Speakers

Katri Aro, MD, PhD
Senior Ward Physician, Head and Neck Surgery
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Helsinki Head and Neck Centre
University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Research Areas of Interest:
Head and Neck oncology, Head and Neck surgery, Salivary gland cancer, Salivary diagnostics.

Dr G. Desuter completed his Medical Degree and his Master in ENT- Head & Neck Surgery at the Louvain University, Belgium (1994 & 1999). He obtained a Master of Science degree in Health Care Management from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA (2007), and a medical PhD degree from Leiden University, The Netherlands (2020). He directed the Voice & Swallowing center of the St-Luke University hospital in Brussels, Belgium, and teaches, as professor of surgery and speech therapy at Louvain University up to August 2022.

He is now working as a Head of Clinics and invited professor at the Antwerp University Hospital of the University of Antwerp. Finally, Dr Desuter is president of the European Laryngological Society (2025-2027). He is the author of numerous articles and books chapters on laryngology.

Lovisa Farnebo completed her clinical training at Linköping University Hospital, Sweden, presented her PhD thesis in 2010, and subsequently undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, California from 2011 to 2013. She was appointed Associate Professor in 2017.

Her clinical practice and research focus on patients with head and neck cancer and she is the principal investigator of a group including six PhD-students and postdocs.

She served as President of the Swedish Society of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery from 2021 to 2026 and is currently the President of the Acta Otolaryngologica Foundation in Sweden.

Prof. Dr. Philippe Gevaert (MD, PhD) is Full Professor in Rhinology and Allergy and Director of the Upper Airways Research Laboratory and Clinical Trial Centre at Ghent University, Belgium. His research is focused on local immune modulation, allergen immunotherapy, and biologics for allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Notably, he led the first clinical trials using biologics in CRSwNP, a decade ahead of other studies. As a lead investigator on numerous academic and industry-sponsored studies evaluating novel airway treatments, Prof. Gevaert has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and received 10 international research awards. He was recognized by Clarivate as a Highly Cited Researcher in 2023, 2024, and 2026.

Marie Gisselsson-Solen is a consultant and associate professor at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. She works as an otologist and pediatric otorhinolaryngologist. She has a long-standing research interest in ENT infections, particularly acute otitis media and its complications.

Ingrid Torvik Heian, MD, PhD, is a consultant otorhinolaryngologist at Nordmøre and Romsdal Hospital, Norway. She obtained her PhD from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her doctoral research investigated olfactory function in Norwegian adults and the effects of olfactory training on olfactory function and olfactory bulb volume in normosmic individuals. Her clinical and research interests include smell disorders, psychophysical olfactory testing, olfactory training, and olfactory bulb plasticity.

Thomas Hjuler, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Chief Consultant in Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, is Head of the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery at Rigshospitalet. He works within multidisciplinary teams managing children with complex conditions, including cancer, aerodigestive diseases, and vascular and craniofacial malformations. His professional focus is to provide coordinated, family-centered care and the best possible outcomes for children and adolescents with complex healthcare needs.

Per von Hofsten is a senior consultant and the Head of the ORL HNS department in Halmstad, Sweden, as well as past President of the Swedish ORL HNS Society. He has a great interest in the quality of care, organization and education. As a rhinologist his focus is in chronic rhinosinusitis and the development of in office procedures.

Christoffer Holst Hahn, MD, is a Consultant Otolaryngologist and Clinical Associate Professor at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, where he leads the Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Unit. His clinical and research work focuses on thyroid and parathyroid surgery, thyroid cancer, minimally invasive treatment of thyroid disease, and head and neck surgery. He is actively involved in clinical research and medical education, with particular interests in improving surgical outcomes and developing novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

Mikkel Kaltoft is a Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, where he leads the Vascular Anomalies Team. His clinical and research interests include vascular anomalies, thyroid cancer, minimally invasive treatment of thyroid disease, and head and neck surgery, with a particular focus on ultrasound. He is actively involved in clinical research aimed at developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for vascular anomalies, head and neck cancer, and thyroid disorders.

Jan Klozar, MD, CSc, Professor, Charles University, 1st Medical Faculty, Dept. of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Motol and Homolka University Hospital, President of the Czech Head and Neck Cancer Cooperative group.

