Prof. Dr. Cem Uzun is Chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye. He is the founder and first director of the Mirko Tos Ear and Hearing Research Center, reflecting his primary academic focus on otology, neurotology, hearing research, and cochlear implantation.

Prof. Uzun has held numerous leadership roles in national and international professional organizations. He has served as General Secretary of the Balkan Association of ORL-HNS for over a decade and is a Council Member of the International Cochlear Implant Society, President-Elect of the Turkish Otology-Neurotology Society, and Co-President of the German-Turkish ORL-HNS Society. He previously represented the ORL section at the European Union of Medical Specialists and has led major national initiatives, including newborn hearing screening programs and cochlear implant councils.

His academic contributions include more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, an H-index of 16, two patents, and four surgical techniques in otology and otoneurology. He has delivered over 250 invited lectures and instructional courses at international meetings and has organized numerous scientific events on otology, audiology, scientific writing, and publication ethics.

Prof. Uzun is also active in scholarly publishing and research policy. He is Past President of the European Association of Science Editors, founding president of the Scholarly Publishing Society, and Editor-in-Chief of Balkan ORL-HNS. His EU-funded project received the EASE Best Initiative Award (2025). His honors include the AAO-HNSF Goodwill Ambassador Award, Fulbright Scholarship (University of Miami, Miami Ear Institute), Danish Government Scholarship (University of Copenhagen), and multiple national scientific awards.

Dr. Hızalan graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine. In 1980, he spent three months as a visiting physician at Gentofte Hospital (Copenhagen) under the supervision of Prof. Mirko Tos, an experience that strongly influenced his later academic orientation toward otology. He subsequently joined Bursa Uludağ University, where he served on the faculty for 37 years until his retirement.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hızalan has been actively involved in professional organizations at both national and international levels. He was a member of the Steering Committee of the European Academy of Otology and Neurotology (EAONO) and served as President of the Bursa Society of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the Turkish Board of ORL-HNS, and the Balkan Association of ORL-HNS. He has delivered more than 50 instructional courses and invited lectures at international scientific meetings and holds several honorary memberships in professional societies.

His academic work has focused primarily on otology and pediatric otorhinolaryngology, with a particular interest in education and the dissemination of surgical knowledge. Over the years, he has contributed extensively to postgraduate training and international collaboration in the field.

Felloship in University of Miami Ear Institute

Observership in Hannover University

Assoc. Prof.Dr. Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trakya University

Assoc. Prof.Dr. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University

Chairman, Mirko Tos Ear and Hearing Research Center, Trakya University

Post Doc Research Fellow, University of Miami Ear Instıtute, Department of Otolaryngology-Alumni

Per Cayé-Thomasen

• Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine

• Department of Clinical Medicine, Otorhinolaryngology

Prof. Mario Milkov, MD, PhD graduated from Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stojanov” – Varna in 1995.

Since 2002, he has been a specialist in Otorhinolaryngology, Surgery of the Head and Neck. In 2005, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis related to modern ossicular prostheses.

Main professional and scientific interests in the field of otology, neurotology, audio-vestibular medicine, biomaterials, sleep medicine, hearing prevention in newborns and early childhood. He holds a patent for the first Bulgarian ossicular prosthesis.

He is the creator of the bulgarian society of “obstructive sleep apnea and snoring” in 2012. He proposes and creates together with colleagues from the Black Sea countries the “International Black Sea Otological and Neurootological Association“ in 2017.

Prof. Mario Milkov is the Head of the Department “Dental materials science and prosthetic dental medicine” in Faculty of Dental medicine, Medical University – Varna.

Since March 2024 is appointed as Vice-Rector for “International relations”, Medical University – Varna.

He works at the “Audio-vestibular and sleep medicine” sector, University Medical and Dental Center.

Prof. Milkov is the Chairperson of the “Alumni club and Friends” – Medical University – Varna.

A corresponding academic member of national and international associations.

Has more than 180 scientific publications. Participated in over 190 world and national congresses, symposiums, specialized courses.

He has been the editor-in-chief of the journal „International Bulletin of Otorhinolaryngology“ since 2004. A member of the editorial board of five international medical journals in and other Bulgarian medical journals.