Speakers 2020 

Dr. David R Friedmann, MD MSc is a neurotologist and cochlear implant surgeon and researcher at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology. He has conducted outcomes research on patients with severe hearing loss for nearly a decade with a particular interest in residual hearing and different cochlear implant electrodes and has published widely on these topics. Dr. Friedmannn is part of a multi-disciplinary translational research group investigating the impact of residual hearing with different electrode lengths. He is also principal investigator on a funded proposal through the Veterans Affairs Health Services and Research Development Program studying the management of severe hearing loss.

Dr. Agnieszka is specialized in Otolaryngology she is currently leading the global medical affairs in Medtronic, ENT unit, at global level. Previously to her work for Medtronic Dr. Strzembosz working for the Medicover Hospital in Poland in the department of Otolaryngology

Professor Abdulrahman Abdullah Hagr received his bachelor degree in Medicine and Surgery at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1996. Completed his postgraduate studies in Otolaryngology from McGill University, Canada, in 2004 and Otology and Neurotology from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, in 2005. He holds the following certificates: MBBS, Saudi Council Examination, Internship, MCCEE, King Medal for Merit, Principles of Surgery, Royal College of Canada, and Dalhousie University Otology Fellowship. A profeorss and consultant at King Saud University, consultant at the Ministry of Health for National Neonatal Screening Program, consultant at Al Habib Medical Center- otology-neurotology and a skull base surgeon. Professor Hagr is the founder and advisor of the Cochlear Implant Programs in Saudi Arabia. He is also the founder of the Otology Neurotology Fellowship Program at king Saud University, founder of the largest cochlear implant program in Middle East, the founder of the first Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), Hybrid CI, ABI, ABCI, Vistafix, Vibroplasty and Bonebridge programs in Saudi Arabia. He is currently the director of the following: King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Saud University, Director of the National Saudi Neonatal Screening Program, Prince Sultan Research Chair for Hearing Disabilities (RCHD). President of the Saudi ORL Societ and a member of King Saud University Counseling Board for Scientific Studies. Professor Hagr is the Goodwill Ambassador of American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He is the Chairman of International Arab Cochlear Conference (ACIC). He has made numerous conference presentations worldwide and an author of eight books and more than thirty-five scientific articles.

Dr Ahmad Alamadi graduated from Glasgow medical school in United Kingdom in 1993 he completed his training in Scotland by obtaining his Fellowship of royal college of surgeons of Glasgow in 1998. He followed his higher surgical training by doing a clinical neurotology fellowship program in Toronto University in Canada. Dr Alamadi is currently a consultant Otologist and Neurotologist and medical director at Al Baraha hospital in Dubai he is also a clinical Associate Professor at Sharjah University. His expertise lies in Otological surgeries and management of dizzy patients.

Dr. Carleton Eduardo Corrales is a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital specializing in otology, neurotology and skull base surgery. He is also an instructor in otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School. He received his medical degree from the Autonomous University of Honduras. Dr. Corrales completed an otolaryngology residency and a neurotology and skull base surgery fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center. His interests include diseases of the ear, otosclerosis and stapes surgery, superior semicircular canal dehiscense, hearing loss and acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma).

Dr. Al Mubarak is a vestibular rehabilitation therapist received his doctorate of science degree in Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University. Dr. Al Mubarak is a certified orthopedic manual therapist and also certified in the management of cervicogenic dizziness. Dr. Al Mubarak is interested in the following fields: 1. Dizziness 2. Balance Disorders 3. Fall Risk 4. Low back pain

• MBBS and internship in king saud university in Riyadh 2004 • 1 year ENT service resident in King Salman hospital in Riyadh • 5 years training and graduation from Saudi ORL and king saud University fellowship 2010 • 2 year Otology Neurotology and cochlear implant and other implantable hearing devices ,king saud university fellowship 2013 • ENT consultant in MOH Riyadh 2013 • Lateral skull base and cochlear implant and other implantable hearing devices subspecialty for one year 2014 – 2015 , Italy , Rome and Paicenza , gruppo otologico internazionale

