Invited to New York as a visiting physician, Dr. Gürsoy’s first day turned into one of the most unforgettable moments of his medical career. After landing from Istanbul and searching for his hotel with luggage in hand, the young cardiologist saw a man collapse on the sidewalk. Without hesitation, Gürsoy intervened and performed CPR for several minutes, reviving the man whose heart had stopped. That man turned out to be Lee Shulman—a well-known figure in the city’s financial circles.
Dr. Erol Gürsoy, an interventional cardiologist at Koç University Hospital, had traveled to Mount Sinai upon the invitation of world-renowned cardiologist Prof. Dr. Valentín Fuster. But just moments before starting his official program, an unexpected call to action confirmed he was exactly where he was meant to be.
The moment medicine meets action
As Dr. Gürsoy recalls, everything happened in an instant:
“I was holding my luggage, looking for the hotel, when a man suddenly collapsed in front of me. No pulse. No breath. It was a heart attack. I immediately started basic life support. I performed chest compressions for several minutes. Just as the ambulance was arriving, we regained his pulse. He started breathing. Then he opened his eyes. He was alive.”
That moment—so often practiced through countless simulations—became a real-life emergency on a real-life street. It wasn’t just medical knowledge but also calm reflexes that saved a life.
The next morning’s surprise: “Who performed this intervention?”
The following morning, Dr. Gürsoy attended his orientation program at Mount Sinai. While reviewing patient files, one note caught his attention:
“It was observed that the patient was revived after continuous CPR performed for 5 minutes by a doctor on the scene.”
Realizing that the case referred to him, Gürsoy later shared an emotional moment with the patient’s family—who had not yet known the identity of the person who saved Shulman’s life.
An angiogram later revealed that Shulman had one artery 100% blocked, and another 99% blocked. Experts said the chance of survival under these conditions was less than 1%.
An inspiring beginning
Saving not just a heartbeat but an entire life, Dr. Gürsoy began his journey at Mount Sinai with an unforgettable start. He will always remember his first day in the U.S. as a true testament to the oath of a physician. For him, New York is no longer just a place for medical training—it is a symbol that life can be saved, anywhere and at any moment.
A Turkish doctor, a global city, a life restored…
Dr. Gürsoy’s story is more than a heroic moment—it’s a powerful example of the professionalism, skill, and deep commitment of Turkish physicians on the international stage.
And yes… some heroes don’t wear capes—they carry stethoscopes. And sometimes, they revive a life while simply walking through a city with their suitcase in hand.
