Dr. Hande Can chose the field of medicine and neurology because it allows her to make a positive difference in people’s lives. “Helping others has always been important to me,” she says. “Being able to apply medical knowledge to improve someone’s health and quality of life is deeply meaningful.”

Dr. Can finds neurology to be an intellectually stimulating and constantly evolving field. “Neurology remains one of the most complex areas of medicine,” she explains. “We continue to uncover new insights into how the nervous system works, and advances in diagnostic tools and treatments are transforming patient care. The field’s rapid progress keeps me learning and engaged.”

In her practice, Dr. Can sees patients with neuromuscular disorders. “In the past, steroids were the only tool we had to treat patients with these problems,” she explains. “Now we have more specific disease-modifying treatments available. The same is true for migraine treatment — instead of non-specific medications, we now have ones developed specifically for migraines. These are more effective and have made a big difference for migraine sufferers.”

Dr. Can believes that diet plays a positive role in many illnesses. “In terms of neurological diseases, there has been a lot of research on intermittent fasting and the ketogenic diet,” she explains. “This diet can have a very positive impact on certain illnesses such as epilepsy. Because diet is so important for our overall health, it should never be ignored in therapy.”

Outside of medicine, Dr. Can enjoys reading, cooking, and knitting.