Dr Rutka is a professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto. He has worked at the University Health Network since 1986 with a subspecialty interest in otology/neurotology. For 20 years Dr Rutka was the chief fellowship mentor for the TWJ Foundation (UK). He is currently the chief mentor for the Peter and Melanie Munk Foundation scholarship in otology/neurotolgy. In addition Dr Rutka is the co-director of the UHN Center for Advanced Hearing and Balance Testing and the Hertz Multidisciplinary Neurotology Clinic. His chief academic interests have been in areas of topical and systemic ototoxicity, canal based surgery for dizziness, the conservative management of patients with vestibular schwannomas, time trends in the surgery for chronic ear disease and recently the evaluation of dizziness in the head injured patient. His CV lists over 120 peer-reviewed publications and 4 text books in addition to numerous book chapters/supplements/non-peer reviewed articles.

Blake Papsin is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Toronto and the Otolaryngologist-in-Chief at The Hospital for Sick Children where he has been a full-time consultant since July 1996 and led Cochlear Implant Program from 1997 until 2013. He completed a paediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, England and was the inaugural chair of the Cochlear Americas Chair in Auditory Development at the University of Toronto. He is the inaugural holder of the Jordan and Lisa Gnat Family and Bastable-Potts Chair in Otolaryngology-HNS at SickKids. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, 53 book chapters and has spoken widely on the subject of surgical rehabilitation of hearing loss. His research and clinical focus is the surgical rehabilitation of hearing loss.

Professor J. Thomas Roland, Jr., MD is the Mendik Foundation Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Professor of Otolaryngology & Neurosurgery, Co-Director of the NYU Langone Health Cochlear Implant Center and Co-Director of the Neurofibromatosis Center at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, NY. His clinical work over the past 25 years has been in the management of lateral skull base tumors, including an interest in hearing management in the patient with NF2. Additionally, he has performed more than 3000 cochlear implants with special interest and expertise in the complicated cases. The NYU group is also one of the largest Auditory Brainstem Implant teams in the United States. The bulk of Dr. Roland’s research is related to cochlear implant electrode design and implementation, auditory brainstem implant in children with cochlear nerve deficiency, outcomes with skull base tumors and facial nerve reanimation. He has published over 200 manuscripts, is the editor of three textbooks and has numerous textbook chapters. Lastly, Professor Roland has a keen interest in teaching, has performed surgery in over 12 countries, and has continuing hearing health projects in Uganda and Israel

Head of the Otology, Neurotology & Skull Base Surgery Unit. President of the Egyptian Society of Skull Base Surgery President of the International Working Group on Endoscopic Ear Surgery (IWGEES). Member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; USA. Member of the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology; France. Member of Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO), U.S.A. Member of the Prosper Meniere's Society. U.S.A

Work experience: about twenty years of clinical experience focused on hearing and balance disorders, last nine years at King Abdul Aziz Medical City (National Guard Hospital) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Teaching skills: worked for two years as adjunct faculty at Gulf Medical University, Ajman (UAE) nine years as an adjunct instructor at Saudi Board of Otolaryngology (KSA), two years as international faculty at American Institute of Balance (USA) three years as adjunct faculty at King Saud university for Health Sciences, Jeddah (KSA), conducted tens of successful courses and workshops in different countries over the last few years Research and Publications: conducted many research projects, published articles, wrote book chapters, a recognized regional and international speaker in the field of audiovestibular medicine

Ashkan Monfared, MD is board-certified in Otolaryngology and was recruited from Stanford University to serve as the Director of Otology and Neurotology. Dr. Monfared is also an associate professor of surgery and neurosurgery at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He completed his medical training, residency and fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center. Previously he has served as staff surgeon in Otolaryngology at Stanford University Hospital and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. He has had the distinct honor of serving at Veteran Administration Hospital and Walter Reed National Medical Center

