Keynote Speakers

Prof. David Morris joined the Dalhousie Division of Otolaryngology in 2003 following a fellowship there in Otology, Neurotology and Lateral Skull-base Surgery.

He enjoys a busy tertiary adult and pediatric practice covering the breadth of otology and neurotology for the Maritime Provinces.

Prof. Morris is a member of the Otologic Implant and Lateral Skull-base programmes and coordinates the Otology Fellowship and, every third year, the TWJ Fellowship from the UK. Current clinical interests focus on the management of advanced middle ear disease and especially cases requiring surgical revision, mastoid obliteration techniques, performance assessment of bone conduction hearing devices, communication skills training and the development of new surgical tools.

Prof. Sujana S. Chandrasekhar, MD, FACS is an otolaryngologist specializing in otology and neurotology. She is a Partner at ENT & Allergy Associates in New York City and Parsippany, NJ, Clinical Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Director of Neurotology at the Bronx Veterans Administration Medical Center. She has served as President of both the American Otological Society (2023–2024) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (2015–2016).

Dr. Chandrasekhar is Consulting Editor of Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of KivviMed, Inc., and co-creator of the video livestream She’s On Call.

Author of over 125 publications and co-editor of Temporal Bone Histology and Radiology Atlas, she has helped develop multiple clinical practice guidelines. Her honors include the Living Legend Award (AAO-HNS 2022) and Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award (ACS 2023).

Prof. Tobias Moser obtained his M.D. from the University of Jena in 1995 and completed his postdoctoral research under Nobel Laureate Erwin Neher at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry. In 2015, he became Director of the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience at Göttingen.

He is currently the spokesperson for the Multiscale BioImaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC) and the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies, leading interdisciplinary research bridging neuroscience, biophysics, and clinical innovation.

Prof. Isabel Vilaseca is the Group leader of the Consolidated Research Group Head and Neck Clínic (AGAUR Generalitat de Catalunya, 2023-2024), and Professor of the Department of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences of the University of Barcelona.

Prof. Vilaseca is Senior Otorhinolaryngology Consultant at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and current Director of the Surgical Area. She is a member of the Scientific Committee of the ELS (European Laryngological Society) and current vice-President of the Catalan Society of Otorhinolaryngology.

Bio Coming Soon.

Professor Dame Sue Hill DBE FMedSci FRSB FRCP(Hon) FRCPath (Hon) FHCS (Hon) is the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) for England and a respiratory scientist by background.

Throughout her career she has led on large-scale priority programmes across government and in NHS England including as the senior responsible officer for Genomics in the NHS, introducing a world-leading and nationwide Genomic Medicine Service.

She has also played a pivotal role in the national COVID-19 programme leading the development and deployment of testing technologies into use for the UK population.

Dr. Rebecca Howell is a laryngologist specializing in voice and swallowing disorders. She serves as Director of the Swallowing Center, focusing on complex swallowing conditions and innovative in-office treatments.

Her research interests include Zenker’s diverticulum, endoscopic esophageal dilation, and swallowing outcomes in head and neck cancer survivors. Dr. Howell brings advanced expertise in in-office procedures such as transnasal esophagoscopy and laser treatments for laryngeal lesions.

Dr. Patrick Byrne is Chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Integrated Surgical Institute and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

An internationally recognized facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Byrne specializes in facial reanimation, complex reconstruction, and aesthetic surgery, with expertise in rhinoplasty and facelifts. He currently serves as President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

Dr. Athira Ramakrishnan is a highly skilled Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist with 15+ years of experience in comprehensive cancer management and minimally invasive robotic surgery. Athira specializes in complete enbloc resection of head and neck malignancies, microvascular reconstruction, and postoperative rehabilitation.

Bio coming soon.

Prof. Dr. Thibaut Van Zele (MD, PhD) is focused on endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis, benign and malignant sinonasal tumours and endoscopic skull base surgery.

He worked in the Upper Airway Research Laboratory at the University of Ghent and obtained his PhD degree in 2008. His research interests now concentrate upon tissue engineering of upper airway mucosa and wound healing.

Associate Professor Raewyn Campbell completed international fellowships in Rhinology and Skull Base surgery in Auckland, Philadelphia, and Columbus. She is the vice-president of the Australia and New Zealand Rhinologic Society and secretary of the Australia and New Zealand Skull Base Society.

Professor Vicki Chalker (PhD) is currently the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England, championing the work of over 55,000 Healthcare Scientists. She leads national efforts in diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance and innovation across Healthcare Science.

With a background in medical microbiology, she has held senior roles at UKHSA and NHS Blood and Transplant, with over 100 publications and multiple patents.