Pawel Golusinski
Professor Paweł Golusiński, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical and Health Sciences
Professor Paweł Golusiński is a distinguished Polish otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon, currently directing the Department of Otolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Zielona Góra and leading the ENT teams at both the University Hospital in Zielona Góra and St. Adalbert’s Hospital in Poznan
Education & Academic Titles: He earned his medical degree and PhD from the Poznań Medical University, followed by a habilitation at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. In August 2023, he was awarded the title of full Professor of Medical and Health Sciences by the President of Poland .
Specialist Training & Fellowships: Professor Golusiński completed an advanced fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology and Thyroid Surgery at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Birmingham. He is also a scholar of the Research Fellowship at VU University Amsterdam.
Clinical and Research Focus: His expertise spans head and neck cancer surgery, thyroid and parathyroid procedures, endoscopic sinus surgery. He conducts internationally collaborative research on HPV-related head and neck cancers, novel biomarkers, and minimally invasive transoral approaches. He serves as Editor and reviewer for multiple high impact journals.
Recognition & Credentials: He holds international certification in coblation and Bizact techniques. Professor Golusiński is a recipient of awards from the Polish Society of Otolaryngologists and the Rector’s Medal from Poznań Medical
Professor Golusiński combines surgical excellence, academic leadership, and a global training perspective to advance patient care, education, and research in otolaryngology.
Sessions
Within the scope of the programme, individuals are offered the opportunity to take part in youth activities based on education, training, internship, professional development and non-formal learning abroad. In addition, collaborations between institutions are supported through partnership activities.
European Solidarity Programme (European Solidarity Corps, ESC) is a new European Union initiative that aims to meet social needs, creating opportunities for young people to volunteer, work or network on projects that benefit society in their own country or abroad, while promoting their personal, educational, social, civil and professional development.
In the presentation, both Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Programme opportunities (particularly in field of medical studies) for youth and youth workers, higher education students and staff, and for institutional organizations will be introduced.
Despite the widespread adoption of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in oropharyngeal
cancer, several aspects of surgical strategy remain highly controversial. This round table
will focus on four hot topics that continue to challenge clinical practice: (1) the role of
radiological assessment in surgical planning, with particular attention to whether styloid
process involvement should be considered a contraindication; (2) the debate over margin
adequacy and how oncological safety should be redefined in the HPV-positive era; (3)
the relationship between perioperative bleeding and reconstructive techniques; and (4) the
potential role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patient selection and outcomes. Each
controversy will be addressed by expert panelists through short, case-based presentations
followed by open discussion with the audience. The session aims to provide practical
insights, highlight unresolved questions, and foster a multidisciplinary exchange to
optimize surgical decision-making in oropharyngeal TORS.
Background: HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) exhibits a markedly better prognosis than HPV-negative disease, prompting interest in treatment de-escalation to reduce long-term toxicity without compromising survival. Multiple prospective trials are evaluating approaches to tailor treatment intensity based on individual risk profiles.
Methods: This review summarizes current de-escalation strategies in HPV-positive OPSCC, including reduced-dose radiation, omission or minimization of concurrent chemotherapy, and primary surgical approaches such as transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Major clinical trials, including NRG-HN002, ECOG-ACRIN 3311, PATHOS, and ORATOR, were analyzed for oncologic outcomes, toxicity profiles, and patient-reported quality of life.
Results: Several studies demonstrate that de-escalated regimens—such as 60 Gy radiation with or without chemotherapy, or TORS followed by risk-adapted adjuvant therapy—achieve comparable locoregional control and overall survival to standard treatment, with improved functional outcomes. Importantly, patient selection is critical, relying on factors such as tumor stage, nodal burden, smoking history, and pathological features. Ongoing trials are refining risk stratification tools and assessing biomarkers for therapy individualization.
Conclusions: De-escalation strategies for HPV-positive OPSCC represent a paradigm shift toward more personalized, less morbid therapy. While early-phase studies show promising results, mature data from phase III trials are needed to define safe standards of care. Careful patient selection and multidisciplinary coordination remain essential to ensure oncologic efficacy while improving long-term quality of life.