Dr. Darius Kohan is a graduate of New York University School of Medicine and was board certified as an otolaryngologist in 1990 following completion of his residency training at the same institution. He acquired specialized advanced training in Otology and Neurotology (disease of the ear and surgical/medical management) during his fellowship at New York University Medical Center. Currently, Dr. Kohan is Associate Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology at New York University School of Medicine, Director of Otology/Neurotology at Lenox Hill Hospital/Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital (MEETH), Medical Co-Director of the Center for Communication (the former League for the Hard of Hearing), and voluntary attending surgeon at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Kohan is involved in educating medical students and residents at these institutions. In addition, he is involved in several research projects in Otology/Neurotology.

Darren Whelan holds an undergraduate degree in Audiology and a master’s degrees in Health Science, Neurophysiology and Clinical Research. His resume counts several senior clinical positions in the National Health Service in the UK. Prior to his current occupation as an International Clinical Trainer, Darren held a clinical and research scientist role, where he investigated patients with auditory and vestibular pathology, and managed a portfolio of UK research studies.

Professor Saeed is currently a leading surgeon and researcher in disorders of the ear, hearing, balance, facial nerve and skullbase. He manages patients from all over the UK as well internationally. This includes adults, children or infants with: Hearing loss Dizziness Tinnitus Facial palsy Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) Glomus tumour Cholesteatoma Otosclerosis Facial nerve tumours Superior semicircular canal dehiscence Meniere’s Disease Benign Positional Vertigo Hearing loss requiring cochlear implantation Hearing loss requiring middle ear implants

Was born in 1973 in Lebanon. In 1999, he graduated from the medical care faculty of Rostov State Medical University. From 1999 till 2003, he studied as a resident on the ENT department of the same university and in St. Petersburg research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech. After finishing the residency in 2003, Khassan Diab was admitted to the 2-year fellowship from which he graduated having passed a PhD thesis defense on the topic «Unsatisfactory results of stapedoplasty and ways of their correction. From November 2006 till 2010, Khassan Diab worked as a research associate in the ear pathophysiology department of St. Petersburg research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech. From 2011 till 2014, he took the position of senior research associate. In the course of his work, Khassan Diab mastered all the hearing improving surgical interventions including cochlear implantation and endoscopic sinus surgeries. In 2013 defended doctor’s thesis on the topic «Surgical treatment of external, middle and inner ear malformations». From 2006 till 2014 Dr. Diab was the head of Cadaveric Temporal Bone courses in St. Petersburg research Institute of Ear, Nose, Throat and Speech. From December 2014 to March 2016 - chief research associate of the Department of Ear diseases in the Federal Research Clinical Center of Otorhinolaryngology, Moscow. From April 2016 to the present - the head of the Department of Ear diseases. Since November 2016 - Professor of the Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Postgraduate education, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. Khassan Diab is an author more than 150 articles, which includes 15 inventions on the ear pathology topic. As a lector, he took part in different scientific conferences and forums including international ones. Khassan Diab is a high-qualified ENT surgeon who performed more than 2500 cochlear implantations, 6000 tympanoplasties, 1000 stapedoplasties, 50 implantations of bone conduction hearing aids, more 100 endolymphatic sac drainages, surgical treatment in ear abnormalities (100) with simultaneous treatment of congenital malformations of external auditory canal with external ear reconstruction using supor.

