Prof. Dr. Cengiz Türkay was born on August 21, 1964, in Elazığ. He completed his primary, secondary, and high school education in Adana. In 1988, he graduated from Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine and earned his medical doctor title. After completing his compulsory service at Fethiye Social Security Hospital, he worked as a research assistant at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine.

After receiving his Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist title in 1995, he served as a Lecturer at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine from 1995 to 1999, and as an Assistant Professor from 1999 to 2003. Dr. Cengiz Türkay earned his associate professorship in 2003 and served as Deputy Chief Physician at Akdeniz University Hospital from 2005 to 2008. He was promoted to full Professor in 2009.

Prof. Dr. Cengiz Türkay has conducted numerous studies in coronary artery surgery (bypass operations), heart transplantation, artificial heart implantation, stem cell injections to the heart, and laser varicose vein treatment. For his work, he received the first prize in scientific research and laboratory at the 25th anniversary of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine. He has actively participated in over 130 heart transplants and artificial heart applications in more than 350 patients.

Professor Dr. Cengiz Türkay currently works at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine and teaches venous diseases, functional vascular diseases, and heart valve diseases to medical students.