We have adapted to meet the needs of the industry.

Gökçe Şengezer, Founding General Manager of Ange Assistance — a company that provides healthcare services at all ports in Turkey — emphasizes that delivering medical services in the maritime industry requires great precision in terms of time and logistics. Highlighting the company’s pioneering role with experienced teams, operational strength, and patient-centric approach, Şengezer said:
“As a reflection of our accomplishments, we’ve started to gain attention not only in Turkey but also internationally. In 2025, I was ranked among the ‘Top 10 Women Leaders’ from Turkey in an overseas evaluation. Being included on such a list in the field of leadership is both a personal and corporate source of pride and inspiration.”

Şengezer noted that their primary goal when establishing Ange Assistance was to offer fast, reliable, and internationally compliant healthcare solutions. She added:
“Since day one, we have adopted a patient satisfaction-focused mindset. By specializing in maritime and travel health, we’ve filled a critical gap in the industry. Thanks to our services provided at all Turkish ports, Ange Assistance has become a nationally recognized brand. Today, we stand as a trusted healthcare provider, preferred for our quality of service and commitment to continuous improvement. With our experienced team and operational capabilities, we play a leading role in the sector.”

A Year of Milestones and Recognition

Reflecting on 2023, Şengezer described it as a turning point for the company:
“It was a highly productive year. The awards we received were not only a reflection of the quality of our services but also the result of our team’s dedicated efforts. As a healthcare service provider, being recognized in this way was a tremendous honor. These awards didn’t just boost our motivation; they also brought greater responsibilities. We are now setting new goals to reach more people, strengthen our service network, and raise industry standards. It also reinforced our team’s sense of unity and belief in our shared vision.”

Global Attention on the Rise

She continued:
“Our achievements have started to attract international recognition. In 2025, I was honored to be listed among Turkey’s ‘Top 10 Women Leaders’ in an international assessment. Being part of such a prestigious list in the field of leadership is an immense source of pride for both myself and the company. International acknowledgment like this pushes our vision forward and reinforces our belief in the work we do.”

Agile, Efficient Solutions for Maritime Healthcare

Şengezer also spoke about the challenges of providing healthcare services in the maritime sector, how they overcome them, and the added value they bring to the industry:
“Providing medical care in the maritime industry demands extraordinary logistical precision. To prevent disruptions to ship schedules, we must act fast and efficiently. Every medical intervention must align with operational planning and be completed with minimal time loss. Ange Assistance is structured to meet these needs. With our strong on-ground network and solution partners across all Turkish ports, we can respond quickly, no matter where the need arises. Our team is trained and experienced in maritime healthcare, allowing us to manage the process medically and operationally in the most effective way. Our services ensure the health of seafarers while maintaining operational continuity — making us not just a healthcare provider, but also a strategic partner adding value to the industry.”

Şengezer stated, “While it’s not entirely feasible to implement a fully digital infrastructure in every area of service, we continue to bridge the gaps by developing smarter and more efficient solutions. Increasing digitalization in patient monitoring, reporting, and operational coordination processes remains a key objective for us. This year, we also launched a psychological support program for seafarers under the Marine Mental Health initiative and integrated telemedicine into our system. These two new services are part of our mission to deliver more holistic care—both medically and psychologically.”

Operational Presence at All Ports in Türkiye

Offering services across all of Türkiye’s ports requires significant operational capacity and coordination, Şengezer explained: “Ensuring consistent service quality at every port and managing time pressure is one of the biggest challenges. However, our field experience built over the years, robust local networks, and quick decision-making abilities make this process manageable. Thanks to customized operating models for each port, our teams can respond flexibly to regional differences. Additionally, the strong communication network we've established between our headquarters and field teams ensures real-time updates and rapid response. This system allows us to deliver both quality and continuity simultaneously.”

"Every Patient Is Our First Patient"

“This mindset forms the foundation of our work culture,” Şengezer said. “We instill in our teams the importance of approaching each case with fresh attention, care, and responsibility. This is not just a slogan; it’s embedded in the core of our daily operations. To foster this culture, we hire the right people and enhance their communication and empathy skills through regular training. Each case represents a new responsibility and opportunity for us. That’s why our processes are flexible but also closely monitored. While we have protocols, we always consider the unique dynamics of each situation. In this way, every patient is treated as if we’re meeting them for the first time—valued and prioritized.”

Educated in the U.S., Practicing in Türkiye

Reflecting on her education in the U.S. and how the Turkish healthcare system contributes to her work, Şengezer said: “My psychology education in the U.S. played a vital role in shaping my vision. Understanding human behavior, coping mechanisms, and reactions in moments of crisis from a scientific perspective makes a major difference—especially in healthcare communication with patients and their families. Thanks to this approach, we’ve been able to integrate not only physical intervention but also emotional support into our processes at Ange Assistance. A psychological perspective allows us to provide a more empathetic, human-centered service, especially for those working in high-stress sectors like maritime. Initiatives such as Marine Mental Health are a natural extension of this vision.”

Şengezer continued, “The practical, fast, and solution-oriented structure of the Turkish healthcare system significantly enhances our operational capabilities. Thanks to Türkiye’s dynamic healthcare infrastructure, we can respond swiftly to emergencies and manage processes without disruption. By combining the theoretical and psychological foundation I received in the U.S. with Türkiye’s strong field experience, we have developed a service model that is both human-driven and professionally robust.”

Being a Woman in the Industry

Commenting on the challenges and advantages of being a successful female entrepreneur in a traditionally male-dominated sector, Şengezer said: “Being a female leader in an industry like maritime, which has long been male-dominated, requires overcoming biases and making greater visible effort. However, these challenges can eventually turn into strong advantages. The most important qualities that have reinforced my leadership are determination, attention to detail, team management, and an empathetic approach. The balance, communication strength, and solution-oriented mindset brought by a female perspective are highly valuable in healthcare services. I believe these differences have allowed me to make a lasting impact in the industry and inspire other women. Today, I am more committed than ever to advocating for greater representation of women in this field.”

Goals for 2025

Outlining her expectations for 2025, Şengezer stated: “At Ange Assistance, we have built a solid and trusted service structure over the years. Our main goal for 2025 is to refine this strong foundation further and maintain the flexibility to swiftly adapt to changing needs. Rather than increasing our already high service quality, we are focusing on making that quality more sustainable and accessible. One of our key priorities this year is to strengthen our collaboration with international solution partners. This network, which operates in coordination with our port operations in Türkiye, enables us to build a more powerful and well-coordinated structure. We are also expanding our team accordingly—particularly with professionals who can respond more rapidly on the ground.”

Source: 7DENİZ MAGAZINE