More than 90 publications in the literature of which 48 cited in the Web of Science Core Collection, h-index 16, Main professional orientation: Head and neck oncology, role of HPV in head and neck cancer, liquid biopsies. Surgical treatment of sleep apnoea and rhonchopathy.

Ellen Kvestad MD PhD is consultant head and neck surgeon at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet in Oslo. She is head of the advisory board in head and neck cancer in the Norwegian Society of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and vice precident in the Norwegian Society of Otorhinolaryngology. Spec: Head and neck surgery

Christoffer Holst Hahn, MD, is a Consultant Otolaryngologist and Clinical Associate Professor at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, where he leads the Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Unit. His clinical and research work focuses on thyroid and parathyroid surgery, thyroid cancer, minimally invasive treatment of thyroid disease, and head and neck surgery. He is actively involved in clinical research and medical education, with particular interests in improving surgical outcomes and developing novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

Marie Lundberg is a Clinical Associate Professor and ENT consultant who is specialized in rhinosurgery and rhinoallergology and has a special interest in biologics.

Vasiliki Mesogiti Östman, MD, Consultant ENT, phoniatrician and section lead for Phoniatrics and Laryngology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden. Her clinical work focuses on voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. Her research examines vocal fold leukoplakia and its association with laryngeal cancer.
She is actively involved in postgraduate medical education and is course director of the Swedish national ENT specialist training course in Phoniatrics, Swallowing and Esophagus. She is Treasurer of the Swedish Association of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and a board member of the Swedish Phoniatric Association and the Nordic Society for Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.

Docent Elina Penttilä, Chief Physician, is the Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Kuopio University Hospital and currently serves as President of the Finnish Association of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (2027–). Alongside her clinical and leadership responsibilities, she works as a private practitioner and serves as a consultant for the Finnish Patient Insurance Centre. Her research interests include rhinology, laryngology, neurology, sleep medicine, and medical education. Turku remains one of her favorite cities, where she spent inspiring years during her medical studies.

Head of Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol and Homolka, Prague

Membership
CEORLHNS (Confederation of European Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery) – President 2024-2026, General Secretary 2019-2022
CORLAS (Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum)
Chairman of Czech Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery

Scientific Activities
Head and neck surgery/oncology, rhinology, skull base, thyroid surgery

Publications
115 articles in journals with IF, H-index 24

James graduated from Oxford University Medical School in 1995, and was appointed as a consultant ENT surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford in 2007. He has passed the intercollegiate examination in otolaryngology – head & neck surgery, and was awarded the Gold Medal for outstanding performance from the Royal Society of Medicine. He has a strong academic background as an MRC funded clinical research fellow, leading to an award of a PhD in 2003, and he is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in the University of Oxford. He supervises DPhil students in auditory neuroscience.

He spent one year training at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia, where he specialised in the full range of children’s ENT treatment including paediatric airway assessment and treatment, cleft palate clinics, paediatric voice clinics, paediatric head & neck surgery, cochlear implantation and the assessment of profound hearing loss.

A further fellowship in The University of Toronto, Canada, in 2007 developed expertise in advanced neuro-otology including the management of vertigo, middle ear disease, and hearing loss.
James is the Head of School of Surgery Thames Valley for NHS Education, supervising surgical training for resident doctors. He has worked on the NHS England Specialised Ear Surgery advisory group, and the Specialist Advisory Committee for ENT for the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is President Elect of the British Association of Paediatric Otolaryngologists.

Professor and Consultant Lars Rolighed is currently responsible for treatment and research in thyroid and parathyroid operations at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. With an annual production of 900-1000 operations in the department, all different aspects of these procedures are performed with a high level of experience and quality. Their research includes 6 ongoing PhD studies in different aspects of thyroid and parathyroid procedures.

Soham Roy MD MMM FACS FAAP is a Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology and the former Endowed Chair of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Dr. Roy received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, medical education at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and completed his residency in Otolaryngology at the University of Miami. He completed his Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. In 2021, he earned the prestigious Masters in Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Dr. Roy is Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology in both Otolaryngology and Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He holds leadership roles in numerous specialty societies. Dr. Roy has given hundreds of lectures and authored hundreds of scientific articles, book chapters, and research presentations. He has received multiple awards for teaching, clinical care and original scientific research. He is a recognized expert in operating room safety and serves as a consultant in the development of innovative and safer surgical devices. In his spare time, he is an accomplished violinist, musician and recording artist and an avid athlete.

