training activities, as well as coordination of fellows’ training rotations in Greece, Spain, Italy, and various cities across Turkey—to the newly appointed Co-Directors, Dr. Omer Ayten and Dr. Cengiz Ozdemir.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Levent Dalar for his tireless efforts in establishing and leading IPI Istanbul. He has been an integral part of this unique, one-of-a-kind training institution under the auspices of the World Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology. Dr. Dalar has dedicated countless hours to teaching and training, while ensuring that fellows from around the world feel welcomed and supported in Turkey. Simply put, IPI Istanbul would not have been possible without his commitment and leadership. I am personally grateful for his altruism, generosity, and continued support of IPI Istanbul. We look forward to his ongoing guidance of Drs. Ayten and Ozdemir, as they continue the mission we have collectively built. Dr. Dalar will remain actively involved in teaching, training fellows, and supporting the new directors.

Drs. Omer Ayten and Cengiz Ozdemir have been steadfast supporters of IPI Istanbul and have been deeply involved in the teaching and training of fellows throughout much of 2025. Both are among the most highly regarded faculty members by our fellows, alongside many outstanding educators in Turkey, Italy, Greece, and Spain. I am confident that they will bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to advancing the education and training of global interventional pulmonology fellows at LIV Hospital, while also coordinating training activities at other centers in Turkey and across Europe.

As always, I will continue to be closely involved in all aspects of IPI’s day-to-day operations, including fellow education, training, curriculum development, faculty engagement, and regular meetings with faculty.

We remain deeply indebted to our local and international faculty for their continued dedication, collaboration, and unwavering support of IPI Istanbul and its mission.

       
Dr. Cengiz Ozdemir                 Dr. Omer Ayten

Sincerely,

Ali Musani MD
Chair IPI – WABIP
Chair elect -WABIP

12/19/2025