CERTIFICATIONS: MBBS: King Saud University, Riyadh,2000 Specialty Boards: 1. KSU board of Otolaryngology & head and neck surgery - KSU, Riyadh, November 2008 2. Saudi Board of Otolaryngology & head and neck surgery, December 2008 Subspecialty fellowships: 1. KSU Fellowship in otology and neurotology, 2012 2. Clinical fellowship in lateral skull base microsurgery from Gruppo otologico, Italy, 2013. SUBSPECIALTIES: Otology/ neurotology Lateral skull base microsurgery

Jennifer Robinson is an audiologist, Senior Product Manager for Clinical Applications, and team leader for Product Management Clinical Applications group. Jennifer holds degrees from Purdue University and University of Louisville, along with PhD coursework completed at Northwestern University. She has practiced for over 25 years in various settings including project management of Audiological Research at GN Resound, as well as private practice, hospital, and university clinical facilities. She has authored several publications on hearing aid fitting and algorithms, as well as delivered numerous presentations on cochlear implant fitting software, bimodal hearing, hearing aids, fitting of cochlear implants and hearing aids, effects of hearing loss, hearing algorithms, noise reduction systems, and validation techniques.

Manohar Bance is an Otologist/Neurotologist and the inaugural Professor of Otology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Cambridge, UK. Before 2017 he was Chair of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Dalhousie University in Canada Prof. Bance is clinically and surgically active in all aspects of otology and neurotology, as well as skull base surgery. In particular, his research interests are in cochlear implants, and cochlea-on-a-chip models of the inner ear, as well as the use of technology in otology.

Patrick Boyle studied undergraduate Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Brunel University, for a Masters in Medical Physics at City University and received his PhD in Auditory Perception at Wolfson College Cambridge. He has worked extensively in speech and hearing perception, initially in telecommunications as a design engineer at Philips, then at the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, where he worked on a signal processing hearing for profoundly deaf people. That project resulted in development of a single channel cochlear implant system and moved to the National Health Service where he worked as a clinical scientist at University College Hospital. For the last 25 years he has worked at Advanced Bionics in a variety of clinical and research roles. His current position is Senior Director of External Cooperations.

Audiology consultant of HANSATON Akustik GmbH Shareholder + Operations Manager of „DIfAA Audiologie“ research institute and „Heller Hören“ Formerly Head of Audiology at HANSATON (2014 – 2018) Education Master of Science in optometry and audiology at Aalen University Professional Development Research project at National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), Sydney, Australia Lecturer at Aalen University Foundation of hearing research centre “Steinbeis Zentrum für gutes Hören” Head of audiology at HANSATON Akustik GmbH Foundation of hearing research centre “DIfAA Audiologie” Foundation of hearing instrument retail shops „Heller Hören“

Dr Dennis Poe is a Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School and a full-time faculty member of the Department of Otolaryngology and Communications Enhancement at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he is the incumbent recipient of the Sarah Fuller Chair in Neurotology. He attended medical school at State University of NY Upstate, residency at University of Chicago, fellowship with Michael Glasscock, III in Nashville and doctorate in pathophysiology of Eustachian tube dysfunction in Tampere, Finland under Prof. Ilmari Pyykkö. He has been investigating disorders of the Eustachian tube in children and adults, developing diagnostic methods, novel medical treatments and surgical procedures, including balloon dilation. He leads an international study group and was the PI for a recent multicenter, randomized controlled, clinical trial of balloon dilation for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction. He has been working to provide education to surgeons, physicians, patients and payers about Eustachian tube disorders, their treatments and the new balloon dilation procedure.

Dr. Tristram Lesser is an experienced and conservative Consultant specializing in General Adult ENT, Ear Disease, Vertigo, Nasal and Sinus Problems. His service also includes the diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer and Facial Skin Cancer. Areas of interest Treating patients to the best possible standard; Curing Cholesteatoma and endoscopic ear surgery; Helping Snoring including injection snoreplasty; Managing Vertigo and Balance problems; Minimally invasive treatments including balloon sinuplasty and balloon tuboplasty. His previous surgical experience has been the entire spectrum of ENT from cosmetic to skull base, from cancer resection to free flap repair, he put in the first cochlea implant in Wales and the first Blom Singer valve in the UK, he has invented 4 operations and thought that Cochlea Implants would have minimal applications. Which just goes to show how wrong he can be. He has published extensively and undertaken teaching and surgical demonstrations through out the world.

Professor emerita - Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery - Southern Illinois University School of Medicine