Elisabeth V. Sjögren M.D., Ph.D., is a senior consultant laryngologist and head and neck surgeon at the Leiden University Medical Centre in Leiden.

Elisabeth studied medicine at the Leiden University and completed residency training in ENT at the Leiden University Medical Center in 2004 where she is a consultant, active in laryngology and head and neck oncology with a special focus on endoscopic treatment of early and intermediate stage laryngeal cancer, as well as reconstructive surgery for glottic closure defects. She has authored and co-authored scientific papers both on benign and malignant laryngeal disease and is the director of several Ph.D. projects. She is currently involved in the teaching and training projects of these organisations and is the President of the newly established European Exam Board for Laryngology. Her ambition is to expand the boundaries of the field of laryngology in Europe and to make the full scope of the discipline more accessible to young colleagues. She is the past General Secretary of the European Laryngological Society and the Confederation of European ORL-HNS.

Sverre Karmhus Steinsvåg is an ENT specialist working at Sørlandet Hospital, Haukeland university hospital and University of Bergen, Norway.  He is a Senior Surgeon and Professor, mainly focusing on sinonasal disorders both medically and surgically and allergology. Scientifically, he is particularly interested in the link between upper and lower airways. He has been the mentor for 13 PhD students and is currently referee in 5 international ENT-journals. He represents Norway in UEMS-ORL, is an examiner at the European board exam, and is the head of the committee for ENT-specialist training in Norway.

Maria V. Suurna, MD, FACS, is Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and Director of Sleep Surgery at the University of Miami Health System, with adjunct faculty appointment at Weill Cornell Medicine. She is board-certified in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Suurna’s clinical and research interests include precision treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, upper airway neurostimulation, drug-induced sleep endoscopy, and innovative surgical and multidisciplinary therapies.

She is President of the International Surgical Sleep Society, Coordinator for International Affairs of the AAO-HNSF, and President of the Florida Society of Otolaryngology. An internationally recognized speaker, she has contributed extensively to advancing hypoglossal nerve stimulation and personalized sleep apnea care.

Chair of the multidisciplinary skin tumour board in Oulu University Hospital.

Board Member of the National Society of Otolaryngology.

Research focusing on skin cancer treatment.

Dr. Miro Tedla, MD, MPH, PhD is a Professor, Chairman and an ENT Consultant at the Department of ORL- HNS at the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. He is a member of several international societies, CORLAS member and at the moment serves as a President Elect at the Presidential Council of CEORL- HNS.

Dr. Tedla is a main author of three textbooks, author/co-author of more than 130 in extenso scientific papers/book chapters and is regularly invited to present at the international venues. His main clinical and research interests include Thyroid and Paratyhyroid Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer, Voice, Airway and Dysphagia.

Sanna Toppila-Salmi is Professor of ORL, Chief Physician, and Director of the Airway Research Group at the Universities of Helsinki and of Eastern Finland. Her research focuses on inflammatory airway diseases; clinical trials, large-scale cohort and translational studies, with over 250 peer-reviewed publications and an H-index of 45. She has supervised 9 PhD studies. She serves as Associate Editor of Rhinology and, Clinical and Translational Allergy.

Consultant Tapani Uusitalo is finalizing his doctoral degree with research focus in capsule-preserving tonsil surgery in adults.

Rhinologist working daily in the University Hospital of Helsinki as well as on the private section. Chair of the Finnish Pharyngitis guideline update 2026. Member of the Nordic Harmonization group, working on harmonizing treatment of common upper respiratory infections and the usage of penicillin. Thesis addressed peritonsillar abscess and included a RCT on penicillin alone compared with combination with metronidazole.

Dr. Rikki Yahiro currently works as a physician at the ENT department of St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim, Norway while completing a PhD through the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (NTNU). Has been actively involved in the Control of Ventilation Tubes (ConVenTu) study, which examines general practitioners as an alternative to the ENT follow-up of ventilation tubes and has, so far, yielded one publication on the subject.